If there are questions or doubts about an approach to this assignment, rather than worrying, please ask me. The topics of the class are American literature, identity, and culture (broadly defined), so writing about those topics and their relationships is a minimal requirement. The essays should be between five and ten pages in length and include at least six scholarly sources. Sources may include non-traditional, non-scholarly materials when those materials are clearly defended as sources by arguments in the essay.
When grading, I ask myself the following set of questions:
- Is the debatable thesis easily identified? Do reasons support the thesis? Does credible evidence support each reason?
- Does the essay enter into a conversation about a specific text? Are alternative views and opposing arguments obvious? Are they accompanied by in-text citations and documentation?
- Does the essay add to the conversation by adequately replying to alternative views and opposing arguments? For example, are they addressed by another source or refuted or conceded to?
- Are the language of sources and the author clearly distinguishable from each other? Has every source been introduced with attributive tags?
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:
- Has the text been situated in its historical contexts?
- Has the question of how the text functions within its culture and time been addressed?
- Are the sources excellent? Are all the sources documented perfectly? Are the works cited page entries perfect?
- Are the introduction and conclusion excellent?
- Are grammar and organization excellent?
- Is the essay 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.
Each essay must be about a different text. The first essay is due to your peers on Feb 12 and Feb 24. It is due to me on March 1. The second essay is due to your peers on April 2, April 12 and April 19. It is due to me on April 21. With each essay due to me, include the 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.gibson@uvu.edu with questions or concerns.
