This assignment was locked Jun 14, 2013 at 1:59am.
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what the research essay needs. But here's a recap of the most important requirements:
Present a persuasive thesis, which takes a stand on a particular issue and attempts to bring readers into agreement with that thesis.
Be in the range of 2500-3000 words. A little more is fine, but must meet that minimum threshold to be considered successful.
Utilize at least 7 outside sources, of any type. Those sources should be high-quality and present the best information or opinions available on the matter at hand. At least one of those sources should adopt a viewpoint which is different from your thesis.
Include at least 2 visual elements: 1 chart/table/graph & 1 photo/image/drawing. Those visual elements should include captions as well as explanations in the essay of the text, and be properly cited.
Follow a clear structure designed to have the most positive impact on your thesis.
Follow MLA page formatting and citation guidelines (in-text and Works Cited).
You have a lot of leeway for tailoring these essays to your individual subject matter's needs. The primary goal is to be persuasive, and whatever supports that goal is up to you.
Documents submitted here MUST be submitted as a Google Doc with sharing and editing enabled.
Links to Docs submitted after 11:59pm WEDNESDAY night will be counted at LATE, and only be eligible for 75% of the point value for the assignment. Submitting a Doc without sharing/editing enabled will also result in a late penalty, so BE VERY SURE you submit the correct link.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
137111034006/13/201301:59am
Rubric
true
83
Can't change a rubric once you've started using it.
Original, clear, focused, debatable well-supported thesis. Specific examples included for support. Uses targeted appeals to logic, emotion, and/or ethics as appropriate to be persuasive.
Original, debatable, sufficiently supported thesis. Examples included for support. Uses appeals to logic, emotion, and/or ethics as appropriate to be persuasive.
Identifiable main idea that is generally supported. Some examples included, though potentially vague or abstract. Uses some appeals to logic, emotion, and/or ethics to be persuasive, though perhaps not most appropriate for circumstances.
Identifiable main idea that is not well supported or does not match most of essay content. Some examples provided, but of a vague, abstract nature. Uses few to no appeals to logic, emotion, and/or ethics as appropriate to be persuasive.
Balanced, authoritative sources; effectively integrated outside sources. It's evident that multiple sources were consulted in order to provide the highest-quality information to support thesis.
Effective, authoritative sources, sufficiently integrated into rest of essay. Evident that multiple sources were consulted in order to provide information to support thesis.
Some sources appropriately used for assignment; source content not well integrated into essay text. Not evident that multiple sources were consulted in addition to those which actually appear in the text.
Insufficient sources used for assignment and/or sources are of poor quality for academic purposes. Not well integrated into surrounding text. No evidence of research done beyond the quotes/paraphrases used in the body of the essay.
Varied sentence structure. Vocabulary is appropriate to writing context. Minimal mechanical errors that do not interfere with reader’s understanding.
Arguments are tailored to meet the needs of the target audience. Counterarguments are anticipated and adequately responded to. Effective level of formality.
Arguments are well-founded, but may not fully consider the interests of the target audience. Counterarguments are anticipated. Appropriate level of formality.
Arguments don't consider the needs of the target audience. Counterarguments are not fully anticipated. Appropriate formality for writing context, though not always targeted to specific audience.
In-text citations and Works Cited page generally follow MLA specifications, with some consistent errors. Pages are formatted using MLA standards, possibly with some error.
Is missing either in-text citation or Works Cited page, or citations do not follow MLA guidelines consistently. Page formatting does not follow MLA guidelines.
Find Rubric
