Rio Hondo College
ENG101, spring 2015
Professor Durfield
Essay 1 assignment sheet: Concept
Prewriting task (handwritten)—do both of the following on the same document:
1. Freewrite, brainstorm or cluster/map: Gather your ideas about your concept before you begin your essay.
Write as much as you can based on what you may already know about the concept (should be approx. ½
page long).
2. Draft your thesis. Remember: Your thesis should be 1 sentence long and effectively summarize your paper.
For a concept essay, your thesis statement should be a definition of the concept.
Essay task: Write a 2-3 page (double-spaced), multi-paragraph, MLA-formatted essay about your concept. Clearly
define and explain your topic, utilizing the conventions of a concept essay as discussed in class.
Your introduction paragraph should include an interesting “hook” statement and a clear thesis. Your
conclusion paragraph should re-iterate (but NOT repeat verbatim) your thesis.
You are not required to use outside sources for this paper, but if you do, you should use proper MLA style for
in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
Point values & deadlines:
Essay #
D1/prewriting
points
1: Concept
50
2: Profile OR
50
Evaluation
3: Argument
50
4: Solution
50
D1/prewriting
due
D2 points
D2 EB due
D2 due
T 02-24
100
100
T 03-03
R 03-05
T 03-17
T 03-24
R 03-26
T 04-14
T 05-05
100
100
T 04-21
T 05-12
R 04-23
R 05-14
Due dates for Essay 1:
 Prewriting & first draft (D1): Hard copy will be collected at the beginning of class on Tuesday, February
24.
 Final draft (D2): Hard copy will be collected at the beginning of class on Thursday, March 5.
o Early Bird: Students wishing to receive detailed feedback on their D2 must submit a hard copy at
the beginning of class on Tuesday, March 3.
Point breakdown:
 Assignment is worth 150 points total, per course syllabus
o D1/prewriting = 50 points
 Hard copy of D1 (at least 1 full page long) = 20 points
 Peer review in class = 15 points
 Prewriting = 15 points
o D2 grammar/mechanics/MLA formatting = 20 points
o D2 content = 80 points
Mechanics and other specifics:
 MLA formatting is required
 There is no required word, sentence, or paragraph count. However, your essay should be well-organized
and easy for the reader to follow.
 Your first draft (D1)…
o Will only be accepted in class. If you are absent, your D1 will be considered “late” and will not be
accepted. Exceptions to this policy will only be made in extreme circumstances, by instructor approval
on a case-by-case basis.
o Should be printed, stapled and ready for review at the beginning of class on the due dates.
Should be at least 1 FULL page long in order to be eligible to receive full credit for that portion of the
assignment. D1s less than the minimum required length will receive a 5 point deduction.
 Your second draft (D2)…
o Should be the minimum required length; Works Cited list is only needed if/when you use
references, and is not included in the total page count.
 Essays less than the minimum required length will receive an automatic 10 point deduction
from their D2 grade.
 See the course Late/Make up Work Policy in the syllabus if you have questions about whether or not late
work would be accepted for D1 or D2.
o
Grading rubric
For this assignment…
Element
An “A” paper will…
Thesis
Feature a
linguistically precise,
uniquely & clearly
contextualized thesis,
unambiguously
showing the reader
where the rest of the
paper is “going.”
Research (if
Appropriately and
required)
successfully integrate
interesting and
effective quotes
selectively gleaned
from the requested
number and types of
reliable, relevant
sources. In-text
citations and works
cited list correctly
used.
Organization
Follow a logical and
easily-read “flow”—
thesis clear,
transitional
words/phrases
effectively used,
paragraph topics
well-established and
support for points of
body paragraphs
thoughtfully
constructed.
Mechanics
Have a scant few
proofreading and/or
MLA style errors.
A “B” paper will…
Feature a thesis with
some description and
contextualization,
forecasting the
general direction of
the remainder of the
paper.
A “C” paper will…
Contain an
identifiable thesis
that includes
mention of the
topic.
A “D” paper will…
Contain a statement
that might or might
not be identifiable
as the thesis.
Use quotes from
sources, but the types
and/or number of
sources do not meet
the minimum
qualifications of the
assignment. In-text
citations and works
cited list have
multiple flaws.
Use quotes
sporadically
throughout paper,
failing to meet
minimum
qualifications for
assignment. In-text
citations and works
cited list have
chronic errors.
Occasionally use
quotes, but citations
and works cited are
fatally flawed
and/or nonexistent.
Exhibit a “flow” that
is reasonable but has
some flaws in logic,
or goes off-topic
periodically.
Transitional
words/phrases
occasionally used.
Have organization
that is difficult to
follow/discern
regularly
throughout the
essay. Transitional
words/phrases
rarely used.
Have little to no
discernable
organization.
Transitional
words/phrases
absent.
Have several
proofreading and/or
MLA style errors.
Have multiple
proofreading
and/or MLA style
errors that distract
from the overall
content of the
paper.
Be rife with
proofreading
and/or MLA style
errors, such that the
paper is virtually
unreadable.
If you have questions or concerns about this assignment, please e-mail Professor Durfield at
adurfield@riohondo.edu