Writing Samples: A summary by me, advice, and student samples (anon.)
Summary of Sandra Harding's The
Science Question in Feminism (by me) This is a sample of a summary
essay. It deals with an entire book, but it nevertheless covers much of
what I want you to do in summary, addressing both the problem as Harding
sees it, and her solution. However, the language could have been simpler
and more clear.
Lewontin, "A Reasonable Skepticism"
(If you would like to read more about "genetic determinism," one of the
concepts Lewontin alludes to in this essay, scroll down to "Additional Reading
Material" and see 'Essays About "Genetic Determinsm"').
Science and Literature Segment: I have decided to link to these
online versions of Peacock's, Shelley's, Huxley's and Arnold's essays in
the interests of conveniencce and increased access. We will discuss citation
of these text in class, for those who will want to cite them in their upcoming
papers.
Percy
Shelley, "A Defence of Poetry": This is a very good online version,
a new encoded transcription from the photographic facsimile in The Bodleian
Shelley Manuscripts: A Facsimile Edition, XX, ed. Michael O'Neill (New
York and London: Garland, 1994): 20-83; PR 5401 1986 v20 Robarts Library.
The source of the facsimile is Bodleian Library Ms. Shelley e.6., Editor:
Ian Lancashire, Rep. Criticism On-line (1996).
Links to texts related to the once-heated "Sokal hoax." The "Sokal Affair"
began with an article by physicist Alan Sokal, published in Social Text,
a rather elite academic journal of cultural analysis, edited by Stanley
Aronowitz and Andrew Ross. The essay, later revealed as a parody of "social
constructivist" science criticism, set off what have become known as the
"science wars." You might want to begin with the first Sokal essay (the
hoax) and continue from there.
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