CRITERIA FOR PAPERS IN ENGLISH COURSES

Students should consider issues of focus, content, structure, language, mechanics, documentation, and presentation in their essay writing. For example:

1. Is the paper on topic from beginning to end?
2. Does the paper present strong and logical claims fully supported with examples, explanations, and, where appropriate, textual evidence?
3. Does the paper have a strong and logical structure, including all of the following elements: an original title; a substantial and unified introduction that includes a focused, specific, and logically ordered thesis; body paragraphs linked to the thesis and/or to one another by logical transitions; unified and coherent presentation of claims and support, all connected to clear topic sentences; an effective conclusion that does more than rehash the thesis and/or the main points of the essay
4. Does the paper express the argument in clear and effective language, including the following: clear evidence of sentence variety throughout the essay; expression in clear, unpretentious diction suited to the subject matter, the audience, and the writing situation; control of basic patterns of grammar and sentence structure, and no patterns of error in the following categories: fragments, mixed constructions, dangling or misplaced modifiers, run-on sentences, comma splices, noun-pronoun or subject-verb agreements, verb form, verb tense, tense sequence errors, number, article, or preposition errors.
5. Does the paper show good control of the mechanics of spelling and punctuation? Does the paper have good command of the strategies for incorporating quoted material into the fabric of the essay’s sentences and paragraphs?
6. If the paper analyses a text and/or draws upon primary or secondary sources for its proof, does it conform to the University’s rules for crediting sources? Does it credit those sources in the most recent MLA (Modem Language Association) style? For the MLA style manual, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html.
7. Is the paper as neat as possible in its presentation? Is it double spaced throughout? Is it properly paginated? Does it include adequate margins? Does it end with a works cited/consulted page in the MLA style?

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT GRADING STANDARDS

All essay assignments in First-Year English are to be awarded letter grades to be converted to numerical values at the end of the term:

An “A” paper: [an outstanding paper] (80-100%)

This paper must be fully focused on the topic and consistently strong in structure, content, expression, mechanics, and presentation. If the paper is based on a text or if it draws material from other primary or secondary sources, it must include full documentation in the MLA style. An “A” paper should contain an original and credible argument in response to the topic. Any significant errors of expression that detract from the paper’s effectiveness would mean that the paper could not earn an “A” level mark.

A “B” paper: [a competent paper]   (68-79%)

This paper must be well-focused on the topic; its thesis must be well-supported by convincing evidence and explanations. The structure of a “B” paper must be strong and clear; its thesis must be specific and significant. If this paper contains errors of expression, they must be occasional rather than chronic, and they must not obscure meaning. A “B” paper based on research must be accurately documented in the MLA style. The principal difference between an “A” paper and a “B” paper is in the quality and level of the argument. A “B” paper is less adventurous than an “A”; it may tend to rely more heavily on materials and arguments raised in class than an “A” paper would.

A “C-D” paper: [an adequate paper] (50-67%)

A paper at this level is generally clear in its expression, but it is weaker in content and/or structure than a “B” paper. Its thesis may be vague (but still on topic); its transitions may be inconsistent; its evidence may be occasionally unconvincing or incomplete. Language errors in this category will be more frequent than those at the “A” or the “B” level, but they will not be so serious or so chronic that they make a paper difficult or impossible to understand.

An “F” paper: [an inadequate paper]   (0-49%)

A paper at this level will suffer from one or more of the following serious flaws: it may be off topic; it may lack a thesis; it may lack clear and adequate development and paragraphing; it may be deficient in the presentation of evidence; it may contain serious and repeated errors in sentence structure, diction, and grammar—errors that obscure meaning.

Note: A paper that does not give complete and accurate credit for directly quoted material or for ideas and arguments that the student has summarized or paraphrased from another source must receive a grade of zero. A paper edited or revised by a so-called tutoring service must also receive a failing grade of zero for it does not constitute a student’s own work or best efforts. A paper submitted after a deadline will be assessed a daily penalty to be announced in writing by the course instructor.