English Composition Assignment Writing Plan

1. What is the author's claim in the selected reading? In other words, what do you believe the author wants their audience to learn or understand better once they have finished reading? The author clearly wants the reader to understand how finishing college is a better option in the long term for the future than working as a factory worker. Throughout the article, he gives examples of the author's struggles as a factory worker. The long hours, how little they are paid, hard labor 12 hours a day, and how the jobs are being shipped overseas or downsized so it is not guaranteed. Examples of how uplifting the school is for the author and how he is looking forward to starting again during the summer months. The author gives examples of how school has its benefits, specifically what the author looks forward to about going back to college, how slacking off anymore in class is a bad idea, and the encouragement factory co-workers give to stay in school and get out of factory work. The author learns from the challenging work performed in the factory and how it will be a benefit in the workplace after college but also why going to college will be a big benefit later in life. 2. Have you identified new key points that the author uses to support their claim in the selected reading? If so, include them here. If not, restate the key points you uncovered in your Writing Notes assignment and explain why the key points from your Writing Notes have remained the same, even after conducting an active reading of the article. In this article the author talks so much about how he does not like working in the factory. He only spends the summer there, unlike the other workers that have done it every day for 30 years. The author specifically talks about the guilt he feels about being a temporary worker knowing the others are not. The constant reference to positive things about college also proves the point of how much he believes college will better his future. In the article it specifically says factory life has shown me what my future might be like without college and that he never questioned going to college. While the factory work has had its benefits for the author, it is only temporary for him. 3. Describe the author's target audience: what group or groups of people is the author trying to reach with their message? The audience targeted in this article is other college students. While other college students have part-time jobs, according to the author, they are usually easier. The details about the benefits of college are clear throughout the article. He is telling the audience what the alternative to college would be like if they slack off in school or do not finish. It reminds the audience that if they choose a job like that there is nothing wrong with it, but it is not guaranteed and could be gone tomorrow. Downsizing and overseas relocation is always a possibility in that line of work. The conclusion of the article to the audience is make sure you focus on school and take advantage of everything you can there. The alternative, even though it has its life learning benefits, is a lot harder and is not guaranteed long term. 4. What choices does the author make within their writing to connect with this target audience? There are several choices the author makes to connect with his target audience of fellow students. Several references to school size and its benefits throughout the article are a choice made by the author. It is a terrific way to make them think about the college's valuable experience. The second choice was talking about how hard life would be without school with references to his struggles in his job in the factory and it is a tough job. College has a beautiful campus, he misses it during the summer, the later class times, and how grateful he is to be able to receive an education. Factory work is long days, little pay, stressful, and not guaranteed because of downsizing and overseas relocation. At the end of the article the author appreciates the lessons he has learned by working in a plant, but it has inspired him to make the most of the college years before he moves on to the workforce for good. 5. Explain your evaluation of the author's claim: is the claim strong or weak? What evidence or key points from the writing best support the author's claim? If you found the claim to be weak, explain why the evidence or key points provided did not effectively support the author's claim. The claim of the author in this article is strong. There are key points to fellow students to make the most of college throughout the entire article. If they do not, he also gives specific examples of what the alternative might be, and it is hard. The constant reference for how great a school is and how hard plant work is proves that. The author gives specific examples of both the positives and negatives of working in a factory and how it inspires the drive to finish college. Even though the author appreciates the life lessons he is getting early to prepare him for life after college in the factory, he does not want to do it for the rest of his life. It shows a sense of slight guilt and sympathy for other people he works with that they did not or could not go to college and how it made them need to work harder because of it. The author’s point of view can inspire others to work harder in college, so they do not have to work in a factory for the rest of their life also.