Shepard
Spring 2019
English 162 Essay Rubric Pack
English 162 Essay 1 Summary Response Rubric
Assignment: For the first phase of this essay write 1000 words which finds connections
between the two articles of your choice from our book on a similar topic and then
incorporate your own thoughts on the academic conversation as described in our text. The
paper must include a clear thesis, supporting points, address the opposing side and credible
sources. It should also include proper MLA documentation.
Page number count does not include title page or references/works cited page.
Evaluation and Special Requirements: This paper will demonstrate your understanding of
persuasive, and rhetorical techniques and proper handling of citations within and at the
end of the paper as well as proper formatting in MLA style.
Please pick three or four connection between the articles and then write about your take on
the topic at the end of the paper.
For the second phase of this paper, you will add to your synthesis of the articles you found for
the first part of the paper by doing additional research with outside sources and incorporating
them to support your argument about what you think about the environmental issues presented in
your synthesis essay. Your final version of the paper should be 1500 words.
This assignment is worth 100 points and 20% of your final grade and is based on the
following criteria:
Grammar/style—20 points
Clarity, detail—50 points
Use of Reasoning--20 points
Timeliness—10 points
Essay 2 Rubric Research Essay
Part 1
Part 1 includes:
The Annotated Bibliography
Part of the required library research for your essay involves putting together an annotated
bibliography. As you probably know, a bibliography is an alphabetical list of those sources
that are pertinent to your research topic. An annotated bibliography, however, asks you to
go one or two steps further by adding a brief summary and/or commentary after each
entry. The purpose of such a bibliography is to identify the research you have done in
support of your essay and to assist other readers who might be interested in doing their
own research on your topic. For each source you list in you bibliography you will write a 5075 word paragraph that summarizes your source.
The Format
1)Each entry should begin with the correct MLA citation for the source. These
should be arranged on the page just as you would arrange the citation on a works cited
page. The difference here is that the citation will be followed by a paragraph summary of
the source.
2)These summaries should begin with a sentence that includes the author, the genre of the
source (editorial, scholarly article, book length study, biography, etc.), a rhetorically
accurate verb such as asserts, argues, suggests, implies, claims, etc., and a "that clause"
containing the major assertion (thesis statement) of that .
.]. After the first sentence the summaries should go on to explain how the author develops
and supports the thesis. What supporting claims does the writer use to support the thesis?
How is the source organized? What kinds of evidence and examples does the author use?
How well does the evidence support her claims? Conclude the paragraph by discussing the
source's overall usefulness to your research.
The Content
Your bibliography can include a mixture of books, journal articles, and in-depth
reference articles. I expect you to consult the library's computerized catalogue, on-line
subscription databases such as Academic Search Complete,Opposing Viewpoints, Lexis
Nexis,The Electronic Journal Center, and others
Your bibliography should not include, articles from an Internet website, articles from a
general encyclopedia, or entries from a dictionary.The bibliography should have no fewer
than 5 annotated sources. Remember that all of your sources must relate to the topic you
have chosen. You will need to follow the current MLA form for listing sources in a
bibliography. Consult the MLA Handbook or another source that includes a description of
proper MLA form. The annotated bibliography, which should be typed double-spaced.
Below is an example of what one of your citations should look like.
Mandel, Jerome. "The Grotesque Rose: Medieval Romance and
The Great Gatsby." Modern Fiction Studies
34(1988): 541-558.
In this journal article Mandel argues that Gatsby
follows many of the conventions of medieval romance, and analyzes East and West
Egg as competing courts, Buchanan as a prince/Lord with Daisy as unattainable
queen/fair lady. Gatsby and Nick are both construed as knights; Jordan is only
mentioned in passing as a sort of attendant figure on Queen Daisy. This whole analysis
seems somewhat farfetched.
Note Cards
Using a system of note cards allows you to manage and organize your source
information in a variety of ways. Note cards enable you to organize information
according to concepts rather than sources. Since each card focuses on only one idea,
the card can be grouped with related information from other sources. Using cards
that include multiple ideas from particular sources makes synthesizing information
much more difficult. Your cards must include notes from a minimum of 5 different
sources. Three of the sources may come from our course readings. Author last
name/Title Title of Card (reflects subject matter)
of Source (links card to working bib.) Summary/Paraphrase/Quote of source
information. One idea/topic per card.Do not summarize an entire article, book,
etc. on one card. Take steps to avoid plagiarism. Copy source language exactly in a
quote OR accurately summarize/ paraphrase source info. in your own words.
List page numbers cited after entry.
Working Bibliography cards (see pp. 169-70)
A working bibliography is a record of the sources you have consulted during your
research process. These bibliography cards are kept separate from your note
cards.
You must include a minimum of 10 sources in your working bibliography.
Include a correctly formatted MLA citation. Consult HW p. 497 and
Chapter 34, p. 576 to find the appropriate citation format for the
particular source you are using. Keep cards in alphabetical order by author’s last
name or (if no author is identified) by the first significant word in the source title.
Place the call number of library sources on the upper left of the card.
On the back of the card add brief comments about the source content and
its usefulness.
Part 2 The Research Paper
In this essay you will employ the strategies of analysis and synthesis covered in
the course to write a research paper on a controversial topic of interest to an
academic audience. You may wish to select a topic from within the discipline or
field you expect to enter. What, for example, is a current controversy in the field
of nursing? In law enforcement? In business?
Purpose
Your purpose is to persuade an academic audience that your position is
reasonable and worth considering. Your goal should be to convince this audience
of professors and students like yourselves that your topic has value and that your
points are worth considering because they are supported by research.
Length
This essay will end up being 1500 words in length and must include information
from no fewer than five authoritative sources. Note: Five is the minimum number
necessary to fulfill the assignment. Essays that cite information from fewer than
five sources cannot receive a passing grade.
Documentation:
All source information you use in the paper must be appropriately documented
and cited according to the MLA format.
Website Evaluation Note: Only one of your sources may be a website and, like all
sources, it must be authoritative, reliable, and relevant.
Read QA pp.159-64. Review the textbook’s discussion of the “research log.” This
can be kept in a spiral notebook, in a computer file, or on loose leaf paper stored
in a two pocket folder. In your log brainstorm possible topics from the suggested
list. Look for different ways to narrow the focus. Select one and draft a series of
research questions (see p. 162).
ENGLISH 162 Literary Analysis of a Novel Essay
REQUIREMENTS:
Length: 1500 words at least
Goal: Literary Analysis of a Novel
Task: Analyze Handmaids Tale book and Hulu series based on critical theories found in
research of scholarly sources.
Special Requirements: Proper handling of MLA citation by using summary or paraphrase in
addition to direct quotation in the paper
Must include anthology reading and/or one critical commentary as basis for analysis of
Handmaids Tale and use at least two outside scholarly sources in the paper.
Revision Policy: You are allowed to revise your paper for a better grade and receive full points
but you must have SIGNIFICANT REVISIONS to the paper.
MLA or APA Format: 25%
Content and Clarity: 25%
Organization: 25%
Grammar and Mechanics—25%
100 points
Essay 4 Opinion Response Essay
English 162 Final Exam Essay
Length: 750-100 words 3-4 pages
Goal: In-Class Final Exam Essay
Task: Find an essay either online or in the back of our textbook on the argumentative topic of
your choice that that you would like to respond to. Write a three to four page response that
includes the following:
1. A summary of what the article is about and the author’s stance on the issue.
2. Your response to their argument—whether you agree or disagree—with supporting citations
from the text and any other sources you feel are relevant.
Worth 10% of your final grade.
Final Exam Due Date: