y sound, peer-reviewed journal articles
Construct a well-organized, clear academic essay with a thesis statement
Use of direct quotations (with proper MLA citations) to support the thesis
Sources: 4 peer-reviewed journal articles OR
3 peer-reviewed journal articles and one outside website, which ends in .gov .edu or .org
Resources: You may use articles from the academic databases (located under the blue “Find Articles” tab) available on the WTCC Library website. ProQuest Central and JSTOR are highly recommended. Please see the “Collecting Sources” folder for more information.
Possible approaches to your topic include:
Cause/Effect
Problem/Solution
Description/Illustration
Historical Approach
Banned Topics:
legalization/decriminalization of marijuana
capital punishment
abortion
terrorism/homeland security
immigration
Points to consider:
Direction quotations, summaries, and paraphrases must follow MLA in-text citation format (found in our notes and in LB Brief pgs. 440-444).
Use third person throughout your essay, and do not include any personal experiences/reflections.
A MAXIMUM OF NINE DIRECT QUOTATIONS IS ALLOWED.
Works Cited entries must follow MLA format (2016 MLA Eighth Edition).
All rules regarding grammar and use of standard English must be followed in order to avoid penalization for errors in grammar, spelling, and/or word choice.
English 111: Contemporary Issues Essay Rubric
Title (5%)
· Specific to the topic
· Previews the content of the essay
· Does not contain grammatical errors
Reflective Writing (5%)
· Completed in class on the essay due date
· Responds to all five of the assigned questions
· Does not contain glaring grammatical errors
Introduction (10%)
· Introduce the issue with thoughtful background information
· Previews the organization of the essay
· Written in the third person
· Does not contain critiques/commentary
Thesis Statement (10%)
· Insightful
· Identifies the contemporary issue
· Indicates the significance of that issue
· Is not an “announcement” statement
· Is grammatically sound
Body Paragraphs (30%)
· Clear organizational pattern following the chosen approach (i.e. problem/solution, cause/effect, two-sided argument)
· Sources are introduced as they are used (with full title, author’s names, and journal title)
· Use of transitional expressions to navigate the reader through the issue
· Topic sentences clearly preview the content of the paragraph
· Written in the third person
· Contains direct quotations with in-text citations serving as evidence
Conclusion (10%)
Topic sentence clearly restates the contemporary issue under investigation
Does not include personal commentary or critiques
Reiterates the main points of the essay
Analyzes the significance of this issue for contemporary audiences
Provides points for future consideration
Written in the third person
Style & Grammar (30%)
· Lapses in academically appropriate language & tone
· Diction / word choice
· Run-ons/Comma Splices/Fragments
· Agreement Problems
· Use of first person (I, me, we)
· Use of second person (you)
· Problems with MLA formatting
· Absence of and/or problems with in-text citations and/or works cited entries
