This is the main paper you will write this semester.

Write a 5-7 page essay defending a thesis that is the answer to your research question, using outside sources and documenting them according to MLA rules. The topic is your choice.

The grade for the paper will be the average of the grades on each of the following criteria, using the 4.0 scale, where 4=A, 3=B and so forth.

Thesis (T)  Arguable  Descriptive  Unified  Specific to scope of paper  Answers the research question

Evidence (E)  Sufficient  Relevant  Representative Quantity and Type of Sources  Minimum of 5 sources  Minimum of 3 scholarly sources  Minimum of 2 sources from one of the approved library research databases 

Sources (U)  Summaries as needed  Paraphrases as needed  Quotations as needed  Critiques as needed (over)

Reasoning (R)  Terms are defined  How conclusions follow from evidence is explained  Assumptions are valid; conclusions follow from evidence

Organization (O)  Material is grouped appropriately  Organized point by point, not source by source  Focus is maintained throughout  Transitions are effective, including introduction and conclusion  Relationships among ideas are clear

Language (L)  Most of the paper is in your own words  Occasional completely accurate quotations, with correct punctuation and grammar  The mechanics (punctuation, spelling and grammar) of the rest of the paper are correct  The style is objective, formal, concise, precise and varied

MLA documentation (M)  correct in-text citations  complete and correct bibliography, listing only those sources you have used in your paper at the end of the essay (MLA style).