Assignment 4

ENG 130: Literature and Comp

ENG 130: Research Essay

Essay ENG 130: Research Essay

This assignment focuses on your ability to: evaluate researched source materials to be academic, valid, and reliable; to incorporate research fluidly into an essay format; to cite researched information properly in APA format. The purpose of completing this assignment is: learning how to research valid and reliable sources is an important lifelong skill for school, career, and personal life. You will need to know how to synthesize researched information and present it effectively. As a student of Post, please be sure you use this assignment to solidify your mastery of APA text citations. Ask your instructor questions!

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Prompt (what you are writing about):

Who is August Wilson and how do his plays in The Pittsburgh Cycle—particularly Fences—

reflect the society in which they are set?

Instructions (How to get it done):

 Research August Wilson, his life, The Pittsburgh Cycle of plays, and how they reflect the eras

in which the plays are set.

 You must have at least four outside sources that are academic and reliable.

 Create an essay that is 2 to 3 pages and relates the following information:

o August Wilson’s life and accomplishments

o The plays that are included in Wilson’s The Pittsburgh Cycle including brief summaries

each play.

o Research on the era and location in which Fences is set.

 This is a research essay and not an argumentative essay.

 Include direct quotes and paraphrases from your researched information

 Be sure that you have in text citations and corresponding reference citations for all quoted

material, paraphrased material, and newly researched material.

Requirements:

 Length and format: 2-3 pages.

 The title page and reference page are also required, but they should not be factored into the 2-3 page length of the essay.

 It should also be double spaced, written in Times New Roman, in 12 point font and with 1 inch margins. Essay should conform to APA formatting and citation style.

 Use the third-person, objective voice, avoiding personal pronouns such as “I,” “you,” “we,” etc.

 Please use the above source and at least four outside sources to create a properly-formatted

APA reference page.

 Use APA format for in-text citations and references when using outside sources and textual

evidence.

 Please be cautious about plagiarism. Make sure to use in-text citations for direct quotes,

paraphrases, and new information.

Source: Fences by August Wilson (pages 1270-1331)

Research Essay Rubric

Does Not Meet Expectations

0-11

Below Expectations

12-13

Needs Improvement

14-15

Satisfactory

16-17

Meets Expectations

18-20

Organization Many details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper does not use paragraphs.

Writing may have little discernible

organization, but some details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper uses

paragraphs ineffectively.

Writing has adequate

discernible organization.

Paragraphs are generally used

effectively.

Writing is organized and

details are placed in a logical order. Paragraphs are

mostly used effectively.

Writing is effective,

purposeful, and well-organized. Paragraphs are used effectively.

Evidence and Support

Does not include text support and/or text support is not cited.

Very little evidence is given and used in the essay properly. Research evidence is not incorporated. Evidence may not relate to the thesis statement. Evidence is cited but not with the proper formatting.

Some evidence is used from two research sources and/or evidence is somewhat related to the thesis statement. Evidence may or may not always cited properly.

Evidence is used from three outside sources and/or evidence is mostly tied to the thesis statement and used properly and is cited properly.

Evidence is integrated from at least four outside sources and/or evidence is used effectively and cited properly.

Integration of Knowledge

The essay demonstrates that the author has not fully understood and applied concepts learned in the course.

The essay demonstrates gaps in knowledge of applied concepts learned in the course.

The essay demonstrates that the author, to a certain extent, understands and has applied concepts learned in the course.

The essay demonstrates that the author, for the most part, understands and has applied concepts learned in the course. Some of the conclusions, however, are not supported in the body of the paper.

The essay demonstrates that the author fully understands and has applied concepts learned in the course. Concepts are integrated into the writer’s own insights. The writer provides concluding remarks that show analysis and synthesis of ideas.

APA Format

APA format is not followed.

Errors evident throughout all of the areas: 1 inch margins, correctly formatted title page, correctly formatted reference page, double spacing, Times New Roman,12 font.

Errors evident in three to four of the areas of: 1 inch margins, correctly formatted title page, correctly formatted reference page, double spacing, Times New Roman, 12 font.

Errors evident in one to two of the areas of: 1 inch margins, correctly formatted title page, correctly formatted reference page, double spacing, Times New Roman, 12 font.

Free of errors in: 1 inch margins, correctly formatted title page, correctly formatted reference page, double spacing, Times New Roman, 12 font.

Grammar and Mechanics

Grammar and mechanics’ errors make the essay incomprehensible.

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics errors occur throughout

Several errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling and

Some spelling, grammar, punctuation and mechanical errors

Free of punctuation, spelling, grammar, and other

document. Word choices are seldom academic. Sentence structure may be illogical or unclear.

mechanics present. Word choice reveals some understanding of academic language requirements. Many sentence structure issues exist.

are evident. Academic language is upheld. The sentence structure is often logical and clear so that relationships among ideas are established.

mechanical errors. Consistent use of academic word choices. Sentence structure is mostly logical and clear.