Evaluation

Writing and Submission Requirements

Due: Monday, July 28th
Length: 1200 word minimum

Format: Academic-specific citation style. 12-pt Times New Roman font, double spaced, 1" margins, name and date, paginated

Submission: Turn in via Turn It In and turn in as a hard copy at the beginning of class.Include all drafts, brainstorming, and peer reviews in a labeled folder. Working drafts should be in the left pocket with the final draft in the right pocket.
Point Value: 200 points 

Assignment Prompt and Context

In this assignment, students will choose a controversial issue (e.g. problem, trend) related to the Gothic to investigate. The essay will evaluate the issue in terms of what it faces or creates, using classification as a descriptive strategy. Attention to essay structure, the use of evidence, and logic will be especially important for this paper.

This essay asks students to construct an argument that both defines an abstract Gothic term -- for example, "fear," "slavery," "monster," "mad scientist," "mad woman," (the list could be endless) -- and evaluates how well an item, company, advertisement, campaign, person, character, object, animal, cultural artifact, etc. does or does not meet that definition. For this assignment, assume that your audience has a competing definition for your abstract term.

A strong evaluation essay demonstrates the following characteristics:

• A clearly explained definitional argument about an abstract idea that works carefully to explain the abstract element as concretely as possible and contains a clear definitional thesis statement that identifies the characteristics of that abstract characteristic.
• e.g. An action is considered moral if it is x, y, z.
• Posits an evaluative thesis statement that contains the assessment of your chosen object, person, institution, or phenomenon's ability to meet your criteria.
• e.g. Force-feeding prison inmates is immoral because it demonstrates x, y, z. 
•  Throughout: an argumentative structure with paragraphs containing strong topic sentences and clearly relate back to the thesis statement and developed criteria.
• Insightful analysis of your chosen abstract term on the criteria you establish, including clearly-defined examples with a connection to the thesis.
• Free from common grammar and mechanical errors (e.g. run-on sentences, spelling errors, sentence fragments, etc.). Your task in the revision process is to ensure that your structure and ideas are thoroughly explained, your style is error-free and set within an academic tone.

Grading Criteria

 

Please see the rubric.