Paper 2: Comparison/ContrastRationale: Personal experiences are a good basis for writing, because it’s always easier towrite about something you know well. For this paper, you’ll get a chance to h

Paper 2: Comparison/Contrast

Rationale: Personal experiences are a good basis for writing, because it’s always easier towrite about something you know well. For this paper, you’ll get a chance to have anexperience with something very important for you as a student, namely, getting advice frominterviews with one of your instructors for the Fall 2016 semesterand with anexperiencedUIndy student.College essays come in many forms, and the comparison/contrast essay is a typical type ofcollege essay. In the comparison/contrast essay, you compare two (or more) opinions,perspectives, or ideas on a given topic with each other and discuss or evaluate theirsimilarities. Where they diverge from each other, you address the differences, too. Thesimilarities and differences then serve as “data” for you to arrive at an informed conclusionto your essay, and ideally, a greater understanding of your topic.Assignment: Part of being a successful student at UIndy involves understanding the“hidden” rules of engagement, which longtime “citizens” of the university are familiar with,but which may be mystifying to new, international, returning, or transfer students. In orderto help you get to know your instructors and fellow students and learn valuable informationfrom them (and to fulfill the requirements of this comparison/contrast essay!), you willinterview 1) one current UIndyinstructorand 2) one student (not a Freshman; preferably,a Junior or Senior who has been her longer than you), then compare and contrast the adviceand suggestions they give you for how to be a successful student atUIndy.Before:Contactone of your UIndyinstructors in person to request an appointment in officehours, and let them know you’d like to ask them some questions about being a successfulstudent in their class, and about being a successful student in general. (Do NOT try tointerview them before or after class!) Tell your instructors that you’re going to write areflective essay for your English class about their responses.I suggest you interview theinstructor whose class you’re most worried about or the class that’s most difficult for you.Next, invite one advanced student (preferably, in your intended major) to be an interviewparticipant. The idea is to get some advice from a fellow student about what it takes to be asuccessful student at UIndy. You MUST conduct the interview in English with a studentwho does NOT speak your first language.Before meeting with your interviewees, youwill prepare a list of 5-6 potential interviewquestions. You should be ready to ask follow-up questions, too, if you need clarification.Most of your questions should be identicalfor both the instructor and student, so that youcan get comparative and contrasting responses. Don’t forget to thank your intervieweesfor their time afterwards!After: Based on your interview findings, write a comparison/contrast essay of 4 ½ -5pages in length (1,200+ words). You will write the essay first as a draft, and we willpeer-edit in preparation for the final version. You are encouraged to contact the WritingLab for assistance with your paper if you feel you may need it.