NetsX: Critical Biography
Your final project will bring together the staged writing you have done on Google documents to create a formal critical biography paper. For the final version
you will expand upon and tie together the three sections of the critical biography that you have been developing over the course of the term:
1.
2.
3.
4.
ESSAY (total 2500 words)
Bio – 250 word min – description of your activist’s past and upbringing. PLUS Any further information on how upbringing shaped politics and
movement activity.
Movement – 500 word min – overview of the social movement(s) your activist worked within. PLUS contextualisation of this movement in its time
period and an analyses of the movements main platforms, strategies, actions, members, etc.
Legacy – 500 word min – discussion of the impact and influence your activist had on other people and movements. PLUS drawing out connections
between your protester and their movement to through to the contemporary.
IN ADDITION (approx. 500 word letter)
Letter – In addition to your essay you will turn in a letter written to your youth protester. The purpose of the letter is to ask any remaining questions
you have that you could not uncover in your research. This is a creative task that should incorporate and build on your research. As a prompt, imagine
you were in a room with your youth protester and you were allowed to ask them anything at all about their lives that you wanted to know. What
would you ask? Why do you want to know this? The questions can be about anything related to information you have discovered through the
research process. You should format this part of the assignment as a letter. You can type up the letter and attach it to your paper, or you can choose
to write it by hand. It can include drawings, images, clippings or any features that might normally be found in a letter or lengthy email. The
presentation of the letter is up to you, so long as it is readable and is clearly a letter addressed to your youth protester.
To view our collective documents and research progress, go to https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0BxyNSl3_yXaNQ0tPSzBPTDJKdXc/edit
To receive feedback on your draft you can schedule an office hours appointment. During the week of April 15, 2013 everyone will be requested to meet with
me for a one-to-one meeting to discuss the progression of your essay. FEEDBACK WILL NOT BE GIVEN BY EMAIL except to answer specific, direct questions
about assignment instructions.
Critical Biography – Final Paper Rubric
To get an A
To get a B
To get a C
To fail
Meets 250 word min of personal biographical content; shows critical
understanding of how upbringing and childhood shaped movement practice;
shows rigorous research and good use of primary sources where available.
Meets 500 word min of detailed description of youth protester’s movement(s);
includes in addition to description an engaged analyses of the movement’s
historical role and importance; makes clear connections between youth protester
and movement, as well as with other movement participants and
contemporaries. Insightfully contextualises movement debates in time period.
Meets 500 word min of detailed description of legacies; includes discussion of
personal legacy as well as makes links to broader movement practices post 1975;
draws out influences and genealogies of protest; engages with temporality of
debate and conflict; shows sophisticated understanding of how technological and
social change is shaped by and shapes protest legacies.
Contains most
elements
Missing most
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Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Contains most
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Missing most
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Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Contains most
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Missing most
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Incomplete or does
not follow
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Format
Presentation
Typed in standard font; 1.5 or double spaced; printed out and stapled
Contains most
elements
Missing most
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Copyediting
Text shows signs of being carefully proofread; few spelling and grammar errors
Contains most
elements
Missing most
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References
References are cited using a standard academic format in either parenthetical intext references or endnotes. Chicago is recommended, Harvard and MLA
acceptable. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
Contains most
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Missing most
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Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Critical Research and Writing Skills
Written professional; shows signs of careful editing and re-writes; avoids overTone and
generalizations and overly editorial content; arguments are carefully constructed
Style
Contains most
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Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Originality
Contains most
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Missing most
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Incomplete or does
not follow
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Contains most
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Missing most
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Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Contains most
elements
Missing most
elements
Incomplete or does
not follow
instructions
Content
Bio
Movement
Legacy
Depth and
Reflection
Letter
and presented in a straightforward manner; uses paragraphs clearly and correctly
Shows a unique and highly engaged approach to the essay displayed through one
or more of the following: illuminating examples, connections, anecdotes;
extensive use of primary source materials; comparative analysis to bring rise to
often overlooked ideas; incorporation of multi-media information sources
Displays a sophisticated understanding of the youth protester’s political
positions, actions, relationship, social positioning and relation to movement(s);
goes beyond the surface to ask hard questions; evidences a breadth of
knowledge on context of movement and youth protester’s contemporaries;
makes insightful connections to the present; shows awareness of multiple
perspectives or ‘situated knowledges’ and their influence on biography writing, as
well as autobiographical work (where applicable)
Letter is 500 words, clearly introduces the reason for writing the letter; asks
insightful questions based on research and information discovered about your
youth protester; balances inquiry with personal connection. Shows engaged
understanding of person’s life and work.
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