Choose a topic that you have been hearing about in the news that you would like to know more about. Some
examples might include recent international events, environmental issues, court cases, cultural celebrations,
political scandals, etc.
Your task is to:
1) Identify the news story you want to research (remember to include this news story in your bibliography).
2) Identify what additional information you would like to find out about the news story. (What do you already
know, and what more do you want to know?)
3) Figure out where to find resources that will give you additional historical or contextual information.
4) Read at least three other sources of information, including at least one journal article.
5) Write up a bibliography that cites the original news source and the three other sources, including at least one
journal article.
6) Write a 1200-word draft that presents your research due October 29 at the start of class.
7) Revise your draft during the in-class exercise on October 29.
8) Submit your final draft for evaluation on November 5.
Strong
Good
OK
Weak
Overall Organization and Essay Structure: content and issues presented in intro,
thesis and central idea is made clear in opening paragraphs and stays central to the
paper; central idea is developed clearly, logically, completely, to form a clear line of
argument that runs throughout the paper; transitions (within and between paragraphs)
are used to connect ideas and keep central arguments together; conclusion ties evidence
and argument together, sums everything up; overall the “so what” comes through clearly
Content: sufficient discussion, explanation, analysis, evidence; examples and evidence
are tied to the central argument and are clearly relevant and well-incorporated; overall,
paper illustrates insight, thinking, depth, complexity; a real question is being answered
by real research
Tone and Approach: appropriate, authentic voice, sincerity, honesty, and energy. Form
serves content.
Quotations and Evidence: quotations are well-chosen; quotations and references
support, illustrate, and exemplify points; quotations are provided with context; in-text
citations are incorporated smoothly, grammatically, and correctly, according to MLA
style; Works Cited page is complete and correct
Written Expression: syntax, diction, and mechanics—clear and correct sentence
structure, appropriate and effective sentence length and variety; diction is precise,
concise, idiomatic; spelling, punctuation, grammar are correct
