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Requirements:

2 pages typed & double-spaced
12 point, plain font
Title page
MLA documentation -- parenthetical references
Works Cited page
Minimum 3 source cards
Minimum 15 note cards

Your essay will need to be structured as follows:

I. Introduction

• Creative and effective attention-getter
• Clear thesis (the last sentence of the intro)
• At least five sentences long

II. Discuss one side of the issue

III. Discuss the other side of the issue

IV. Discuss your opinion about the issue

V. Conclusion

• Restate thesis statement in a new way
• Restate the main points of your paper in a new way

I must approve your topics before you start to research!

Due Dates:

______ 15 note cards & 3 source cards due (50 pts)

______ Outline due (20 pts)

______ Rough Draft due -- Peer editing (30 pts)

______ Final Draft due -- no exceptions (100 pts)

 

The Issue Paper Rubric

Notecards:

Your notecard grade will be based on how much information you have researched and how well you have organized, paraphrased, and summarized it. Notecards should also follow the standard MLA format (like a research paper).

Source Cards:

Your source cards should also follow MLA standards for bibliographical entries.

Note cards: _____ x 5: _____/ 25
Source cards: _____x 5: _____/ 25
Total pts: _____/ 50

Outline:

Outline: _____x 4: _____/ 20

 

Rough Draft

To earn a "6" --

• Focus: thesis statement must be clear and preview all main points, attention getter must clearly introduce the topic
• Support/ Elaboration: most major points are detailed with specifics and credible facts
• Organization: good paragraphs with main points connected; some good transitions between paragraphs
• Conventions: a few major grammatical or mechanical errors that can easily be corrected for final draft
• Integration: all features of good and effective writing present; indicates final draft can be a well-developed essay

To earn a "5" --

• Focus: thesis statement clear, gives general preview of main points, attention getter could do a little better job of introducing topic
• Support/ Elaboration: most major points are detailed with specifics and credible facts
• Organization: good paragraphs with main points connected; OK transitions between paragraphs
• Conventions: some major grammatical or mechanical errors, few minor; can easily be corrected for final draft
• Integration: most features of good writing present, but not all equally developed

To earn a "4" --

• Focus: thesis statement clear, gives vague preview of main points, attention getter could do a lot better job of introducing topic
• Support/ Elaboration: some major points are detailed with specifics and credible facts
• Organization: some good paragraphs with main points connected; minor digressions, transitions between paragraphs need work before final draft
• Conventions: enough grammatical or mechanical errors to warrant a better proofreading job
• Integration: essentials of good writing skills present; extra effort on final draft can result in above-average grade

To earn a "3" --

• Focus: thesis statement not really clear, does not preview main points very well, attention getter is lackluster
• Support/ Elaboration: most major points are general, some not credible
• Organization: bad paragraphing, major digressions, few transitions between paragraphs
• Conventions: several major grammatical or mechanical errors, many minor
• Integration: not all features of effective writing are developed; would be a below-average final draft

To earn a "2" --

• Focus: thesis statement confusing, shifts and scatters main points, no attention getter
• Support/ Elaboration: attempted support statements, lists them
• Organization: weak plan, vague structure
• Conventions: many major grammatical or mechanical errors, confusing
• Integration: weak try, confusing; unacceptable for final draft

To earn a "1" --

• Focus: thesis statement unclear, too short
• Support/ Elaboration: no support, insufficient
• Organization: no plan, too short
• Conventions: major confusion, short
• Integration: most features of effective writing absent, too short

  Rough Draft pts: _____/ 30

   

Final Draft

To earn a 90-100, your paper must

• be well-thought out and organized,
• thoroughly answer all necessary criteria,
• be at least two full pages in length,
• be free of grammatical and mechanical errors,
• contain several textual citations.

To earn an 80-89, your paper must

• be logical and organized,
• answer all necessary criteria,
• be at least two full pages in length,
• contain only a few grammatical or mechanical errors,
• contain many textual citations

To earn a 70-79, your paper must

• be fairly organized and coherent,
• answer most criteria,
• be at least two full pages in length,
• contain a few major grammatical or mechanical errors, some minor,
• contain some textual citations.

To earn a 60-69, your paper must

• be unorganized and somewhat incoherent,
• fail to adequately answer all necessary criteria,
• be two pages or less in length,
• contain some major grammatical or mechanical errors, few minor,
• contain little to no textual citations.

To earn a 59 or below, your paper must

• be poorly organized, sloppy, and show little to no effort,
• very little of the necessary criteria,
• be less than two full pages in length,
• contain several grammatical or mechanical errors,
• contain little to no textual citations.

  Final Draft pts: _____/ 100

Content Standards: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14
Process Standards: 16, 19

Copyright 2018, Jon Mueller. Professor of Psychology, North Central College, Naperville, IL. Comments, questions or suggestions about this website should be sent to the author, Jon Mueller, at jfmueller@noctrl.edu.