The purpose of the final essay is for you to explore a topic in a more extensive, detailed way than in the book notes; also, as explained in class, for this assignment you’ll have the chance to receive feedback on your work and to revise it before it’s graded. The final essay should be 1000 – 1200 words long.
Here are the main criteria by which your work will be evaluated:
1. Is there a clear argument presented at the beginning and set out throughout the paper?
2. Is your paper clearly structured, so the reader knows how each part relates to the overall argument being made?
3. Is the argument supported by extensive specific evidence drawn from the film, novel, or story that you’re writing about?
4. Is your use of language precise and accurate?
5. Is your work professionally presented? Have you spell-checked it?
6. If you have used outside sources, are they clearly indicated by quotation marks and citations? (Don’t forget that borrowing others’ words without acknowledgement is plagiarism.)
Remember that both the first draft and the final draft are REQUIRED assignments; the first draft is worth 100 points and the final version 150 points, for a total of 250—a major portion of your grade for the class.
Each draft should be submitted double-spaced, and include your name, a title, the class number, the instructor’s name, the date, and a word count; please number your pages.
The first draft should be AT LEAST 800 words, though it would be preferable for you to submit a draft of your entire assignment. It is due on MONDAY, APRIL 20th at 5.00 pm in hard copy in the instructor’s mailbox.
The second, revised draft should be 1000 – 1200 words