In order to prepare for the next assignment due this semester, the classical argument, students should write an excellent annotated bibliography. The annotated bibliography and the classical argument should address the same research problem. The annotated bibliography should include a critical preface, 150 word evaluative annotations of unambiguously scholarly sources, and should be at least five pages long. I’ll mark sentences with problems with a check in the margin.
When grading, I ask myself the following set of questions:
- Does the critical preface explain the purpose and significance of the bibliography, and include the problem to be researched, the dates of the research, and the kinds of sources?
- Are the sources genuinely scholarly?
- Does each annotation include an excellent summary of the source’s contents, information about the rhetorical strategies of the source, and a clear evaluation?
- Do grammar and organization strengthen each annotation’s rhetorical effectiveness?
If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” I give the essay some kind of C. If the answer to most of the questions is “no,” its grade will be lower.
To essays that have received “yes” answers to the questions above, I add the following:
- Are the works cited page entries perfect?
- Do the annotations include effective attributive tags? Are they examples of excellent, clear academic prose?
- Are grammar and organization excellent? Are the works cited page entries and annotations in alphabetical order?
- Is the annotated bibliography clearly the result of revision?
Depending on my answers to these questions, I give the essay some kind of A or some kind of B.
A complete draft of this essay is due to your peers on Feb 6. It is due to me on Feb 8. Some class time on Feb 1 may be devoted to library research.
Include one rough draft that shows the greatest amount of revision. Rather than line-editing your work as I grade it, I’ll mark sentence-level problems with either a check or by highlighting them. You can reach me at 863-6287 or stephen(dot)gibson(at)uvu(dot)edu with questions or concerns.
