ENGLISH 22

Capstone Essay – Getting Started and Going from There

Pick a topic/issue that interests you, something you are curious about

or you are very passionate about. Create an argument using Logic,

Emotion, and Credibility that informs the reader (this is important for

you to be aware of and here is why), provides different perspectives, as

well as persuades the reader to take a certain action (now that you

know about the issue, here is how you should think about it or here is

what you should do about it). If you wish, after informing the reader,

and persuading a bit, you can leave your argument open for the reader

to decide for him/herself.

The capstone essay should achieve the following goals:

• develop a clear and arguable thesis that is supported with solid critical reasoning and valid, compelling research

• develop an effective and appropriate essay structure and tone

• avoid faulty or illogical reasoning (Fallacies)

• employ various persuasive appeals

• anticipate and respond (rebut) to audience concerns and counterarguments

• effectively integrate information and ideas from other texts/sources with necessary documentation

• smoothly introduce and integrate quotations and paraphrases from other sources with necessary documentation

• uphold academic standards of grammar, punctuation, and spelling

How the paper is to be put together:

8 Pages

(these are the pages that count towards the REQUIRED page count)

-Abstract

-Actual Essay Text

PLUS

-Cover Page (APA)

-Annotated Bibliography in MLA or APA

(These pages DO NOT count towards the total page count)

Standard Essay formatting of:

1” Margins all around

12 point professional font

Double spaced

Style Format – APA or MLA, depending on your major

Sources – Use your best judgment and common sense, which means to

use as many credible sources as you need to support the points you are

making in your paper. One or two sources for an eight page paper is

going to immediately call your credibility into question as a reliable

source of information, so please keep that in mind. That being said,

here is the BARE MINIMUM number of sources you can use as well as

what types:

MINIMUM SIX (6) SCHOLARLY SOURCES

• 6 sources must be from a scholarly source, such

as a journal, a book, or a research paper or study

by degreed professionals in that field of

study/work

• Other additional sources can be from any other

type of credible source

You are not limited to six sources. You may, (and probably

should), use more than six.

Rhetoric – Yes, you will be expected to make use of Logic, Emotion, and

Credibility. You will also be expected to avoid using fallacies in your

argument. Further, you will need to address other points of view on

your topic and counter those arguments effectively, and in particular,

point out any false arguments that are offered by these other sides of

the issue you are writing about.

Stages of the Paper – Each Stage of Paper has points that add up to

your total grade on the Capstone (250 points total/ 25% of overall

grade for course)

Draft of Annotated Bibliography – (6 scholarly sources) choose sources

that you think will be of use to you in researching your chosen topic

and in determining your specific argument. These sources need to be

from a scholarly journal/publication and/or scholarly research papers.

You are not committed to these sources for the Final version of your

Capstone. You may end up using some of them or none of them for the

finished paper, but you WILL NEED 6 SCHOLARLY SOURCES for the Final

version, even if they are all different from the first six in your original

draft.

Pre-Write - get your ideas out of your head and onto a piece of paper

or in a Word doc

Draft #1 – Rough version of your paper. Start to put your ideas into

sentence/paragraph form. Organize your points in what you think is

the most effective manner. Think about where you will need outside

information to support your points and exactly what those sources

should be. This draft will be turned in for comments from the

instructor.

Draft #2 – More polished version. Use word choices and phrasing that

makes ideas flow from one to the next for the reader. Make changes

from Draft #1 based on feedback. Add in outside information, including

sources and citing those sources. Improve grammar, punctuation, and

spelling issues. This draft will only be workshopped in class where you

will receive credit for this portion.

Abstract Draft – Draft of paragraph written to explain content of paper,

research methods, and reason for YOUR research and argument

(“Because I had to for class” is not an option). This is where you sell the

reader on the idea of reading your paper.

Final Revised Version of Paper

Cover Page, Abstract, Text, Annotated Bibliography will be turned in on

due date.

Please Note: The Finished version of the Annotated Bibliography

will contain ALL sources used for Finished version of paper with

full annotations for each source, scholarly and others.

DUE DATES ON SYLLABUS – we will try to stick to these dates, but we

will adjust them as needed.

Points per Component of Capstone Assignment (possible points = most points that can be scored on a given component) Draft of Annotated Bibliography

30 possible points

Pre-Write 20 possible points

Draft 1 of Essay 50 possible points

Draft 2 of Essay 30 possible points

Draft of Abstract 20 possible points

Final Revised Version of complete Capstone Essay

100 possible points

TOTAL 250 POSSIBLE POINTS

The “A” List – The Capstone Essay

To earn an “A” on the assignment, the following criteria must be met.

The further an assignment deviates from these criteria, the lower the

grade will be.

In any assignment:

Argument Is effective, informative, persuasive, balanced

Makes use of Big 3

Main Point Clear and concise Very specific, defined

Supporting Points

Directly relate to Main Point Stay on topic, demonstrate the Main Point step-by- step in a way that makes sense to the reader.

Sources Credible, Recognized (NO Wikis or “How To/About/etc.” sites allowed)

Use enough sources to back up your statements to give them (and yourself) credibility.

Captures and Holds Interest

Is interesting, engaging, thought provoking

Makes reader want to start reading and keep on reading.

Continuity Maintain viewpoint, tone Points of argument/statements do not contradict earlier or later points/statements. Also, overall tone (formal/academic, matter-of-fact,

personal, satire/humorous) does not change.

Clear, Concise, Focused, Flows

Reader does not have to guess, infer, assume, or have prior knowledge of the topic

Stays on topic, avoids tangents and/or trivial/irrelevant info, moves reader easily from one point to the next without insulting their intelligence or using “insider lingo” without explanation.

Insert Choices

Block Quotes, Pictures/Figures When appropriate to help reader better understand your message. Must be formatted correctly under APA/MLA guidelines.

Mechanics – Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Syntax/etc.

DON’T TRUST SPELLCHECK AND/OR GRAMMARCHECK ENTIRELY

Proofread your paper yourself to check for these errors as there are still many ‘bugs’ in these programs and human beings are not yet obsolete.

Format APA or MLA – follow guidelines (http://owl.english.purdue.edu)

DO NOT TRUST AUTO-FORMATTING SOFTWARE/WEBSITES (see above).

Elements unique to this assignment: Capstone Essay

Argument What is your topic, what are the main aspects of the topic that you are examining, and what exactly are you arguing about the topic?

Controlling/Main idea that pulls reader in, makes them curious, hear what you have to say. Through your points and examples, the reader understands why the topic is important to know about, and the reader is persuaded to see the issue in a new light.

Main Point Clearly identify the topic/issue you are exploring and how you are approaching it (arguing it).

Make it clear. Do not make the reader guess or assume. Finish the thought for the reader.

Supporting Points

What are some specific examples from multiple sources that support your main point? What specific examples, (direct quote, indirect quote, paraphrase, image) can you incorporate with your own supporting points?

Do not assume the reader knows all the examples you give, but also do not burden them with unnecessary information. More importantly, show them your line of thought on these examples so they do not have to infer or guess at your meaning.

Sources Use at least 6 scholarly sources and pull from a variety of mediums (print, film) Follow the 5 Year Rule as much as possible

Remember that it is important to use a variety of sources not only in the medium they were published in, but also in who created that

Beware of bias/ulterior motives/agendas/opinion versus fact

information. Use a variety of authors. Are sources credible? Are sources current and timely? Do they still speak to the topic/issue and your focus on it as it exists today? Is the info relevant to your argument or does it distract from it? Is or is it possible source biased in any way for any reason? If so, address that.

Continuity, Flow, Captures and Holds Interest

Your examples work together to support your supporting points and in turn, your main point.

Choose interesting/intriguing/rela table examples to keep reader interested.

Clear, Concise, Focused

Reader does not have to guess, infer, assume, or have prior knowledge of the topic

Stays on topic, avoids tangents and/or trivial/irrelevant info, moves reader easily from one point to the next without insulting their intelligence or using “insider lingo” without explanation.

Insert Choices

Images, (pictures, graphs, charts)

Use basic MLA or APA format to include (we reviewed in class and also refer to Content Tab on class Springboard page).

Mechanics – Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Syntax/etc.

Use rules for Standard Academic/Professional American English, which you should be familiar with at this point in time.

Proofread your paper yourself to check for these errors as there are still many ‘bugs’ in these programs and human beings are not yet obsolete.

Format APA or MLA – follow guidelines (http://owl.english.purdue .edu)

DO NOT TRUST AUTO- FORMATTING SOFTWARE/WEBSITES (see above).

Documentati on and Explanation of Sources

Identify and/or cite sources in text Complete Annotated Bibliography (ALL sources annotated)

Tell reader who is “talking” and when. First time a source is used, tell reader why they get to “talk.” Annotations are clearly written and grammatically correct. Each annotation has a

summary of who/what

source is and info

contained in source

document, the source’s

credibility and significance

to the topic, and why you

chose that source and info

to include in your paper.

Page Count Make sure you have ALL the REQUIRED pages for the Capstone (8 pages).

MLA Cover Page – Doesn’t Count Overview – COUNTS Text w/ or w/o images – COUNTS Annotated Bibliography – Doesn’t Count APA Cover Page – Doesn’t Count Abstract – COUNTS Text – COUNTS Annotated Bibliography – Doesn’t Count Appendix /Images – COUNTS