ENGLISH 1301, WEST
ASSIGNMENT THREE: EVALUATIVE ESSAY
In this paper, you’ll have the chance to present an evaluation of an artistic work.
ASSIGNMENT: In a 4-6 page essay, argue that a piece of artistic work (performance, album, TV show, artwork, movie) is a good or bad representation of its type/genre.
ESSENTIALS: You must have a thesis that addresses what you’re evaluating and what conclusion you’ve drawn. You must have a paragraph that discusses your criteria. You must feature specific examples for the work you’re evaluating as you support your reasons.
SOURCES: You must also use at least two sources in your paper. In addition to the artistic work you’re evaluating (which will count as one of your sources), you may use newspaper, magazine or journal articles, excerpts from books, online articles, or websites. You may use work from other critics to help support or illustrate your position.
POSSIBLE FORMAT:
- Intro paragraph (apx. 1/2 page)
- Paragraph dealing with criteria (apx. 1 pg)
- Paragraph detailing criteria A (apx. 1 page)
- Paragraph detailing criteria B (apx. 1 page)
- Paragraph detailing criteria C (apx. 1 page)
- Conclusion paragraph (apx. 1/2 page)
Thesis example: I argue that Crash is a good movie because it contains a number of memorable performances, has a resonant and thought-provoking message, and received critical acclaim (including a Best Picture Award at the Oscars).
Another thesis example: I argue that Crash is a bad movie because it does not have a well-written script, does not have believable characters, and does not deliver a satisfactory ending.
GRADING: Grading will be on a standard scale of 0-100, using the rubric to determine performance in five key areas. You must submit a thesis and your topic sentences a week before the paper’s final due date, via e-mail, to receive at least a grade of 70. The e-mail must say “Assignment 3 T/TS” in the subject line.
Papers without MLA documentation (including citations and bibliography) will be considered incomplete and assigned a grade of zero. If you do not participate in the peer editing session for the paper, your paper will only be able to receive a maximum grade of 70.
Papers turned in late will receive a deduction of 5 points for each calendar day beyond the paper due date. Papers will not be accepted a week beyond the due date. (Papers must be turned in via Blackboard to be considered on time. Papers will only be accepted through Blackboard.)
Please note that neglecting to provide citations and bibliography info may result in a 0 grade for the paper, regardless of performance in the other categories. Neglecting either the citation or the bibliography will result in a maximum grade of 70 possible, regardless of performance in the other categories. Neglecting individual bibliography entries or citations will result in a maximum grade of 80 possible, regardless of performance in the other categories.
RUBRIC CHECKLIST
For each category:
Perfect = 20
Excellent = 19
Good = 17
Adequate = 15
Poor = 13
Failing = 5
CONTENT (20 points possible)
Is the paper on-topic?
Is the thesis statement obvious? Complete? Specific? Located where it should be?
Are all required components of the paper present and sufficiently developed?
How many quotes are you using (compared to the suggested quotes per body paragraph)?
Are those quotes meaningful? Supportive of your thesis? Properly framed?
Have you provided context for each of the quotes you’re using?
Are the topics introduced in your body paragraphs fully developed?
ORGANIZATION (20 points possible)
Does the thesis statement have organization embedded in it?
Is the paper organized in distinct paragraphs?
Are there topic sentences letting the reader know what’s in each paragraph?
Do the topic sentences tie back to the thesis?
Does the paper transition the reader from paragraph to paragraph?
Is each paragraph unified, with information relating directly to the thesis statement?
Can the reader follow the paper from sentence to sentence?
LANGUAGE (20 points possible)
Is the paper’s tone appropriate for the assignment?
Is the paper’s diction (word choice) sufficient for college-level writing standards?
GRAMMAR, SPELLING, AND SYNTAX (20 points possible)
Does the paper appear to have been proofread?
Are there patterns of errors displayed throughout?
Are there individual grammatical or punctuation errors in places?
Is the syntax correct? Are there words out of place?
Is every sentence ordered as it should be to clearly read the reader through your paragraph?
INTRODUCTION/CONCLUSION (20 points possible)
Does the introduction paragraph move the reader from a general understanding of your topic to a specific argument?
Does the introduction sufficiently engage the reader?
Does the introduction rely on a cliché like a dictionary definition (it shouldn’t)?
Does the conclusion help place the paper in the context of a larger discussion about the argument?
Does the conclusion allow the paper to come to an actual close?
Does the conclusion restate the thesis or otherwise “tell ‘em what you told ‘em” (it shouldn’t)?
DOCUMENTATION
(Please note that neglecting to provide citations and bibliography info may result in a 0 grade for the paper, regardless of performance in the other categories. Neglecting either the citation or the bibliography will result in a maximum grade of 70 possible, regardless of performance in the other categories. Neglecting individual bibliography entries or citations will result in a maximum grade of 80 possible, regardless of performance in the other categories.)
Does each quote or paraphrased quote from an outside source have a citation attached to it?
Does each citation correspond to a source listed in the Works Cited page?
Does each bibliography entry on the Works Cited page have complete, MLA-compliant information (including author, title of work, and print or web-specific info)?
RUBRIC CHECKLIST
For each category:
Excellent = 18-20
Good = 16-17
Adequate = 14-15
Poor = 12-13
Failing = 0-11
CONTENT (20 points possible)
Is the paper on-topic?
Is the thesis statement obvious? Complete? Specific? Located where it should be?
Are all required components of the paper present and sufficiently developed?
Are the topics fully developed?
Are there concrete and vivid details (including quotes from relevant sources)?
ORGANIZATION (20 points possible)
Is the paper organized in distinct paragraphs?
Are there topic sentences letting the reader know what’s in each paragraph?
Do the topic sentences tie back to the thesis?
Does the paper transition the reader from paragraph to paragraph?
Is each paragraph unified, with information relating directly to the thesis statement?
Can the reader follow the paper from sentence to sentence?
LANGUAGE (20 points possible)
Is the paper’s tone appropriate for the assignment?
Is the paper’s diction (word choice) sufficient for college-level writing standards?
Is the syntax clear and correct throughout the paper?
Are the sentences sufficiently varied?
GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS (20 points possible)
Does the paper appear to have been proofread?
Are there patterns of errors displayed throughout?
Are there individual grammatical or punctuation errors in places?
DOCUMENTATION (20 points possible)
(Please note that neglecting to provide citations and/or bibliography info may result in a 0 grade for the paper, regardless of performance in the other categories)
Does each quote or paraphrased quote from an outside source have a citation attached to it?
Does each citation correspond to a source listed in the Works Cited page?
Does each bibliography entry on the Works Cited page have complete, MLA-compliant information (including author, title of work, and print or web-specific info)?