auto bibliography and exploratory paper for ENG240

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN WORK

· Unless I say otherwise, assignments must be submitted in class as paper copies. All written assignments must be typed and double-spaced. Use a legible 12-point font. The pages should be stapled together.

· Except for the final portfolio, please do not hand in work in folders or covers.

· If you miss class when an assignment is due, you may email it to me as a Word-compatible attachment.

· Proofread your work carefully. I recommend reading each draft aloud to help catch errors such as typos and missing words. Don’t rely on spell checkers or grammar checkers; they make errors.

· Keep originals of all your written work, including drafts. It’s especially important that you keep all assignments with grades or my comments for inclusion in your portfolio at the end of the class.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

B. Annotated Bibliography: The annotated bibliography is an alphabetical list of citations for five articles you have consulted and plan to use in your paper. These citations should follow either the MLA or APA guidelines. Choose one and be consistent. If possible, choose the format that is used in your field of study. Each citation must be followed by a short "annotation" (commentary) focused on how the piece will help your argument, what ideas and evidence it supplies, its credibility, and any weaknesses or limitations you find in it.

C. Exploratory Section: This paper will introduce the problem you’re addressing and provide an overview of solutions that have already been tried or proposed. The piece should be persuasive; strive to convince your audience of the urgency of the problem and the need for a solution. Identify the major points of controversy surrounding the issue. Also discuss the most important or controversial cause-and-effect relationships associated with the problem you’re investigating. Depending on your topic, you may need to focus on the root causes of the problem you want to fix or the consequences (costs) of allowing an existing problem to continue. You must cite relevant and authoritative sources for this essay. You can use the articles from your annotated bibliography or new ones.

GRADING CRITERIA

Grades will be assigned in accordance with the National University Catalog and the following general criteria adopted by the College of Letters and Sciences. In this course, grades will be issued according to a points system and will only be translated into a letter grade when final grades are assigned.

"A" grade: Outstanding achievement; significantly exceeds standards

· Unique topic or unique treatment of topic; fresh approach.

· Sophisticated, thoughtful use of examples and evidence; arguments powerfully supported.

· Seamless organization; all sentences and paragraphs contribute to the whole; smooth transitions; excellent use of “signposts” for the reader.

· Excellent integration of quotations and source material to highlight and support the author's argument; quotations thoroughly contextualized and grammatically integrated.

· Confident style reflecting a refined understanding of syntax, diction and usage.

· Sentences vary in structure.

· Very few if any mechanical errors. No serious mechanical errors that impede understanding.

"B" grade: Commendable achievement; exceeds standards for course

· Specific, original focus; content well handled.

· Content thoroughly covered; good use of evidence and examples; sufficient support in all key areas.

· Effective organization, with good balance and transitions between sentences and paragraphs; good use of “signposts” for the reader.

· Quotations and source material are smoothly integrated into argument and support claims.

· Good transitions between sentences and paragraphs.

· Demonstrates mastery of Standard Written English; main points are clearly articulated, though there may be occasional minor lapses of clarity or style.

· May have a few minor mechanical errors (misplaced commas, pronoun disagreement, etc.) but no serious mechanical errors (fragments, run-ons, comma splices, etc.).

"C" grade: Acceptable, solid achievement; meets standards for course.

· Maintains focus, with a generally solid command of subject matter.

· Subject matter well covered, but analysis may be somewhat underdeveloped.

· Claims are understood, with generally competent use of examples and evidence.

· Structure is solid, with an occasional sentence or paragraph lacking focus.

· Quotations and source material are integrated into argument, though grammatical integration and contextualization may be weak in some instances.

· Transitions between paragraphs exist, but some may be weak.

· Competent use of language; sentences are solid but may lack development, refinement, style.

· Occasional minor mechanical errors occur, but do not impede clear understanding of material.

· Few serious mechanical errors (fragments, run-ons, comma splices, etc.).

"D" grade: Marginal achievement; only meets minimum standards

· Significance of content is unclear; thesis unclear or not adhered to.

· Claims may lack support, elaboration.

· Lacks sufficient evidence and examples, or the relevance of evidence or examples may be unclear.

· Support material and quotations may not be clearly and effectively incorporated into the argument.

· Grammatically unclear, awkward sentences; problematic sentence structure.

· Mechanical errors may at times impede clear understanding of material.

· May have a number of serious mechanical errors (fragments, run-ons, comma splices, etc.).

"F" grade: Fails to meet minimal standards

· Does not follow assignment.

· Lacks thesis or organizing idea; no significant claim; confusing.

· Lacks coherence and organization from paragraph to paragraph or sentence to sentence.

· Includes plagiarized material (intentional or unintentional).

· Difficult to follow due to awkward sentence or paragraph development.

· Recurring mechanical errors that impede understanding.