research paper

Short Paper & Audio on Middle East Culture Topic Guidelines & Grading Rubric

MEST 318 Spring 2020

Due date: April 9, 2020 on Blackboard (regardless of whether we return to campus or not) Paper length: 2-3 pages required, 5 pages maximum Audio length: 5-10 minutes maximum Choose a specific topic related to one or more Middle Eastern cultures and submit it on BB for approval (via the link “Culture topic of your choice”). I will approve or send the topics back to you, and I will change the grade accordingly (so don’t worry if you see a zero at first – I have to enter a number to comment). You can change topics, but your topic must be approved before you start writing. Do not pick a country or a whole culture; instead think about some person/thing/building/custom (or other possible choice) and propose that on BB. Please:

1. Check your submission topics on Blackboard. If you change topics, please change your BB entry. 2. If you do not know how to start this or how to choose, email me or talk to me on BB Collaborate in office hours or after class. 3. Cite your source(s) for any information you use. You can use any citation style, but please include the information needed to find this

source, including a web link if applicable. 4. Optional: you can use sources in English, French or Arabic. However, they must include full citation information, including a web link if

applicable. 5. Record an audio of you talking about the topic you chose and what you wrote in your short paper. See the rubric below for how that will be

graded. Focus on the content and presentation of that information, not the length. You do not have to use visuals for that recording. 6. Note that late submissions will lose 5 points per day that each submission is late, so please upload to BB as close as you can to the April

9th deadline. I will set BB to mark all submissions uploaded without 24 hours of that deadline as “on time” in case you have trouble uploading (meaning your paper and recording must be on BB before midnight April 10th).

Please do NOT: 1. choose the Arabian Nights (or a Thousand and One Nights), the Prophet Muhammad or his family or associates or other prophets, Umm

Kulthum, Naguib Mahfouz, Edward Said, Mahmoud Darwish, Adonis, Nizar Qabbani, or any members of the ruling families in the UAE or in the Middle East.

2. choose a topic that is very broad. 3. Read part or all of your audio.

There are two rubrics below. The first is for the paper and the second is for the audio. The paper is worth 15% of your grade and the audio is worth 5%.

Rubric for the Short Paper on a Middle East Culture Topic of your Choice (worth 15% of course grade) Category Pts Failing or Very

Poor (0-14 pts) Acceptable (15-16) Good (17-18 pts) Excellent (19-20 pts)

The writer’s position on the topic

20 Argument is vague, confusing, or very general. It may be descriptive or missing entirely.

Argument is present but descriptive or very general.

Clear, analytical argument in which writer shows his/her position and clearly answers the requirements above.

Insightful, nuanced, and with a clear position and strong argument that ties all of the essay together.

Organization 20 Organization lacks a logical or intentional progression.

Organization is clear but does not effectively support the author’s position.

Organization is clear and effectively supports the author’s position.

Organization is clear and well indicated to the reader, with a thoughtful use of argument and evidence.

Use of ethnographic and/or other reliable data and evidence, sources

20 Evidence is poorly chosen and/or does not clearly illustrate points or argument, and/or only includes unreliable ones. Author presents others’ ideas as his/her own.

Evidence generally illustrates main points, useful selection of reliable sources with mostly complete references. All ideas from others are clearly cited.

Clear, focused connection to main points and well-chosen reliable evidence of different types, with complete references. Clear explanation of how evidence was gathered and from reliable sources that significantly impact the argument.

Well-chosen sources used insightfully to support and/or illustrate points throughout. Reliable evidence is clearly referenced and shows excellent understanding of how these data or sources impact the argument.

Evidence of topic’s relevance to one or more Middle Eastern Cultures and analysis of that relevance

20 Inattention to detail, resulting in information and specifics that are either inaccurate, irrelevant or repetitive. Topic chosen is broad or treated in a simple way.

Information and discussion are generally on topic, with no repetition or digressions. Topic is related to one or more Middle Eastern cultures in a general way.

Information is consistently from reliable sources, without repetition or digressions. Strong evidence of relevance to one or more Middle Eastern cultures in a specific way.

Information that is reliable and nuanced in its specificity. No repetition or digression from the paper’s focus. Information is well chosen to support the writer’s position. Strong and complex relationship between topic and one or more Middle Eastern Cultures.

Clarity, style, and accuracy of writing

20 Confusing or unclear writing. Style is substantially

Mostly clearly written but with some sections that are confusing. May include spelling and

Carefully & clearly written, with no sections or passages that are confusing. No spelling or grammatical mistakes that impede understanding. Mostly

Carefully, clearly, and thoughtfully composed, with each section balancing style, detail, and

different from author’s style on the midterm essay, appears to have been written by someone else.

grammatical mistakes that impede understanding. Style may differ some from author’s style on the midterm essay.

matches the style the writer used on his/her midterm essay.

evidence. Very few or no spelling or grammatical mistakes. Closely matches the style the writer produced in his/her midterm essay.

Rubric for the Audio Recording on your Topic of Choice (worth 5% of course grade)

Category Pts Failing or Very Poor (0-14 pts)

Acceptable (15-16) Good (17-18 pts) Excellent (19-20 pts)

The speaker's position on the topic

20 Argument is vague, confusing, or very general. It may be descriptive or missing entirely.

Argument is present but descriptive or very general.

Clear, analytical argument in which the speaker shows his/her position on the topic.

Insightful, nuanced, and with a clear position and strong argument that ties all of the essay together.

Organization 20 Organization lacks a logical or intentional progression, or the organization does not follow the paper.

Organization is clear and follow’s the paper organization.

Organization is clear and effectively supports the speaker’s position. Audio follows the paper’s organization closely. Audio may include some additional information or personal asides that are relevant to the topic and which add to the audio presentation’s quality.

Organization is clear and well indicated to the listener, with a thoughtful use of argument and evidence. Organization follows the paper’s closely. Audio includes additional information or personal asides that are relevant to the topic and which add to the audio presentation’s quality.

Use of ethnographic and/or other reliable data and evidence, sources

20 Evidence is poorly chosen and/or does not clearly illustrate points or argument, and/or only includes unreliable sources. Speaker presents others’ ideas as his/her own.

Evidence generally illustrates main points, useful selection of reliable sources. All ideas from others are clearly cited (meaning the speaker mentions the author(s) or titles of sources).

Clear connection to main points and reliable evidence of different types, mentioning at least the author and title of references. Clear explanation of how evidence was gathered and from reliable sources that

Well-chosen sources used insightfully to support and/or illustrate points throughout. Reliable evidence is clearly referenced and shows excellent understanding of how these data or sources

significantly impact the argument. Explanation of how these sources can be considered reliable.

impact the argument. Sound explanation of how these sources can be considered reliable.

Evidence of topic’s relevance to one or more Middle Eastern Cultures and analysis of that relevance

20 Inattention to detail, resulting in information and specifics that are either inaccurate, irrelevant or repetitive. Topic chosen is broad or treated in a simple way.

Information and discussion are generally on topic, with no repetition or digressions. Topic is related to one or more Middle Eastern cultures in a general way.

Information is consistently from reliable sources, without repetition or digressions. Strong evidence of relevance to one or more Middle Eastern cultures in a specific way.

Information that is reliable and nuanced in its specificity. No repetition or digression from the paper’s focus. Information is well chosen to support the speaker’s position. Strong and complex relationship between topic and one or more Middle Eastern Cultures.

Clarity, style, and presentation of the audio

20 Audio is unclear or contains a lot of background noise that makes understanding difficult. Speaker is too slow, too rushed, or sounds distracted. Speaker sounds like s/he is reading during all or part of the audio.

Audio is clear, well- prepared, and explains in detail the topic of the speaker’s paper. Delivery is natural and does not sound as if the speaker is reading all or part of the audio, or as if s/he is bored or otherwise distracted.

Audio is clear, well- prepared, and explains in detail the topic of the speaker’s paper. Beginning makes the listener want to continue listening. Delivery is natural and not read from a script. Little background noise.

Audio is clear, well- prepared, and explains in detail the topic of the speaker’s paper. Beginning makes the listener want to continue listening. Delivery is clearly practiced but is still natural and not read from a script. Little or no background noise.