1 of 4 Fall 2019 POL151 Note Essay Draft Marking Guide Assignment Description You will make a thesis statement (i.e., a claim) in your introduction and then must argue your claim in a logically...

1 of 4
Fall 2019 POL151
Note
Essay Draft Marking Guide
Assignment Description
You will make a thesis statement (i.e., a claim) in your introduction
and then must argue your claim in a logically consistent fashion
throughout the rest of the essay. You must use your scholarly
sources to support your argument and to convince your reader that
the weight of the evidence supports your position. Individuals must
have a minimum of eight scholarly pieces. Focus on quality and
engagement more than quantity. Focus on: a) the relevance and
quality of your sources, and b) your interpretation and integration of
the sources.
Remember, you are the expert but must make your case in a way
that a non-expert can understand.
Carefully read the instructions in the syllabus and in this document
and consult with me if you have any questions.
Body (around 2000 words for individuals)
Front Matter (not included in word count)
Develop an essay of around 2,000 words. Groups need to check the
syllabus for length and number of sources. It should include an
introduction, clear identification of the issue/problem, background
information/context, coherent argument supported by evidence, and
conclusion. Your argument (including policy recommendations, if
included) must flow directly from the evidence and rationale you use
in your document. You must connect in an explicit way with
RELEVANT material from the course text.
You must cite in-text wherever you use the work of others. You must
cite whether you are paraphrasing or quoting directly. Direct quotes
should be used selectively and sparingly; paraphrasing is
preferable.
The "front matter" includes things like a title page and, if appropriate,
table of contents, list of tables and figures, and glossary.
Back Matter (not included in word count)
Your bibliography must be formatted according to one
documentation style (e.g., APA). You may also include appendices
in your back matter.
Remember, part of your grade is based on clarity of presentation
(grammar, punctuation, and other aspects of writing). Over the
course of the term, writing expectations have increased so please
pay attention to your writing and, if necessary, seek out support from
the Learning Commons, peer reviewers and/or a private tuto
editor.
2 of 4
Needs significant
improvement
Meets most
expectations Exceptional Value
Your
mark
Questions to
ask yourself
XXXXXXXXXX
Introduction (2 point) Poorly
organized and key
details missing.
Importance of topic
not conveyed.
(3 points) Scope
and focus fairly
clear. Importance of
topic adequately
conveyed.
(5 points) Well
organized. Purpose
and content clear.
Importance of topic
conveyed in clear
and compelling way.
5 5
What's the
problem and
how do I get
the reader's
attention?
Background /
Context
(6 points)
Information is
unclear or missing,
with little elaboration
of general and
specific information
elated to problem.
(10 points)
Background is
adequate, but
missing some
elevant details.
(15 points) Excellent
ackground
information and
specifics of problem.
15 15 What's the story?
Scope of debate (20 points)
Opposing scholarly
viewpoints not
described
accurately.
(30 points)
Opposing scholarly
viewpoints
described
accurately.
(40 points)
Opposing scholarly
viewpoints
described in a
sophisticated way
and connected to
poli-sci theory and
concepts.
40 40
Have I guessed
at what poli-sci
theorists might
argue or have I
done enough
esearch to
describe the
actual debate
using credible
sources?
Project
connects to
elevant course
content in an
explicit way
(20 points) Little
connection to
elevant course
content.
(40 points)
Adequate
connection to
elevant course
content.
(60 points) Strong
connection to
elevant course
content.
60 60
Have I
identified,
described, and
applied relevant
examples,
theories and
concepts from
the course
text?
Argument
(persuasion)
(10 points) Hard for
eader to
understand logic of
argument. Position
is incompletely
explained and/or
does not flow
logically from
evidence and
analysis. Counter
arguments not
anticipated.
(20 points)
Argument
somewhat difficult to
follow and does not
connect in an
obvious way with
evidence
presented.
(30 points)
Argument clear and
persuasive, and
supported by
theories, concepts,
data and analysis.
Supporting research
is fully interpreted
for reader.
30 30
How will I
present my
position so that
my reader
agrees with
me?
----marking continuum---
3 of 4
Appropriate
design and
formatting of
document
(2 points) Little
attention to design
and formatting.
(3 points) Adequate
ut not polished
and/or does not
contribute to
understanding.
(5 points) Design
enhances impact
and understanding.
Formatting
consistent and
appropriate.
5 5
What does a
high-quality /
eal-world
example of my
document look
like?
Report
Organization
(4 points) Few
subsections are not
logically organized.
(6 points) Adequate
organization but
some details not
logically ordered or
hard to follow.
(10 points) Clear
headings indicate
natural division.
Sections flow
logically.
10 10
How do I use
"visible
structure" and
flow to enhance
my credibility?
Writing
mechanics
(4 point) Poor
grammar,
punctuation, word
choice, and, in
general, difficult to
ead.
(6 points) Some
e
ors and reading
is slow/confusing at
times.
(10 points) No
grammatical e
ors.
Writing style is clear,
concise and
confident.
10 10
Will my writing
strengthen my
credibility or be
distracting?
In-text citations
(not including
constitutes
plagiarism)
(no maximum) No in-
text citations. This
constitutes
plagiarism or a total
lack of research.
(-10 points)
Citations included
ut problems with
formatting.
(No deduction)
Citations included
and are properly
formatted. 0 0
Is it clear where
I used other's
work to support
my claims?
Bibliography:
Quality and
Number of
Sources
(-20 points) Does
not include relevant,
appropriate
eferences and/or
uses significantly
fewer sources than
equired.
(-5 points) Includes
mostly relevant
eferences and/or
does not include
minimum number of
sources.
(No deduction)
Includes
appropriate and
elevant sources.
Uses minimum
number of sources. 0 0
Do my sources
enhance the
credibility of my
argument?
Bibliography:
Formatting
(-20 points) Major
problems with
formatting.
(-5 points) Minor
problems with
formatting.
(No deduction) Uses
co
ect formatting.
0 0
Have I
consulted
support
esources to
ensure my
formatting is
co
ect?
Length of
document
(-20 points) Less
than 1000 words or
more than 300
words (groups need
to check syllabus)
(-10) Less than
1500 words or more
than 2500 words
(groups need to
check syllabus)
(No deduction)
Project is more than
1500 words and
less than 2500
words (groups need
to check syllabus)
0
Can I lengthen
or shorten my
paper and still
make a
complete, well-
supported
argument?
4 of 4
Pages not
numbered
0
Can I use page
numbers and
maybe footers
or headers to
enhance
eadability?
Name of file (-100,000,000)
Called file "essay"
or "pol assig"
(-10) Your name is
included but the
assignment name is
missing
(No deduction) File
is named "First Last
POL151 v1"
0
Is my marker
going to be
annoyed
ecause he
has to rename
my file?
Late
0 0
If I need more
time did I
contact the
instructor early
enough or did I
wait until the
night before
when it just
looks like I'm
unprepared?
Total mark XXXXXXXXXX
Total out of XXXXXXXXXX
Your mark XXXXXXXXXX
Note: Your mark out of 100 possible points is converted to a percentage of your
final grade. Points are assigned on a continuum between 0 and the "maximum
possible mark." The amount associated with each description simply helps
marker and students share an understanding of where marks were gained or
lost.
(-5 per day) Note: the penalty begins immediately after the
deadline. For example, handing your report in 25 hours late
esults in -10.
(-10 penalty)