Wednesday, February 11, 2015

This might help guide your thinking this weekend ...


Name: ___________________________________

Is it an argument?
+          -         Does it have a clear, complex claim?
+          -         Is the claim supported by logical reasons?
+          -         Are the reasons supported by convincing, sophisticated evidence?
+          -         Does the evidence come from an effective variety of sources?
+          -         Does the evidence come from college level resources?
+          -         Does it explore the subject thoroughly and draw reasonable conclusions?

Is the synthesis effective?
+          -         Do the synthesis paragraphs support the author’s opinion with direct quotations from two different sources?
+          -         Are the sources clearly established (author and author’s ethos, title, date of publication, purpose of source text, context of quotation)?
+          -         Are the quotations properly punctuated?
+          -         Is the analysis longer than the quotation?
+          -         Does the author avoid plagiarism, both intentional and accidental?
+          -         Are the non-synthesis paragraphs as thoroughly developed as the synthesis paragraphs?

Is it well organized?
+          -         Do the ideas come in the best order?
+          -         Are the transitions between ideas smooth and logical?
+          -         Is the opening precise, specific, and engaging? Is it the intro that only this author can write?
+          -         Does the closing effectively emphasize, elaborate, or illuminate the author’s claim?

Is the language interesting?
+          -         Does the writer make precise, powerful diction choices?
+          -         Does the writer employ rhetorical strategies that engage the reader and emphasize the purpose?
+          -         Are appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos balanced, effective, and appropriate for audience and purpose?
+          -         Does the writer include a sufficient amount of showing?
+          -         Does the writer take risks?

Does this look like a college paper?
+          -         Does it follow MLA format?
+          -         Does it display a college-level control of spelling, grammar, and punctuation?
+          -         Did the writer meet the requirements of the assignment, including the nit-picky details?

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