English Academic Essay

OUT-OF-CLASS ESSAY FORMAT

NOTE: Refer to this sheet when completing EACH final draft (Argument Essay AND Research Essay); you may be penalized up to 5% for formatting errors.

- Essays must be TYPED on 8 1/2” by 11” paper

- Essays must DOUBLE-SPACED

- Essays may be DOUBLE-SIDED

- Leave 1” to 1 1/2” margins on all sides of the page

- Include PAGE NUMBERS, preferably in the upper-right corner

- DO NOT number your Title Page (page 1 is the first page of your essay)

- Use STANDARD OR BLOCK formatting; DO NOT use both

- DO NOT put a title on the first page of your text (title belongs on the TITLE PAGE)

- Staple essay on the top left corner

- DO NOT submit work in covers, folders, binders, duotangs etc.

- If you use source material, use MLA documentation ONLY (no footnotes)

- Essays need a TITLE PAGE (no page number) that lists the following information:

- TITLE of the essay (and subtitle if you have one) - COURSE NAME, NUMBER, & SECTION NUMBER - NAME of INSTRUCTOR - YOUR FULL NAME - DATE

Title: Subtitle by

YOUR NAME

English 150 Section 046 J. North Sept. 17, 2011

This is known as STANDARD paragraph format. The start of the paragraphs are indented 5 space (or 1 tab). Note that there is no extra spacing between paragraphs.

This is a BLOCK style of paragraphing. Note that there is no indent at the start of the paragraph.

In between each of the paragraphs, there is an empty line. Just hit the return key again.

BREAKDOWN OF LETTER GRADES

A+ = 90-100% B- = 70-72% A = 89-85% C+ = 65-69% A- = 80-84% C = 60-64% B+ = 77-79% D = 50-59% B = 73-76% F = below 50%

Grades for most assignments will be given in percentages. These percentages will be weighted appropriately, tallied, and finally translated into a letter grade at the end of the course. Only a letter grade will appear on your transcript.

CRITERIA FOR ESSAY EVALUATION

90 - 100% (A+) Outstanding Level of Achievement

- exceptional, original insight into material - detailed, significant discussion - impeccable organization - very few (if any) grammatical or punctuation errors - engaging style and expression

(A paper worth re-reading; quality expected at the next level)

80-89% (A, A-) High Level of Achievement

- good insight into the material, quite original - full, detailed discussion - complete and effective organization - very few grammatical/punctuation errors - clear overall expression

(A paper worth consulting)

73-79% (B+, B) Good Level of Achievement

- accurate content but little originality - ideas are reasonably supported but not very detailed development - coherent but mechanical organization, a few organizational elements ineffective - some grammatical/punctuation errors, but rather unobtrusive - expression rarely confusing

(A paper worth doing for this course)

65-72% (B-,C+) Satisfactory Level of Achievement

- sound content, reasonably but predictably supported - ideas occasionally lack satisfying detail/development - complete organization but some organizational elements ineffective, awkward, or forced - a number of grammatical/punctuation errors - uneven expression but rarely confusing

(An average paper for this level)

60-64% (C) Sufficient Level of Achievement to proceed to the next level of study

- acceptable but commonplace content - ideas frequently lack satisfying detail/development - basics of organization present, but also a number of mistakes AND/OR - a number of grammatical/punctuation errors - adequate but sometimes confusing expression (A readable paper)

50-59% (D) Minimum Level of Achievement for which credit is granted; A ‘D’ will earn course credit but cannot be used as an English prerequisite.

- limited or misleading content - inadequate or inappropriate support - incomplete or confusing organization AND/OR - frequent errors in grammar and/or expression, which confuse sense so much that readers must clarify sense as they read in order to follow ideas.

(A paper worth rewriting)

0-49% (F) Minimum Level Not Achieved

-exhibits very little effort or care - inadequate or inaccurate content - incoherent organization AND/OR - so many errors in expression that readers find it almost impossible to understand

(A paper worth discarding)

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the conscious theft and/or use of another person’s ideas and/or words. When you do not clearly identify the source of your information, you are implying that those thoughts and phrases are your own. This is a very serious offense and, at the very least, it will result in a mark of zero for the assignment. We will be reviewing proper documentation procedure, but please see me about any specific concerns until then.

NOTE: Please keep all rough drafts and returned papers until the end of the term.