Over the course of the semester, you will write three short research papers (4-6 pages), and a final research paper that represents the combination of these papers (10-20 pages). All of your writing will be assessed using a rubric, or set of guidelines. For each paper, I will provide you with feedback based (in part) on this rubric, assign a grade, and give you the opportunity to revise your work in light of this feedback. You will have one week to revise your writing; you are not required to revise.

High-level Guidelines

Your writing is either Excellent, Good, Average, or Bad. This corresponds to letter grades of A, B, C, or D. My goal is for you all to be excellent writers. I will work with you tirelessly to see you achieve that, but only if you come to me. I have boundless energy for students who wish to succeed—but I will not chase you. If you do not wish to excel, so be it. At a high level, excellent writing is defined by the following document:

Specific Guidelines

These high-level guidelines are difficult to work with on a day-to-day basis. I will be using the following, more specific rubric to evaluate each of your papers.

This more specific rubric provides you with specifics regarding the kinds of things I am looking for in your writing. The exact version will look a bit different (pay no attention to the numbers down the right-hand side, for example), but the specifics regarding your writing—the left-hand side—you should pay close attention to.

We will work together, in and out of class, to improve your writing.