Midterm paper

The first paper will be roughly 2½-3 pages in length (aim for about 700-800 words) and will articulate both sides of a policy question with ethical or citizenship implications, arguing for one of them.

A draft of the paper will be due first (in class, where we will workshop it); you will then have time to edit this into a final version, worth 15% of the course grade.

Rubric: This is the rubric I plan to use, and may help you polish your paper. This is a 20-point analytic rubric, and most items are either yes or no (what computer scientists call "boolean"); some items leave the possibility of partial credit.

Content:

• Stays on the assigned topic from start to finish. 1/0
• Is of the appropriate length, without "fluff" or filler. 1/0
• Acknowledges opposing argument(s)... 1/0
• ...but focuses primarily on arguments persuasively supporting the assigned policy position. 2/1/0
• Addresses relevant question of citizenship. 2/1/0
• Presents factual background and/or support (which is suitably cited). 2/1/0
• Sources are well-chosen and appropriate. 1/0
  • E.g. not an encyclopaedia, not "some random guy said on a blog"

Form:

• Format matches standard academic-paper style. 1/0
  • Double-spaced, 1" margins, 12pt, serif font (such as Times)
  • Your name should be on the top of the first page (at least)
• Micro level mechanics: grammar, spelling, punctuation. 2/1/0
• Macro level mechanics: sentence structure, transitions, flow. 2/1/0
• Outside material is well-integrated into the text. 1/0
  • Avoid "dumped quotes" (aka "dropped quotes")
  • Make sure to cite, with in-text citations! Use APA citation format, or any other standard citation format (MLA, Chicago, etc).
• Introduction introduces topic and its relevance, neither too brief nor ramblingly long. 1/0
• Conclusion summarises main arguments briefly without being unreasonably abrupt. 1/0
• Thesis is clear. 1/0
  • Would someone who didn't know your assigned prompt know what you were arguing for?
• Sources appropriately listed at end of paper 1/0
  • Again, APA format, or any other standard format (MLA, Chicago, etc) is fine.
  • But do include the URLs for online-only sources (even though MLA etc do not formally require them anymore)

Strikes (i.e. things not to do!):

• In the course of the paper, present notably false or irrelevant information. (each) −1
• Use a dictionary definition either as topic introduction or to support an argument. (each) −1
  • As introduction, it's cliché, and as argument it's unpersuasive (except perhaps in a linguistics paper, which this is not)