Modeling the Unit 2 Essay Invention Phase: Comprehensive Abstract of Source Materials (CASM)

Goals of Unit 2 Essay Assignment To understand how contextual research can increase our understanding of a text. To understand the differences between scholarly and general sources. To understand how representations and views of places, people, institutions, events, actions, issues, and ethics are subject to the author or source’s perspective, purpose, and source type. To understand the differences among individual experience, anecdotal evidence, observation, scholarly research, and aggregate data.

Invention: CASM Abstracts are a brief overview of a larger text. Perhaps reducing a chapter to a short paragraph, or a paragraph to a sentence. You must use your judgment on what to include and what to exclude. The CASM must have same content as the original text. State the main ideas and key points simply, briefly, and accurately in your own words. Do not critique the author’s ideas. Maintain a neutral tone; be objective. “This is stupid. He doesn’t write about interesting things.” “Menand’s idea of Theory 1 and Theory 2 learners does not apply to all people. Some people are both.”

Sample: Original Text In some respects, the increasing frequency of mountain lion encounters in California has as much to do with a growing human population as it does with rising mountain lion numbers. The scenic solitude of the western ranges is prime cougar habitat, and it is falling swiftly to the developer’s spade. Meanwhile, with their ideal habitat already at its carrying capacity, mountain lions are forcing younger cats into less suitable terrain, including residential areas. Add that cougars have generally grown bolder under a lengthy ban on their being hunted, and an unsettling scenario begins to emerge. -Rychnovsky, Ray. “Clawing into Controversy.” Outdoor Life Jan. 1995: 38-42. Print. [p.40].

Sample: CASM Encounters between mountain lions and humans are on the rise in California because increasing numbers of lions are competing for a shrinking habitat. As the lions’ wild habitat shrinks, older lions force younger lions into residential areas. These lions have lost some of their fear of humans because of a ban on hunting (Rychnovsky 40).

Application to Unit II Essay Use 2 sources: one of your choice from this Unit’s FI Reader articles and Just Mercy Demonstrate two skills for each source: CASM – comprehensive abstract of source materials RAAP – rhetorical analysis of author and purpose/audience and presentation. Get started: Read the articles before class. Keep good notes in case you want to use the articles. Finish/revisit Just Mercy

Questions? About the readings used for the Unit II essay? About MLA or APA citations? About the essay assignment? About anything else?