ESSAY WRITING
This electronic text provides links to instructional information to assist students in developing and executing assignments for their studies in Professor Page's History of World Civilization series. Topics of instruction are presented as they are addressed in the grading rubric (displayed below).
Preparation:
What is an essay and its common forms?
Starting the Writing Process-It takes Time!!!
Understanding the Writing Assignment
Thesis:
Developing Strong Thesis Statements
Structure and Organization:
Organizing Your Argument: Power Point Presentation
Paragraphs and Paragraphing - What is a Paragraph?
Use of Sources:
Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
MLA Formatting and Style Guide
Punctuation and General Format:
Hints on Proof Reading an Essay
Essay Writing: See Grammar and Mechanics
GRADING RUBRIC:
This matrix catagorizes and defines all criteria by which a student essays will be evaluated. Essays will be graded according to the defined categories outlined below. Professor Page will provide comments on each category and attach the completed rubric to the essay for student review. The rubric has been designed in such a way to provide a guideline for students to clearly see where they need to make improvements. Such improvements can be facilitated by reviewing the above instructional links per rubric. Students are strongly advised to make appointments with Professor Page to discuss strategies for improvement.
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Category
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C or Below
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B
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A
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Comments
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Thesis Section Grade: |
Essay contains a general
thesis OR no clear thesis at all
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Essay contains a clear,
specific thesis that clearly addresses the paper prompt
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Essay contains a clear,
specific thesis that goes beyond restating the question and demonstrates
original thought
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Structure/Organization
Section Grade: |
Essay contains underdeveloped
paragraphs and weak or unclear sentences, and weak transitions OR Essay
lacks an overall organizational structure and establishes no clear links
between paragraphs or sections of the paper
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Essay is well organized
with well-developed paragraphs and topic sentences. The paper might have
somewhat weak transitions and/or its introduction, body, and conclusions
might need additional development to be complete
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Essay is organized, with
well-developed paragraphs and topic sentences, and with smooth transitions.
The paper has a clearly identifiable introduction, body, and conclusion, and each section is well developed and complete |
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Use of Sources
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Essay demonstrates the insufficient
use of source material (Text-E/Text-Lecture Presentations-Primary Sources.)
Essay tends to demonstrate summary of the sources rather than an interpretation
of them. Essay might feature improper citations.
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Essay demonstrates sufficient
use of assigned source material (Text-E/Text-Lecture Presentations-Primary
Sources.) Essay could contextualize the sources more effectively. Some
of the conclusions drawn from sources are unexplained or unjustified.
Essay features citations whenever appropriate, but citations may be improperly
formatted.
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Essay uses assigned source
material imaginatively and/or appropriately, contextualizing them effectively
and drawing reasonable conclusions from them. The essay features properly
formatted citations whenever appropriate.
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General Content
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Essay shows some understanding of general ideas, but contains many factual errors or misinterpretation of meaning. The essay does not address large sections of the paper guidelines. |
Essay provides factually
correct evidence which supports thesis. The essay might contain some factual
errors. The essay answers most of the questions raised in the paper guidelines
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Essay provides ample, well
chosen, and factually correct evidence that supports thesis and offers
original analysis. The essay addresses all of the questions raised in
the paper guidelines.
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Presentation and General
Format
Section Grade: |
The essay may have numerous typographical and/or grammatical mistakes |
The Essay is organized and
well presented, has several typographical and/or grammatical mistakes.
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The essay features well
developed presentation, is clearly organized, and follows assignment guidelines.
The essay has few or no grammatical or typographical mistakes
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According to the College Catalog,
"No expository writing assignment will receive a grade of "C"
or above unless it has the following:
1) A clear and readily identifiable theses statement
2) A clear and coherent overall structure
3) Paragraphs with topic sentences and adequate development
4) Standard but varied sentence structure and expression; and
5) Standard usage, punctuation and spelling
Definitions:
Thesis: A subject for a composition or essay, a dissertation on a particular
subject in which one has done original research.
Grammar: The study of the way the sentences of a language are constructed, usage
of the preferred or prescribed forms in speaking or writing.
Typography: The general character or appearance of printed matter.