Here is a short map of practice support: research help (library, Scholar, keywords, LibGuide), essay practice rooms, practice tools, packet pointers where they apply, and the AI Level 2 guide. Open a card to see what that resource is for.
Required readings (pick an essay)
Required reading cards follow the essay you select above. They do not default to Case Study. Pick your essay to see packet pointers, studio samples, or class reading guidance for that assignment.
What you will see after you pick
- Case Study · Case Options, Case Brief, Source Packet, and essay handouts
- Monster Comparison · prompt, guide, and essay-first studio (no Case Study packet)
- Narrative Quest · King and Nguyen as assigned in class, plus guide
- Classical Argument · Mills and Essay 2 texts, plus guide
- Facing the Unknown · Mills 15.7 short reading and studio
- Field Guide · assignment guides plus 1 to 3 student-chosen sources
- Final Reflection · prompt plus your own prior essays
Required readings
Use this essay’s studio page (when one exists) and any class readings your instructor names. This path is not the Case Study Source Packet.
How to use readings for this essay
- Read the Purpose in the selector above.
- Open this essay’s studio or Tools links for models and practice helpers.
- Use library, Scholar, and keyword tools below when the essay needs outside sources.
- Keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
Packet readings (required essay reading)
After you choose a topic, read that topic’s Source Packet and Case Brief (plus Case Options). Those materials are the primary readings for this essay. In class you will see a BarkBox or Crumbl model demo; Whole-Class Examples are practice models only.
How to use your Case Study packet
- Open Topic options (below) and pick a topic.
- In that topic folder, open 1 — Start here → Case Options.
- Pick one Case Brief from 2 — Case briefs (numbered 01, 02, …).
- Open the matching Source Packet in 3 — Source packets (01 with 01, and so on). Extra numbers are related or enrichment packets listed on Case Options.
- Use Evidence tips for your packets to label evidence type, what you can use it for, and what to watch while you annotate.
- Stay in that topic for this essay. Whole-Class Examples are practice models only — not your packet topic.
Ignore teacher-archive labels, PRINT/DIGITAL teacher packs, zips, or bonus bundles.
What’s in the practice root
Topic folders students choose from. Each typically has Start here (Case Options), Case briefs, Source packets, optional Case PDFs, and Research.
- Whole-Class Examples — BarkBox / Crumbl practice models (see next panel)
- Business & Marketing · Climate · Education · Environmental · Film & TV · Forensics & Psychology · Government · Health Science · Mortuary Science · Public Health · Social Media · Technology & Media · Urban Studies · Gaming
- Start-here docs: Topic Options, Topic folders map, Student Prompts, Research Folders Map, Evidence in your Source Packets
Whole-Class Examples (practice models only)
Use these to learn the method before or beside your own topic. They are not your assigned packet topic.
- 1 — Start here — Orientation for the demo cases
- 2 — Case briefs — BarkBox / Crumbl style briefs for practice
- 3 — Source packets — Matching practice packets (numbered for practice order)
- Fun in-class activities — Short practice activities for Weeks 11–12 style demos
Essay handouts
Topic options, student prompts, and the research-folder map for the Case Study essay. Open a panel below to read on this page; then do the real reading in your packet materials.
Topic options (14 Case Study folders)
Choose one topic and stay with it. Open Case Options in that topic, pick a Case Brief, and use the matching Source Packet for critical analysis (evaluate packet evidence; this is not a pick-a-side classical argument).
- Business & Marketing — Tesla sustainability claims; Nike Flyknit green-innovation marketing (briefs + packets).
- Climate — Maldives climate / health / livelihoods; EPA / NOAA adaptation.
- Education — KIPP data-driven instruction; achievement-gap school case; San Diego Positive Outliers packet.
- Environmental — Data centers energy and water; Wise County fracking and drinking water.
- Film & TV — Streaming / writers strike; true-crime ethics; franchise reboots.
- Forensics & Psychology — Ronald Cotton eyewitness; Bear Brook forensic identification.
- Government — Brown v. Board implementation; Cold War policy case.
- Health Science — Rural pediatric telemental health; rural veterans telemedicine.
- Mortuary Science — Epidemics / disasters body handling; funeral rituals / culture.
- Public Health — Opioid policy responses; Florida “truth” tobacco countermarketing.
- Social Media — Instagram body dissatisfaction; Lizzo body-positivity discourse (BarkBox / Crumbl = class models only).
- Technology & Media — Genome-editing ethics / governance; Instagram body / platform design.
- Urban Studies — Church Hill (Richmond) gentrification; Oklahoma City gentrification.
- Gaming — Loot boxes; Twitch influencer marketing; esports labor / contracts; Fortnite Battle Pass monetization (numbered briefs 01–04).
How to use this. Select one topic; prefer Case Options, then the matching Case Brief + Source Packet (same number in Gaming). Use each topic’s Research materials for open-access studies. Do not mix packets across topics unless your instructor says otherwise.
Student prompts: essay overview and practice sequence
How the Case Study / critical analysis sequence works. Use these checkpoints to practice; your instructor will confirm what to submit and when in class.
Essay overview. Choose one case study packet — not only a topic label — and stay with it. A case study is one real situation with clear edges and evidence. Your packet is the main text.
Critical analysis means judging how the case holds up:
- Framing — How does the packet define the problem?
- Stakeholders — Who is affected? Whose voices appear or are missing?
- Evidence quality — Data vs branding, opinion, or a single example
- Assumptions — What the case takes for granted
- Limits — What the packet can and cannot tell us
Your thesis answers one critical question about your packet. Body paragraphs argue by interpreting evidence. Summary tells what the packet says; analysis tells what it means and where it is strong or thin. Aim for about 1,000 to 1,500 words MLA with 1 to 2 outside sources beyond the packet.
Practice sequence (shapes only):
- Topic selection + preview — Topic folder and exact packet title; one-sentence summary; critical question; working thesis; two concrete packet details; why you chose this case.
- Critical analysis reading notes — Notes under the five lenses; at least two original critical questions; end with “A possible focus for my essay is …” Class models (BarkBox / Crumbl) show the method only.
- Outline / research plan — Working thesis; outline with intro, ≥3 body sections (topic sentence + packet details + analysis), limitations / ethics, conclusion; 1 to 2 outside sources and what each adds.
- Working draft + one peer review — Continuous prose toward the final length; peer pass restates thesis, names the critical question, strongest evidence, thinner analysis, limitations, and two revision moves.
- Final critical analysis essay — Intro + thesis; analysis body; outside sources; limitations / ethics; conclusion; Works Cited. Not a summary-only report, not a classical argument dossier, not a mid-essay topic switch.
Sample critical-question shapes:
- In [packet], which statements about [X] rest on measurable data, and which rest on branding or a single example?
- How does [packet] frame the problem of [Y], and what would change if a different stakeholder framed it?
- Whose voices appear in [packet], and whose are missing — and how does that shape what the case can prove?
- What does [packet] take for granted about [Z], and where does that assumption leave the evidence thin?
Research folders map (what each topic holds)
Each topic folder has a Research area with open-access packets and case PDFs where available. Start from that topic’s Case Options, then use Research for extra OA studies. Gaming Research may be empty in early versions — use topic-root packets 01–04.
- 1 Business & Marketing — Research copies for student use; originals stay in the topic root.
- 2 Climate — Research copies + index where present.
- 3 Education — Research copies + index where present.
- 4 Environmental — Includes data-centers brief / packets and related OA PDFs.
- 5 Film & TV — Research copies + index where present.
- 6 Forensics & Psychology — Research copies + index where present.
- 7 Government — Research copies + index where present.
- 8 Health Science — Research copies + index where present.
- 9 Mortuary Science — Research copies + index where present.
- 10 Public Health — Research copies + index where present.
- 11 Social Media — Research copies + index where present.
- 12 Technology & Media — Research copies + index where present.
- 13 Urban Studies — Research copies + index where present.
- 14 Gaming — Research may be empty in v1; use numbered Source Packets 01–04 in the topic folder.
Teacher archives, answer keys, and print packs are not student Research materials. Whole-Class Examples (BarkBox / Crumbl) are practice models outside the numbered topic rows.
Required readings (Monster Comparison)
There is no fixed literary list. Your primary materials are the comparison prompt and guide, plus your own research on two monsters that share meaningful ground. Sample essays are optional models only. This essay does not use a Case Study Source Packet.
How to use Monster Comparison materials
- Open the prompt PDF and guide PDF (links below).
- Choose two iconic monsters that share meaningful ground.
- Apply the same criteria to both figures and draft one insight thesis beyond a trait list.
- Use the Monster Comparison studio for samples and practice helpers (essay-first room).
- Monster Cards Comparison studio is a legacy optional path some sections still use; it is not the hub primary.
- Keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
What counts as primary evidence
The two figures you compare, the prompt and guide, and any sources you cite. Sample essays model structure only; do not copy sample prose.
- Essay-first path (primary) · prompt, guide, and Monster Comparison studio
- Cards path (optional / legacy) · two character cards, then a reflection that uses the cards
- Not used here · Case Study Source Packets and Case Briefs
Guides and sample essays
Practice guidance and sample comparisons live in the Drive files and on the Monster Comparison studio. Open a panel or file when you need it; keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
Where the materials live
Prefer the essay-first Monster Comparison studio. Sample essay bodies stay there so you read them in context.
- Prompt and guide PDFs · required how-to for the comparison
- Monster Comparison studio · sample comparisons and comparison moves
- Samples Doc · optional models (structure only)
- Monster Cards studio · legacy optional cards + reflection path
Quick checklist before you draft
- Name two figures that share meaningful ground.
- List 3 to 4 criteria you can apply to both.
- Draft one insight thesis (not a trait list).
- Skim one sample for structure only, then close it and write in your own words.
Required readings (Narrative Quest)
Class readings for this essay are the Stephen King On Writing excerpt and Viet Thanh Nguyen’s “Black-Eyed Women,” as assigned in class. Use the Narrative Quest guide for how the essay works.
How to use Narrative Quest materials
- Read the King and Nguyen pieces as assigned in class.
- Open the Narrative Quest guide PDF for structure and moves.
- Draft a focused personal narrative with scene, change, and one clear insight.
- Keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
Required readings (Classical Argument)
Mills How Arguments Work is required. Essay 2 class texts: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie “The Danger of a Single Story”; Born “Shadows of the Bat”; Evelyn Alsultany on Aladdin (Mills 15.7), as assigned in class. Final essay: 850 to 1,000 words (not counting Works Cited); draft at least 700 words.
How to use Classical Argument materials
- Read Mills as assigned in class, plus the Essay 2 texts above.
- Open the Classical Argument guide PDF for thesis, reasons, evidence, and counterargument moves.
- Build one arguable thesis with reasons and fair reply to an opposing view.
- Keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
Required readings (Facing the Unknown)
Mills How Arguments Work as assigned in class, plus one short reading from Mills 15.7 (Nature/Environment or Technology). Use the Facing the Unknown studio and Flex folder for practice support.
How to use Facing the Unknown materials
- Read Mills and your assigned 15.7 short reading as assigned in class.
- Open the Facing the Unknown studio for how/why exposition moves.
- Use the Flex folder for additional practice files when your instructor points you there.
- Keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
Required readings (Field Guide)
There is no fixed packet. You choose 1 to 3 credible sources plus a plate for your cultural place. Use the assignment and guide docs below for how the plate and how/why essay work together.
How to use Field Guide materials
- Open the assignment doc and Cultural Place guide.
- Read the Exposition Guide and Researching guide for plate plus essay moves.
- Gather 1 to 3 sources that serve your how/why focus (not a policy argument).
- Keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
Required readings (Final Reflection)
There is no external packet. Your primary materials are your own prior essays for this course. Use the Final Reflection prompt for what to notice and how to shape the reflection.
How to use Final Reflection materials
- Open the Final Reflection prompt PDF.
- Reread your own earlier essays and notes from this course.
- Draft a reflection that names growth, patterns, and one clear insight about your writing.
- Keep AI at Level 2 (support, not composition).
Library search tips
Prefer SAC Library databases when your essay needs outside sources. Start with a topic phrase plus one tension word, then narrow by peer-reviewed or full text. Sign in with ACES when prompted. Ask a librarian if a paywall appears; campus access often unlocks it.
- Use the keyword generator first, then paste a draft query into the library search or a database (Academic Search Complete, JSTOR, and similar).
- Try subject headings or Subjects filters once you find one good article.
- Save citations carefully; verify every MLA entry against the source and Purdue OWL or your handbook.
Google Scholar search help
Scholar is useful for discovering scholarly articles and tracking citations. Pair it with SAC access: open Scholar, then Settings, Library links, and search Alamo or San Antonio College so Full-Text links appear. Prefer library PDFs over random upload sites.
- Quote exact phrases:
"subscription fatigue"
- Combine concepts with AND / OR:
topic AND tension AND "key phrase"
- Use the year slider and “Cited by” to find newer or foundational work.
- If Scholar shows only an abstract, search the title in SAC databases or request help.
LibGuide · research maps
LibGuides are librarian-built maps for a class or assignment: databases, search tips, citation help. Browse SAC Academic Guides by subject or instructor.
Placeholder URL pattern for Caroline to edit when live: https://alamo.libguides.com/sac/engl1301_davis_casestudy
Keyword generator
Practice tool: enter your topic, thesis, or case to get search keywords, synonyms, Boolean tip strings, and draft queries for Scholar and the library. Runs on your device.
Practice tools
Helpers for this essay. Draft a practice thesis, draft topic sentences, build keywords, log sources, practice MLA, and rehearse peer feedback. Each tool page explains how to use it.
Comparison studio
Monster Comparison: an essay-first comparison of two iconic monsters. Sample essays and guides are linked inside the room. Monster Cards is a legacy optional path.
Exposition studios
Two separate rooms: Facing the Unknown (research exposition) and Cultural Place Field Guide (plate plus how/why place essay).
Case Study studio
The live essay workspace for the Case Study Critical Analysis: topic picker, brainstorm, notes, outline, draft, one peer-review rehearsal, and a final checklist. Use the universal Practice path for any essay; open this studio for Case Study specific steps.
AI Level 2
Support, not composition. AI may help you brainstorm questions, check organization, or get reader-style feedback on work you already drafted. AI may not write your thesis, body paragraphs, source paraphrases, or final essay prose. Do not treat AI output as evidence.
MLA & citation practice
Refresh MLA format and verify every citation you generate. Prefer SAC Library databases for outside sources; use the practice MLA generator and source log to check entries before you rely on them.
Studio navigation
Home to Resources (this page) to Practice path (start practicing any essay) to Tools to Essays on the 1301 home (one block per essay: Narrative Quest, Classical Argument, Monster Comparison, Facing the Unknown, Field Guide, Case Study, Final Reflection).
