english essay

Your Research Essay will be graded using the following criteria.

I. Use of source material (20 points total)

A. Choice of sources (10 points)

· quality of sources

· current sources

· balance of viewpoints

· variety of types of sources

B. Choosing appropriate content from sources (10 points)

· adequate amount of research

· including credentials to show expertise

· smooth integration of quotes and sources into the paper

· fair and accurate reporting of source contents

· includes at least one visual component that supports the thesis (this will be included in your final draft -- more discussion of this in the next module)

II. Writing (50 points total)

A. Use of thesis (10 points)

· placement at end of introduction

· defines position on issue

· reinforced or extended in conclusion.

B. Introduction and Conclusion (10 points)

· Introduction leads into thesis smoothly.

· Introduction gets reader's attention effectively.

· Conclusion reinforces thesis.

· Conclusion does not introduce new subtopic.

C. Contents (30 points)

· all parts of thesis supported

· all material relevant to thesis

· use of appropriate transitions

· good logical argument

· audience-appropriate choices of language

· key terms defined clearly

· generalizations supported with research evidence

· logical arrangement of ideas

· length (research paper needs to be at least six pages not counting the works cited page)

III. Mechanics (10 points)

· grammar and usage at college level

· spelling correctly

· MLA manuscript form followed

· all instructions followed

· MLA heading used

· pages numbered

· academic style used consistently

· third person point of view, without first or second person pronouns (I, we, you, etc.)

· no contractions

· no slang or informal expressions

III. Documentation (20 points total)

A. Citations in text (10 points)

· used where needed

· correct MLA form

B. Works Cited page (10 points)

· correct MLA form

· content matches the parenthetical citations

· at least 7 sources used