Please answer the following question with in a one-page essay. What is your opinion of the influence of religion in American society?

REL 2300 Walters

  Short Writing Assignment #1

  Please answer the following question with in a one-page essay. What is your opinion of the influence of religion in American society?

  Format

  Your response must include these elements:

  Topic Sentence: Give a direct and precise answer to the question. State clearly your

position on the question so there is no doubt in the readers’ mind where you stand.

  Definition: Explain how you are using the main terms included in the topic sentence.

  Context: Explain where the example to be used comes from and the circumstances

surrounding its relevance.  

Example(s) Cite a specific example.  

Interpretation: In the case of a quotation taken from the text, interpret it fully. In the case of a painting describe it completely.

  Relationship: Explain the relationship between the example and the position you have

taken on the subject.            

Grading Rubric    

II n dn d ii c ac a tt oo rr ss LL ee vv ee ll ss o f o f

AA c hc h ii ee vv ee mm e n te n t

BB ee gg ii n nn n ii n gn g (( 0 )0 ) DD ee vv e le l o po p ii n gn g (( 1 )1 ) CC oo mm pp e te t e n te n t (( 33 )) AA c c oc c o mm pp l i sl i s h e dh e d (( 55 ))    

Meaning and Development: ideas, examples, reasons and

evidence, point of view

  Inappropriate

No viable point of view; little or no evidence; weak critical

thinking; providing insufficient reasons or other

support

  Appropriate Develops a point of view; demonstrating some critical thinking; may have some inadequate examples,

reasons and other evidence of support

Effective Develops a point of view and

demonstrates competent critical thinking; enough

supporting detail to accomplish the purpose of the

question

  Insightful

Ideas are fresh, mature and extensively developed;

insightfully develops a point of view and demonstrates

outstanding critical thinking

   

Conventions: grammar. punctuation, spelling, paragraphing, format

Distracting Errors interfere with writer’s

ability to consistently communicate purpose;

pervasive mechanical errors obscure meaning;

inappropriate format

  Fundamental

Errors interfere with writer’s ability to communicate

purpose; contains an accumulation of errors; some

weakness in format

  Controlled Occasional errors do not interfere with writer’s

ability to communicate purpose; generally appropriate format

Polished Control of conventions contribute to

the writer’s ability to communicate purpose;

free of most mechanical errors; appropriate format