Paper 1 & Grading Scale

The prompt and instructions for Paper 1 will be handed out during lecture on Tuesday, April 20th. In the meantime, please sign up for our class turnitin account using these codes:
Class ID: 3193879
Password: sheep

Paper 1: Grading Rubric

A-/A: Excellent argument that addresses all parts of the assignment.
• Presents a sophisticated, arguable, and original claim/thesis based on student reading.
• Demonstrates superior use of theoretical tools in conjunction with the text and other material from lecture.
• High level of textual analysis presented as evidence to support the thesis.
• Writing is precise and clear.

B/B+: Good attempt to address all parts of the assignment.
• Presents a solid and arguable claim/thesis based on student's reading.
• Solid engagement with the texts and application of theoretical tools. Demonstrates good knowledge of the texts involved and relationship between the novel and the theory.
• Provides appropriate supporting evidence from the text and thoroughly explains relationship between evidence and claim.
• Generally well written and organized but is less precise than an A paper.

C+/B-: Above average attempt to address all parts of the assignment.
• Presents a claim/thesis but argument may be simplistic or lifted mostly from lecture.
• Adequate engagement of the texts and application of theoretical tools. May rely on generalizations or superficial readings of the texts instead of engaging with them or synthesizing the readings.
• Provides supporting evidence but evidence's relationship to main claim is less clear than B range.

C-/C: Average attempt to address most parts of the assignment.
• Attempt to present a claim/thesis but thesis is inarguable or contradictory. Or, argument is completely lifted from lecture.
• Adequate engagement of the texts and application of theoretical tools. May have a misreading or mis-application of theory but one that does not significantly interfere with the argument.
• Attempt to provide evidence but, that evidence may be weak or not supportive of claim.
• Poor writing and/or organization interferes with basic comprehensibility.

D: Below average attempt to address the assignment prompt.
• No argument made or argument relies on claims that are factually inaccurate.
• No significant evidence is provided to support the claim, or evidence is not appropriate (ie. not from assigned text).
• Poor writing significantly interferes with comprehensibility

F: Failure
• Inappropriate topic or writing is incomprehensible.
• Paper is not uploaded to turnitin.com and/or is plagiarized.