assistance needed in Drug and Alcohol Awareness

SDV 101: How to Be Successful in College Assignment

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Drug and Alcohol Awareness Assignment

Choose one of these two options and write a reflection essay.

Option 1:

Research information on the following substances: Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine and Crack, Narcotics,

and Inhalants. Cite your sources using MLA or APA format. Examples of reliable resources include the

National Institute for Drug Abuse https://nida.nih.gov/ and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ If you are unsure about a resource, contact your instructor.

Option 2:

Watch Drugs: The Straight Facts Series. It includes the following videos: Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine and

Crack, Narcotics, and Inhalants.

This series can be found at this link:

http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?seriesID=16409&wID=15254 and on the IHCC Library

website. If you have any trouble with the link, you can also get to it from the IHCC Library home page.

From there, click on Library Databases, scroll half way down the page, and click on Films on Demand. If

you are off campus, you will be asked for a username and password. You can find this information on

the MyHills homepage by clicking on the “Library Database Passwords” link and scrolling down to “Films

on Demand.” After viewing the episodes, read the first 10 pages covering the history of opioids from the

article provided.

Essay Directions

Then, write a reflection composed of your insights, opinions, and/or observations. Your reflection should

be 500-700 words in length and relatively free of grammatical errors. It should have an introduction

(with a thesis statement), body, and conclusion. No title page is needed and you only need to include a

reference page if you are choosing option 1. Make sure to add specific examples from your research or

the film series to support your thoughts and conclusions in your reflection.

To include in your reflection as paragraphs:

1. Begin the introduction with a thesis statement.

2. Provide a brief summary of the research you did or the film series you viewed.

3. What did you learn that you did not know prior to researching information or watching the film

series? Explain. Give examples. Finish this part of your discussion with the statement:

From this research/series, I learned how important it is to…

4. How has this research/film series moved you from point A to point B in your thinking regarding

drugs and alcohol? Make sure to use specific examples from your research or the series to

support your conclusions.

5. Add a strong conclusion that provides closure to this essay.

SDV 101: How to Be Successful in College Assignment

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Rubric

Criteria A Exceeds Expectations

B Meets Expectations

C Needs Improvement

D-F Inadequate

Content/Information Clarity of purpose

Critical and original thought

Use of examples to support conclusions

Central idea is well developed; clarity of purpose clearly exhibited throughout paper. Abundance of evidence of critical, careful thought to support main ideas, evidence and examples are vivid and specific, while focus on topic remains tight, ideas work together as a unified whole.

Central idea and clarity of purpose are evident throughout the paper, evidence of critical, careful thought, good, relevant supporting examples and evidence.

The central idea is expressed though vague or too broad; some sense of purpose is maintained throughout the paper. Some evidence of critical, careful thought, some examples and evidence though general.

Central idea and clarity of purpose are absent or incompletely expressed and maintained. Little evidence of critical, careful thought, there are too few examples and evidence is mostly irrelevant.

Vocabulary Word usage

Tone Audience

Point of view

Vocabulary is sophisticated and correct, as are sentences, which vary in length. Word uses and vocabulary manipulates subject for maximum effect. Writer’s tone is clear, concise, consistent, and appropriate for intended audience. Point-of-view is appropriate for assignment.

Vocabulary is varied, specific and appropriate. Frequently uses subject specific vocabulary correctly. Writer’s tone emerges and is generally appropriate to audience. Point of view is satisfactory.

Vocabulary is used properly though sentences may be simple, ordinary Infrequently uses subject specific vocabulary correctly. Writer’s tone exhibits some level of audience sensitivity. Point of view not refined or consistent.

Vocabulary is unsophisticated, not used properly in very simple sentences. Uses subject specific vocabulary too sparingly, lacks audience sensitivity. Point of view somewhat inappropriate or very inconsistent.

Structure Organization

Flow of thought Transitions

Paper is logically organized. Easy to follow. Effective, smooth-flow with logical transitions.

Paper has a clear organization, some points misplaced, vagueness or irrelevances in some thought. Easily followed.

Paper lacks organization, some points remain misplaced. In addition, stray from topic.

There is no apparent organization. Difficult to follow. No or poor transitions. No flow-clumsy.

SDV 101: How to Be Successful in College Assignment

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Follows assignment criteria

Professional format-meets all requirements including intriguing introduction, body, strong conclusion, attention to detail. Shows high degree of attention. Correct number of pages.

Transition helps create coherence of thought. Meeting formatting, interesting introduction, body, conclusion. Correct number of pages.

Too many punctuation and/or mechanical errors to allow for flow-clumsy. Parts of paper meet formatting, introduction lacks originality, body, basic conclusion or no conclusion, addressed all or some of assignment requirements.

Formatting clearly not followed, very little or no introduction, body lacks direction, simple conclusion, if present. Some or few of assignment requirements followed. College level writing is not apparent.

Grammar/Mechanics Sentence structure

Punctuation/mechanics presentation

Manipulates complex sentences for effect or maximum impact. Free of punctuation or mechanical errors.

Uses complex sentences, effective and varied. Few or occasional punctuation or mechanical errors. May need to proofread carefully.

Uses compound sentences. Contains many punctuation and/or mechanical errors. Few run-on sentences Needing to proofread.

Contains multiple or serious errors of sentence structure, frequent errors in punctuation, spelling capitalization, mechanics, or inaccurate punctuation, run on sentences, obviously no proofreading, communication is hindered. College level writing is not apparent.

A ____pts Exceeds Expectations

B ____pts Meets Expectations

C ____pts Needs Improvement

D-F ____pts Inadequate

© Deb Vos, Heather Davison and Indian Hills Community College