Choice 1: You may write a traditional literature-based essay where you research what scholars are saying about your novel, synthesize that information into a cogent argument or discussion, and then “add to the literary conversation” with your own insight into the novel.
OR
Choice 2: You may choose to write a scholarly-level research paper more relevant to your planned future studies: scientific white paper, historical research, journalistic, engineering, case study, etc.
Requirements:
- More than 10 MLA or APA formatted pages (Times New Roman, Double Spaced, 1 inch margins, Name and page number in header) (format will be determined by essay style selected)
- Reference a wealth of credible sources (in addition to your novel/memoir, if applicable). At least ONE source MUST BE published within the past 12 months.
- Format your paper and works cited page- including the text and literary criticisms/outside sources- using MLA or APA format (Wikipedia, Shmoop, etc. do not count as valid sources. Rule of thumb: if it ends in “.com” come see me for approval)
- Literary essays must include
- a full introduction including a thesis statement
- multiple paragraphs working through an argument with references to the text, research, and the writer’s own ideas
- a conclusion that ties it all together
- Other research essays (White Papers) must include:
- An abstract that introduces the content and summarizes the conclusion
- A summary of background including all assumptions
- Headings and subheadings that organize your information
- A discussion of your (or the research you studied) methods/procedures, results, a discussion of those results, conclusions, and recommendations
- ● NOTE: Individual requirements for essays will be specified once you select your topic and style of essay. For more information, visit the Purdue Online Writing Lab (owl.purdue.edu)
- ● ALSO NOTE: ALL papers will be subject to a one-on-one source check after final submission where you will provide evidence for at least one direct quote and at least one paraphrased source. Any plagiarism or unauthorized collaboration will result in a zero on the paper and a disciplinary action.
| Lit Circle Perspectives Essay | |||||
| CRITERIA | Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor | Missing |
| Thesis statement | Makes a well-phrased original, debatable, valid, multi-dimensional argument, including all necessary thesis elements | Makes an original, debatable, valid, argument, including the required thesis elements BUT may lack a unique direction OR elegance of phrasing | Makes a debatable, valid, argument BUT may lack required thesis elements, direction AND elegance of phrasing | Makes an argument but may lack multiple elements | Thesis is missing or does not make an argument |
| Introduction/ Abstract | Begins with a sophisticated opening hook that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the stage for the thesis; effectively orients the reader to the text, perspective, and purpose of the essay | Begins with an opening hook that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the stage for the thesis; orients the reader to the text, perspective, and purpose of the essay | Begins with an opening that either grabs the reader’s attention or sets the stage for the thesis; orients the reader to the purpose of the essay, but omits certain crucial elements | Lacks an effective opening, essentially moving right into either the essay or the thesis; Orients the reader to the purpose of the essay, but not the text or perspective/topic | The introduction is effectively incomplete or missing |
| Evidence, part 1: direct quotes | Properly embeds exemplary quotations from research/text to exemplify and support thesis argument | Properly embeds well-chosen quotations from research/text to exemplify and support thesis argument | Attempts to embed well-chosen quotations from research/text to exemplify and support thesis argument | Most evidence presented is not well-chosen, but presentation Incorporates quotations from research/text to exemplify and support thesis argument. Quotes may not be properly embedded. | No direct quotations from provided |
| Evidence, part 2: paraphrasing | Properly embeds summarizations of exemplary evidence from valid research sources to substantiate claims and support thesis argument | Properly embeds summarizations of well-chosen evidence from valid research sources to substantiate claims and support thesis argument | Attempts to embed summarizations of evidence from valid research source to substantiate claims and support thesis argument | Incorporates summarizations of evidence that may not substantiate claims or support thesis argument. | No secondary evidence |
| Analysis of Evidence | Analysis deftly weaves together the different sources with the author’s purpose and intention suffused throughout. | Analysis weaves together the different sources with the author’s purpose and intention evident throughout. | Analysis includes the different sources with the author’s purpose summarized occasionally throughout the essay | Essay is a combination of other people’s work/ideas pieced together with occasional insight from the author | Analysis is missing OR is so general as to be obvious or uninspired |
| Writing Style | Writing is clear, cohesive and organized; uses transitions well; stays in the active voice | Writing demonstrates organization; uses some transitions; stays in the active voice | Writing is hard to follow/disorganized; lacks some transitions; strays into the passive voice occasionally | Writing is so disorganized as to be confusing; lacks needed transition; strays into the passive voice | Writing is incomplete |
| Conclusion | Conclusive remarks are summative and concise. All main ideas are reiterated in a sophisticated way to centralize the thesis. | Conclusive remarks are summative. All main ideas are reiterated in a repetitive way to centralize the thesis. | New information is introduced and distracts from summative elements. Thesis may be repeated. | No summative elements present. Conclusion consists of new information and is thereby indistinguishable from the body paragraphs of the paper. Thesis may be omitted. | No conclusion |
| Works Cited | Complete and Accurate in MLA or APA Format | A few minor errors; no major errors | Several minor errors OR 1 major error. | Various errors | No MLA or APA Works Cited provided. |
| Mechanics Agreement; Verb Tense; MLA/APA Format; Spelling; Punctuation ; Complete Sentences; | Few to no mistakes, no patterns of errors Proofreading evident | Some mistakes, including those that should have been detected in proofreading | Many Mistakes, including a pattern that demonstrates a lack of proofreading | Many mistakes, including noticeable patterns that demonstrate a lack of proofreading. Mistakes that interfere with the reader’s ability to understand the paper | Many mistakes and patterns of mistakes that interfere with the reader’s ability to understand the paper. |
Total Points Possible: 100
