Sociological Analysis

General Grading Criteria for Written Assignments

Up to a letter grade can be deducted for poor, unedited writing.

I expect fluent writing in all assignments. Your mechanics of writing should be flawless, so edit your punctuation, grammar, and fluency. Ask a literate friend to read your work.

All writing should be organized and coherent. Your papers should be guided by a thesis paragraph and each subsequent paragraph should have a topic sentence. The body of that paragraph should connect to the promise you make in the topic sentence.

The thesis depends on the assignment. In all cases, the thesis tells the reader where your discussion is going and how much you will cover. It also reveals the depth of your analysis or discussion.

The lack of substance can also hurt your grade.

Substance is not only how much you write, but also how much you explore, the different points you make, and how well you support these points. It is more substantial to make three points and follow it up with one example for each point, than making one point and providing twenty examples to support that one point.

Not addressing each point of the assignment also constitutes a lack of substance. Always read the prompt.

Avoid shooting for the minimum in any assignment.
As a college student you should know what is “A” quality work. Here is a story: The clerk had three sons and each son was to take the trash to the curb every Wednesday. The assignment was simple: take the trash out to the curb every Wednesday.
The first son took the trash out on Thursday because he forgot. He did not bring back the can because the instructions did not specify that; the second son took it out on a Wednesday and left the can by the kitchen door. The third son, took it out on a Wednesday, brought the can back into the kitchen, and even wiped the can clean. Who gets the “A”?
Avoid sounding like samples from the Internet or Cliff Notes.

You are not alone. Up to 60 essays hit my desk at one time. If some essays begin to sound and look like twins, we have a situation. The best solution is to not even visit the on-line sources unless it is a research paper and you are prepared to quote and cite your sources. Individuality and fresh thoughts are wonderful. If three papers begin by telling me that Death of a Salesman reveals Miller’s despair and disenchantment with the American Dream…FLAG.

Read specific instructions for term papers under assignments in your blackboard. Be clear on the due dates.

American Revolution