Evaluative
Criteria:
Remembering that an ‘A’ means that a student ‘goes above and
beyond’ the basic requirements of an assignment, spend significant
time brainstorming, drafting, and editing your paper. You will be
evaluated by the following criteria; these
evaluations will help you understand your essay's strengths and
weaknesses:
TIPS:
- Please simply staple, number, and label each page with
your
last name (no cover pages or booklets). Include a title.
- Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length
assigned
and
submitted on time. Use twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or CG
Times (or 10 pt. in Veranda, etc.). Late papers will result in grade
reductions. Never submit a paper without proofreading it carefully.
- Late papers will be penalized.
- Please carefully proofread your paper; grammatically
sloppy
papers will have points deducted.
- In order to avoid plagiarism and to guide your readers in following
your sources, please cite texts according to MLA
standards. You may use outside sources but are not required to do
so. If
you do use outside sources, please be sure to cite them properly.
-
Academic
Honesty and Plagiarism: Definition
of Plagiarism (from Student Handbook)
"Plagiarism
means the use of another's words as if they were your own, and the
unacknowledged
incorporation of those words in one's own work offered for credit. The following guidelines for written work will
assist
the student in avoiding plagiarism:
a) General indebtedness for background information and
data is acknowledged
by inclusion of a bibliography of all works consulted.
b) Specific indebtedness for a particular idea, or for
a quotation
of four or more words from another text, is acknowledged by footnote
reference
to the actual source. Quotations of 4 -5
words or more from a text are indicated by the use of quotation marks."
Honesty
is expected of you. It is expected that
the work
you hand in will always be your own, and that you will never copy
sentences,
phrases, paragraphs or whole essays from any other person's work, for
that
is plagiarism. Plagiarism is dishonest,
and against
both University policy and my own. If you
are
ever unclear about how to cite another person or author's ideas, come
see
me or consult the staff in the Writing Center. We
can help you do this correctly. It's
important
to understand that plagiarism is a big deal in this university and in
my class. Don't make this mistake. Students
who are caught plagiarizing will fail the course and be referred to the
Dean
of Student's office for disciplinary sanctions.
- This paper will be evaluated according to the strength and
clarity of its argument, validity of its support, and originality of
its
conclusions. In addition, evidence of each student's ability to
communicate these ideas in writing weighs considerably on the final
evaluation. Therefore, you are encouraged to engage in peer-review and
extensive proofreading.
- Students are encouraged to make use of the University
Writing
Center, located in Dickson Hall 285 (655-7442); students are benefited
most by making an appointment, but drop-in hours are also available. I
am more than willing to provide extra help and extra office hours!
Please come to my regular office hours in Dickson Hall 324 or email
me at nielsenw@mail.montclair.edu
for an appointment.
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CONTENT = 50 POINTS
Focus
(having a main
point):
When you finish your paper you should be
able to verbalize what the main point of your paper is. You need to
have some overarching question that you are aiming to answer, or you
need to be arguing for an interpretation of the unit's topic and
readings. The focusing point should be reflected in each of the
paragraphs in your essay.
- The focus should also show significant
strides towards the formation of a clear thesis, argument, and
controlling idea, which (in excellent papers) is original (i.e., not a
regurgitation of ideas expressed in class). Ideally, you will formulate
an argumentative thesis, or a controlling idea that formulates a
position on a topic. The opposite of an argumentative thesis is a
descriptive thesis, which merely restates, in general terms, an issue
without specifying the writer's position on the topic.
Development of a line of thought or
point: A developed paper is one in
which the main point is substantiated by textual evidence and
thoughtful discussion. There are no precise rules on how to organize
and develop a strong line of development. However, effective arguments
are generally discussed in some depth. Importantly,
regurgitation--re-telling what we already discussed in class or
referring to general ideas without defining them in relation to the
paper's main point--does not help you develop your point.
- An organized paper provides readers with introductions,
clear paragraphs, transitional cues, and conclusions.
- The strength of the introductory paragraph, structure of
supporting paragraphs, and the ability of the conclusion to summarize
the paper's main point while pointing to new conclusions will also be
considered.
- Clarity:
You need to have reasonable connections between paragraphs and
between points. Proper use of language, grammar and mechanics all
contribute to the clarity of your paper. the paper should also be well
organized so that readers can follow points clearly and logically.
- Topic
treatment--the extent to which a writer has engaged and
thought about the topic in a careful, thoughtful, and original manner.
- Key to development is analysis, which is also referred to
as reflection or critical thinking.
Reflection/Critical
Thinking:
Analysis is when a writer examines and explains events, beliefs, or
experiences that have been discussed. Analysis is evident when a writer
connects one individual experience with a larger phenomenon or when a
specific quality is generalized or theorized about. Analysis is asking,
and addressing, questions. Analysis is discussion.
- You are expected to analyze, work or
discuss the statements you make about topics and readings you are
discussing. Be reflective--anticipate and answer the questions which
readers might ask you. One way of thinking about reflection is to
imagine that you are answering a series of questions that start broad
and then move in closer as your analysis develops.
- Excellent papers should show sophistication of thought.
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FORM / STYLE = 50 POINTS
(precision of words; appropriate level of
specificity; sentence style is clearly structured and focused; minimal
mechanical errors (run-ons, fragments, parallel structure, agreement,
spelling, etc.).
Form/Style includes:
- precision of words;
- appropriate level of
specificity;
- sentence style is clearly structured and focused;
- minimal
mechanical errors (run-ons, fragments, parallel structure, agreement,
spelling, etc.).
Writing
as a process:
- Papers will be evaluated on the progress you have made
within
this essay--drafting, use of peer review, self-assessment, and editing
- Peer review: You will be evaluated on the quality and
usefulness of the peer review work you do for your peers.
- Proofreading: Proofreading errors are errors in spelling,
capitalization, typos, missing words, etc.--that is, errors writers
should be able to catch through careful re-reading.
- Improvement: Students will be evaluated on their
improvement from essay to essay.
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