Final Examination Part I Essay

Deadline: .

Purpose: To demonstrate an ability to describe an object, person, or occurrence

Assignment: We read Robert Draper’s “Why Photography Matters”, an essay praising the magnificent power of photography.

This assignment consists of two parts:

Selecting three photographs

Writing an essay about the three photographs

Part I: Selecting Photographs

I have prepared a gallery of selected photographs. Each photograph has been numbered. From this gallery, locate three photographs which strike you. The word “strike” can mean the photograph appeals to you because it gives you a good feeling, or it can “strike” you because it gives you a bad feeling.

To avoid penalties, make sure each photograph is added to the end of the essay. Photos may appear on one sheet of paper or on three separate sheets of paper. A deduction will occur otherwise.

All photographs must come from the gallery. Please see CANVAS to view the gallery.

Part II: The Essay Itself

In an essay of five paragraphs, quadruple spaced, computerized, using 12-point Arial font, describe the three photographs selected from the “gallery” and then identify how each of the photographs “strikes” you.

Paragraph #1.

A minimum of three, not two, sentences are required.

One sentence must mention that you have selected three photographs to discuss.

The last sentence of the first paragraph must include a thesis sentence containing three keywords, written with parallel sentence structure.

The keywords must be words you choose to convey the overall content of each photograph. The keywords of Photograph #1, Photograph #2, and Photograph #3 do not qualify as legitimate keywords.

Paragraph #2.

Begin with a topic sentence which relates to the thesis of Paragraph #1 as well as to the photograph you are about to discuss.

Use two to four sentences to describe the photograph. In describing the photograph, do not state whether you like it or dislike it. Just describe what you see.

Then use the remaining six to eleven sentences of the paragraph to give two reasons why the photograph “strikes” you.

Paragraph #2 needs at least ten sentences.

Paragraph #3.

Begin with a topic sentence which relates to the thesis of Paragraph #1 as well as to the photograph you are about to discuss.

Use two to four sentences to describe the photograph. In describing the photograph, do not state whether you like it or dislike it. Just describe what you see.

Then use the remaining six to eleven sentences of the paragraph to give two reasons why the photograph “strikes” you.

Paragraph #3 needs at least ten sentences.

Paragraph #4.

Begin with a topic sentence which relates to the thesis of Paragraph #1 as well

as to the photograph you are about to discuss.

Use two to four sentences to describe the photograph. In describing the photograph, do not state whether you like it or dislike it. Just describe what you see.

Then use the remaining six to eleven sentences of the paragraph to give two reasons why the photograph “strikes” you.

Paragraph #4 needs at least ten sentences.

Paragraph #5.

A minimum of five sentences are required.

The first sentence must repeat the thesis statement.

The thesis statement must contain three keywords written with parallel sentence structure.

The second sentence must summarize the reason the first photograph strikes you.

The third sentence must summarize the reason the second photograph strikes you.

The fourth sentence must summarize the reason the third photograph strikes you.

The fifth sentence can end the essay.

If desired, a sixth sentence can end the essay.

The paragraph must remind us that you are discussing photographs.

Questions to Consider When Examining a Photograph

During class on Tuesday, August 2, we discussed questions to consider when examining a photograph. When describing photographs, you may also want to select vivid adjectives. Here are three websites to consult for descriptive words:

Name of the Website URL of the Website Content Description

 Buzzle HYPERLINK “http://www.buzzle.com/articles/list-of-descriptive-adjectives.html” http://www.buzzle.com/articles/list-of-descriptive-adjectives.html

Breaks adjectives down by object/person/thing and explains how to use them.

 Descriptive Words   HYPERLINK “http://descriptivewords.org” http://descriptivewords.org

Offers adjectives for describing categories of words, such as oceans, colors, and seasons.

Southeastern Louisiana University Writing Center Handout–Adjectives   HYPERLINK “https://www.southeastern.edu/aca_research/programs/writing_center/handouts/pdf_handouts/adjectives.pdf” https://www.southeastern.edu/aca_research/programs/writing_center/handouts/pdf_handouts/adjectives.pdf

Provides grammatical rules and regulations for using adjectives. The first two websites will probably be more helpful for the photographic essay, but this website is good for explaining the proper use of adjectives.

Reminders

Each of the body paragraphs must mention the fact that you are discussing a photograph.

Please place the photographs at the end of the essay.

Remember not to use the words “get” and “you” anywhere in your essay. The first use of the word “get” is free. Each additional use results in a Level I grammatical error. Each use of the word “you” or the implied “you” results in a Level II grammatical error. Hopefully, this reminder will prevent you from losing points needlessly.

Essays which are single spaced will not be read. Remember to quadruple space every other line as instructed.

Remember to use continuous numbering for each sentence.

Observe proper formatting of heading and page numbers.

Name

Dr. S. E. Phillips

English 1301.XXX

Month Day, Year

First Initial Period Last Name 2

First Initial Period Last Name 3

First Initial Period Last Name 4

Policies Applying to the Timely Submission of Final Examination Part I.

Please read the CANVAS announcements or check the document titled “Policies Applying to the Timely Submission of Final Examination Part I” for information about penalties.