Overview
Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is strictly limited in this course. Students may use AI only to brainstorm ideas, develop an initial outline, or obtain general explanations of course concepts.
Students may not use AI to generate, write, rewrite, paraphrase, expand, or substantially revise any part of an assignment. This prohibition includes submitting AI-generated sentences, paragraphs, essays, discussion posts, outlines, or responses as the student’s own work.
All submitted assignments must reflect the student’s original ideas, writing, organization, and understanding of the course material.
AI-Generated Writing Threshold and Grade Penalties
An AI-generated writing percentage of 20% or below is acceptable and will not result in a grade penalty.
For an AI-generated writing percentage above 20%, one point will be deducted from the assignment grade for each percentage point above the permitted threshold.
For example, an AI-generated writing percentage of 25% will result in a five-point deduction.
Assignments containing extensive AI-generated content or clear evidence that AI was used to produce the work may receive a grade of zero.
Serious or repeated violations may also be reported as academic integrity violations in accordance with university policies.
Students are responsible for reviewing their work before submission and ensuring that it complies with this policy. Failure to follow these requirements may result in grade penalties, a grade of zero, or additional disciplinary action under the university’s academic integrity standards.
Due Date
Sunday, July 26th, at 11:59 PM
Late submissions will incur the following penalties:
10% deduction for assignments received 1–7 days late
20% deduction for assignments received 8–14 days late
0% for assignments received 15 or more days late, unless documented extenuating circumstances exist
Illustration Essay Instructions – Focus on Examples Only
You are required to write a formal, college-level Illustration (Exemplification) essay focused solely on explaining and supporting the Thesis Statement through specific, concrete examples. Your paper must demonstrate clear organization, appropriate academic tone, proper documentation, and full adherence to MLA 9th edition formatting guidelines.
1. Essay Type
This assignment requires an Illustration (Exemplification) essay. You must focus exclusively on illustrating your Thesis statement through examples. Do not argue against opposing viewpoints, analyze causes or effects, or include unrelated discussion.
2. Approved Topics (Choose One)
Choose the same topic you selected for your Illustration Essay Outline. Your outline serves as the foundation (blueprint) for your Illustration Essay; therefore, you may not change topics for the final essay.
Essays written on a topic different from the one used in the Outline, or on an unapproved topic, will automatically receive a grade of zero (0).
Approved Topics:
Stress and Its Impact on Student Health
Peer Pressure and Its Influence on Decision-Making
Why Time Management Is Essential for Academic Success
Part-Time Employment as Preparation for Professional Life
Communication Skills as a Foundation for Career Success
3. Length and Structure
Your essay must be at least 700 words (excluding the title page and Works Cited page) and follow a clear five-paragraph structure:
Paragraph 1: Introduction (ending with a clear, underlined thesis statement)
Paragraphs 2–4: Body paragraphs (each one focused on a separate example supporting the thesis)
Paragraph 5: Conclusion (restating the thesis and summarizing main points)
4. Formatting Requirements
Follow MLA 9th edition formatting:
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt.
Double-spaced with 1-inch margins
Include a properly formatted MLA heading and title
Include a Works Cited page
5. Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement must:
* Be clear, written as a complete sentence, underlined, and not written as an announcement
* Be placed at the end of the introduction paragraph
* Be written in parallel structure
* Include three distinct points that will be developed in the body paragraphs in the exact same order in which they appear in the thesis statement
6. Body Paragraph Development
Each body paragraph must:
Begin with a clear topic sentence that directly supports the thesis statement
Focus on one main point from the thesis
Include at least two (2) well-developed, specific examples to illustrate that point
Avoid vague, general, or unsupported statements
Develop the points in the same order in which they are presented in the thesis statement
7. Sources and Citations
Use at least three (3) credible academic sources
ProQuest Central via LIRN and Google Scholar are strongly recommended
Do not use Wikipedia, WebMD, Infoplease, Answers.com, or Psychology Today
Include at least one in-text citation per body paragraph properly formatted in MLA 9th Ed
Add a properly formatted Works Cited page using MLA 9th edition
8. Important Submission Requirements
• Your assignment must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (doc or .docx) ONLY.
• Do NOT type or paste your essay into the text submission box.
• Do NOT submit external links (e.g., Google Docs, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.).
• Use the “Upload a File” option located at the bottom of the submission page to attach and upload your Microsoft Word document.
• Submissions in any format other than Microsoft Word will not be accepted and may result in a grade of zero.
• Carefully review the Evaluation Rubric located on the right-hand side of the assignment page to understand how your work will be graded.
9. Final Note
Use the materials provided in class, including textbook chapters, PowerPoints, and examples, to guide your writing. Carefully proofread and revise your essay before submission. Refer to the grading rubric to understand how your work will be evaluated.
If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact me before the deadline. I strongly encourage you to submit your best original work demonstrating your own writing, analysis, and critical thinking skills.
You have sufficient time and resources to complete this assignment successfully. No late excuses will be accepted.