Write a minimum 4-page (1000-word), thesis-driven analysis of an aspect of one of the texts we have read and argue why it is significant. The thesis should make an argument about the text, and the supporting discussion should defend this argument by quoting particular passages and analyzing their meaning. Use of secondary materials in this paper is optional. Feel free to use in-class writing as a springboard. See Paper Requirements and Assessment below.

Write a minimum 8-page (2000-word), thesis-driven research paper that makes an argument one or two of texts we have read this term. It's OK to use in-class writing as a springboard and to build on ideas from the Short Paper but not to dump the Short Paper wholesale into the Long Paper.

Secondary research is required. Cite minimum of 3 secondary sources. At least one of these sources should be a critical article about one of the primary texts from a scholarly journal located through the MLA International Bibliography. Dictionary and encyclopedia entries do not count toward this requirement. Neither do the texts you are analyzing, which are your primary sources. Analyze all web pages cited for credibility!

THIS IS NOT A REPORT. AVOID SUMMARY. Your paper should begin with your own argument about the primary texts, defend this argument by quoting particular passages and analyzing their meaning, and employ secondary research only to support that argument. The thesis cannot duplicate an argument made in the secondary sources, but it can be situated with reference to one or more arguments.

Submit Generative Writing assignments prior to drafting as follows:

• For both papers, write a 2-page analysis of ideas you may use including the following:
• A summary or outline of what you think you might do and why
• A potential thesis statement
• A quoted section from the text at least 4 lines long preceded by a topic sentence and transition into the quote and followed by at least 8 lines of analysis focusing on the importance of particular words to your interpretation of the section.
• For the Long Paper, write an annotated works cited page (Second Generative Writing). This should be a regular works cited page with a précis of each secondary source indicating the argument of the source and how the source might be useful to your argument. If the source's argument is similar to your own, indicate how exactly yours differs. Also, evaluate each source in terms of recency and credibility: does the source seem recent enough to be meaningful? Do you believe the argument? Why or why not?

• Works Cited, either on the last page of the paper or on a separate page.
• Self Evaluation: a 250-word description and evaluation of your work. The self-evaluation for the Long Paper must answer the questions: 1) what secondary sources did you use, 2) how exactly are your ideas different from the ones included in them, and 3) how exactly did you decide whether to paraphrase or quote cited material? For the last question, provide an example. Other questions you might address include:

• Copies of secondary materials not available as part of this course or online--submit only the individual pages to which your paper refers.

• Clear thesis: the thesis should connect a claim about the text to reasons. The thesis should be located in the paper's introduction so that the reader knows from the beginning what you will be arguing. This argument should be different from that made by any sources cited in your discussion.
• Logical organization: paragraphs should have one topic each, should appear in a logical order, and should have transitions that demonstrate how they relate to the previous paragraph(s).
• Most paragraphs should include a topic sentence that connects the topic of the paragraph to the thesis. This sentence should appear at or close to the beginning of each paragraph so that it can act as a signpost for the reader.
• Paragraphs should be developed using examples and logical discussion and referring to specific quotes from primary and/or secondary sources. Think of each paragraph as a "sandwich" with your guiding ideas surrounding examples or information drawn from elsewhere. Your analysis should significantly exceed the quantity of cited material. Use summary but do not allow even one paragraph of your discussion to be wholly summary.
•  Warning! Revised drafts will receive failing grades if they do any of the following: consist mostly of summary, consist mostly of ideas from secondary sources, fail to cite paraphrased information, lack a works cited page, lack evidence of significant revision, or are submitted after the deadline without express permission from me.

SUGGESTION: Visit the Writing Lab and submit blue form, or conference with me (all count as extra participation credit).

Assessment Rubric

In scoring, I generally average the elements listed below, but there are occasions when one element determines the grade.
 

	A	B	C	D	F	Zero for plagiarism or failure to complete the assignment
Thesis	document has a clear, original thesis on which discussion stays focused through topic sentences at the beginnings of paragraphs	document has a general thesis on which the paragraphs are clearly if implicitly focused	document has a general thesis on which some paragraphs focus, or document may lack an explicit thesis but present detailed, original observations that might easily support a thesis	general thesis with little focus	no thesis or focus	N/A
Organization	paragraphs have one topic each and appear in a logical order indicated by fluid transitions	most paragraphs have one topic each and generally appear in a logical order	some trouble with paragraph unity and order	significant trouble with paragraph unity and order	confusing	N/A
Development	paragraphs present relevant points to support the thesis detailed by quotes from the primary text(s) and discussion of the quotes longer than the quotes themselves and focusing on specific wording	paragraphs present relevant points supported by some quotes and discussion	paragraphs present some relevant points with some support	many paragraphs fall into summary or rely mostly on secondary material	discussion is mostly summary or relies mostly on secondary material	N/A
Standard Written English/Style	document includes few errors or awkward passages	document includes some errors and/or awkward passages	document includes significant error patterns and/or awkward passages	document includes distracting error patters and/or awkward language	language is confusing	N/A
Format	document meets length requirements and is prepared in standard academic paper format	document nearly meets length requirements and/or may have some problems in standard academic paper format	document is 3/4 the required length and/or may have significant trouble with standard academic paper format	document is substantially short and/or may be distractingly formatted	document is half the required length, and/or document format causes confusion	document is less than half the required length
Citation	all primary and secondary materials, whether quoted or paraphrased, are properly cited in MLA format	all primary and secondary materials are properly cited with some errors in MLA format	parenthetical references and works cited page exist but may include substantial errors	parenthetical references may be unclear or missing	works cited is missing, but there is some attempt to indicate information comes from sources	works cited is missing, and there is no attempt to indicate information comes from sources
Paraphrasing	paraphrasing alters both wording and sentence structure of the original	paraphrasing alters wording of the original	paraphrasing sometimes uses more than three words in a row from the original	paraphrasing frequently uses more than three words in a row from the original	paraphrasing is nearly identical with the original; the original may be cited	the draft is composed primarily of information word-for-word from secondary sources, which may or may not be acknowledged
Plagiarism	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	I have seen no generative writing or rough drafts, seen no substantial revision, and/or received no source material; I can demonstrate that all or part of the paper belongs (or likely belongs) to another writer
Long paper secondary sources	long paper discusses at least three scholarly secondary sources, one of which is a periodical article located through the MLA International Bibliography	long paper discusses at least three scholarly sources	long paper discusses at least two scholarly sources	long paper discusses at least one scholarly source	long paper discusses no scholarly sources	N/A