The "Found" Project Writing Assignment

The “Found” Writing Assignment

Purpose:
The purpose of this sequenced writing assignment is three fold: To help students learn the conventions of Audience and Purpose in written discourse, To help students use inference in analysis of written discourse and to help students effectively integrate sources and personal opinion in written discourse.

Step 1 Theoretical Framework

a. Read: Lauren B. Resnick’s article “Literacy In School and Out.”

b. After reading Resnick’s article, write a one page journal entry in which you both summarize
Resnick’s article and respond with your own opinion.

Note: Pay special attention to the categories of writing that Resnick discusses as well as the
characteristics of each category.

Step 2 Research

a. During the next week, log onto foundmagazine.com each day a observe the “find of the day.”
As you observe the ‘find of the day,” look for both literal information and information gain
through making inferences from the text. Pleas pay special attention to the rhetorical
conventions of Audience and Purpose.

b. Each day that you observe the “finds of the day,” please write a one page journal entry
detailing your observations. (We will discuss the entries in-class each day)

Step 3 The Paper

a. Now that you have read and formed a theoretical framework and done research, pick your
favorite “find of the day” from the past week.

b. Using your favorite find, write a 2-3 page analysis of the find, please include the following
areas of interest in you paper:

1. A brief Summary of the find (this may mean a verbatim quote of the find’s contents)

2. A discussion of the audience and purpose of the find
(using both inference and literal information)

3. Relate the find to Resnick’s categories of writing, making sure to cite both your find
and Resnick as support for your argument.

4. Please make sure to include your personal reactions and observations.