What This Document Is
This is a summative assessment organizer for a Constitutional Law course (POL 40182) at Kent State University, specifically designed to guide students through an essay assignment based on Bryan Stevenson’s *Just Mercy*. It provides a structured approach to planning a 5-paragraph essay analyzing a claim from the book, focusing on the rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos.
Why This Document Matters
This organizer is intended for students enrolled in the specified Constitutional Law course who are preparing for a summative assessment. It’s used *before* writing the essay, as a tool for brainstorming, thesis development, and evidence selection. It exists to help students effectively plan and structure their analysis of *Just Mercy* and demonstrate their understanding of rhetorical strategies.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document is a planning tool only. It does *not* provide the essay itself, nor does it offer detailed explanations of ethos, logos, or pathos. Students will still need a strong understanding of these concepts and the content of *Just Mercy* to successfully complete the assignment. It doesn’t offer model essays or grading rubrics.
What This Document Provides
This organizer includes: the summative essay prompt, a list of potential claims from *Just Mercy* to analyze, space to brainstorm textual evidence, a template for constructing a thesis statement, and a reminder of the key questions to address when citing and explaining evidence (relating to ethos, logos, and pathos). It also includes a partially completed example thesis statement. A link to an AIR Test scratch paper example is provided. The document is designed to be filled out and submitted for preliminary grading.
