ESSAY/PAPER SPECIFICATIONS

1. Papers must be turned in on time, on the due date, at the beginning of class, or they will be unacceptable.
2. Please indicate your name, ID number, Class Name and Ticket Number, and due date on the left-hand side of the paper. The title of your paper should be centered on the page. Indicate page numbers and be sure to staple pages together.
3. Check the Saddleback Library Website for help in formatting your paper and using proper MLA documentation of print and online sources.
4. Give yourself enough time to revise, proofread and print your papers before the due date. Print your paper using quality settings in your printer.
5. . Always save a back-up of your assignments as you work, to avoid last-minute computer glitches.
 

CRITERIA FOR GRADING

Essays will be evaluated according to the following scale and criteria:
-Conceptual Analysis
-Thesis
-Development and Support
-Structuring
-Language

A = 100-90 pts. Superior Paper:
-Has cogent analysis, shows command of interpretive and conceptual tasks required by assignment and course materials: ideas original, often insightful going beyond ideas discussed in lecture and class.
-Essay controlled by clear, precise, well-defined thesis: is sophisticated in both statement and insight.
-Well-chosen examples, persuasive reasoning used consistently to develop and support thesis: uses quotations and citations effectively; causal connections between ideas are evident
-Appropriate, clear and smooth transitions; arrangement of paragraphs seems particularly apt.
-Uses sophisticated sentences effectively; usually chooses words aptly; observes conventions of written English and manuscript format; makes few minor or technical errors.

B = 89-80 Clearly Passing:
-Shows a good understanding of the texts, ideas, and methods of the assignment beyond the obvious; may have one minor factual or conceptual inconsistency.
-Clear specific argumentative thesis central to essay; may have minor terms undefined.
-Pursues thesis consistently: develops a main argument with clear major points and appropriate textual evidence and supporting detail; makes effort to organize paragraphs topically.
-Distinct units of thought in paragraphs controlled by specific and detailed topic sentences; clear transitions between developed, cohering, and logically arranged paragraphs that are internally cohesive.
-Some mechanical difficulties or stylistic problems; may make occasional problematic word choices or awkward syntax errors; a few spelling or punctuation errors or a cliché; usually presents quotations effectively.

C = 79-69 Marginally Passing:
-Shows an understanding of the basic ideas and information involved in the assignment; may have some factual, interpretive, or conceptual errors.
-General central thesis or controlling idea; may not define several central terms.
Only partially develops the argument; shallow analysis; some ideas and generalizations undeveloped or unsupported; makes limited use of textual evidence; fails to integrate quotations appropriately.
-Some awkward transitions; some brief, weakly unified or undeveloped paragraphs; arrangement may not appear entirely natural; contains extraneous information.
-More frequent wordiness; several unclear or awkward sentences; imprecise use of words or over-reliance on passive voice; one or two major grammatical errors (subject-verb agreement, comma splice, etc.); effort to present quotations accurately.

D = 68-60
F = 59-0 Not Passing
-Shows inadequate command of course materials or has significant factual and conceptual errors; does not respond directly to the demands of the assignment; confuses some significant ideas.
-Thesis vague or not central to argument; central terms not defined.
-Frequently only narrates; digresses from one topic to another without developing ideas or terms; makes insufficient or awkward use of textual evidence.
-Simplistic, tends to narrate or merely summarize; wanders from one topic to another; illogical arrangement of ideas.
-Some major grammatical or proofreading errors that interfere with analysis (subject-verb agreement, fragments); language marred by cliches, colloquialisms, repeated inexact word choices; inappropriate quotation or citations format.
- An "F" paper will have no interpretation. Pure quotation, summary, paraphrase, or outright plagiarism (see below) will also result in a grade of "F."

A Warning about Plagiarism: Uncredited, improper use of another author’s work is dishonest, and must be avoided at all costs. Any essays which display any evidence of plagiarism­whether deliberate or unintentional­will receive a grade of "F" for the assignment and the course.