Overview
Assignment: Exploratory Essay. (The title page and reference page does not count in the 3-4 page essay. The two article sources i used are listed in the word document)
Task
In a 3-to-4-page essay, you will explore the research topic you chose by summarizing and evaluating a minimum of two (2) sources (one source for EACH side of the controversial topic). This exploratory essay will introduce your topic, summarize and evaluate each of your two sources, and reflect on your research process and findings.
Process
This project involves the following steps:
Read What is an Exploratory Essay?
Choose an instructor-approved topic and locate two credible articles relevant to the issue.
Write a 3-to-4-page APA-formatted essay that explains the debatable issue, summarizes and evaluates the two articles, and reflects on future research goals.
Complete the U1 Progress Checkpoint as required by your instructor.
Review the U1 Exploratory Essay Rubric (150 points) so that you know how your work will be evaluated. (Printable Rubric)
Submit your Unit 1 Exploratory Essay to D2L.
Printable Assignment Sheet
Format
Length of essay: 3 – 4 pages of content (excluding the required Title page & References page)
Font & Spacing: Double-spaced, one of the approved fonts: 12-pt Times New Roman, 11-pt Calibri, 11-pt Arial, or 11-pt Georgia
APA Format: Title page, Headings, In-text Citations, Reference Page Unit 1 Exploratory Essay Rubric
Criteria
Exceptional
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
Does Not Meet Expectations
Ungradable
Criterion Score
Focus: Thesis statement, topic sentences, details: relevance, details: sequence.
30 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
An insightful topic is explored in-depth with a strong sense of both purpose and audience.
Topic sentences, headings, and similar signposts guide the reader smoothly through the essay.
A clear and effective pattern of organization is used to keep all of the ideas in place and on-topic.
25.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL the descriptors in Meets Expectations and AT LEAST ONE of the Exceptional descriptors.
22.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
A meaningful topic is explored, though it could have a stronger sense of purpose or audience.
Topic sentences, headings, and similar signposts are attempted, though they could more effectively guide the reader.
Ideas usually contribute to the topic and fit where they are placed.
19.5 points
The essay does NOT demonstrate ALL of the criteria in Meets Expectations.
0 points
The essay demonstrates AT LEAST ONE of the following:
The essay is missing a thesis or central idea.
Topic sentences, headings, and similar signposts are often missing or guide the reader incorrectly.
Ideas are often off-topic or don’t fit where they are placed.
Score of Focus: Thesis statement, topic sentences, details: relevance, details: sequence.,/ 30
Development: Paper length (3-4 pages), introduction, body [4 paragraphs total for body (i.e., 2 paragraphs for each source)], & conclusion; details: sufficiency, details: effectiveness.
30 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
The introduction engages the reader in the topic and prepares them for the essay.
The details answer all of the most important questions.
Showing details give the reader new insight on the topic.
The conclusion shows the significance of the essay and provides a strong sense of closure.
25.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL the descriptors in Meets Expectations and AT LEAST ONE of the Exceptional descriptors.
22.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
The introduction prepares the reader for the essay but could benefit from a stronger hook.
The details address most of the reader’s questions, though some minor gaps remain.
The details support the topic, but they often tell more than they show.
The conclusion shows the significance of the essay but still needs to provide a strong sense of closure.
19.5 points
The essay does NOT demonstrate ALL of the criteria in Meets Expectations.
0 points
The essay demonstrates AT LEAST ONE of the following:
Essay does not meet minimum page requirements.
A required section is missing.
Score of Development: Paper length (3-4 pages), introduction, body [4 paragraphs total for body (i.e., 2 paragraphs for each source)], & conclusion; details: sufficiency, details: effectiveness.,/ 30
Coherence, Clarity & Style: Paragraph transitions, connections between sentences, sentence length and structure, word choice.
30 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Transitions within and between paragraphs are chosen strategically and implemented smoothly.
Sentences are varied in length and structure for emphasis. Memorable structures stand out to the reader.
Powerful words and phrases make the message clear, convincing, and memorable.
25.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL the descriptors in Meets Expectations and AT LEAST ONE of the Exceptional descriptors.
22.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Transitions within and between paragraphs are attempted, but need to be chosen more carefully or implemented more smoothly.
Sentences are usually clear and correct, but there is much room for variety and emphasis.
Words usually communicate the right idea, but the reader would benefit if they were more precise, natural, or compelling.
19.5 points
The essay does NOT demonstrate ALL of the criteria in Meets Expectations.
0 points
The essay demonstrates AT LEAST ONE of the following:
Transitions are often left out where needed.
Incorrect, choppy, or monotonous sentence structures hinder the message.
Word choice is imprecise or unnatural enough to hinder the message.
Score of Coherence, Clarity & Style: Paragraph transitions, connections between sentences, sentence length and structure, word choice.,/ 30
Use of Source Material: Number of sources (2), quality of sources.
10 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Every source is credible and appropriate, and some stand out as particularly authoritative.
8.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL the descriptors in Meets Expectations and AT LEAST ONE of the Exceptional descriptors.
7.5 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Most sources are credible and appropriate.
6.5 points
The essay does NOT demonstrate ALL of the criteria in Meets Expectations.
0 points
The essay demonstrates AT LEAST ONE of the following:
Essay does not meet minimum source requirements.
Score of Use of Source Material: Number of sources (2), quality of sources.,/ 10
Editing and Formatting: Grammar and proofreading.
15 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Errors are few and far between. The writing demonstrates a wide and complex range of conventions.
12.75 points
The essay demonstrates ALL the descriptors in Meets Expectations and AT LEAST ONE of the Exceptional descriptors.
11.25 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Errors may be common enough to distract the reader, but they rarely inhibit understanding.
9.75 points
The essay does NOT demonstrate ALL of the criteria in Meets Expectations.
0 points
The essay demonstrates AT LEAST ONE of the following:
Errors often inhibit understanding.
Typos are common enough that the paper requires additional proofreading before it can be evaluated.
Score of Editing and Formatting: Grammar and proofreading.,/ 15
Editing and Formatting: In-text citations, references page, general APA format.
15 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Title page, page number, headings, spacing, and font are all formatted correctly.
Citations are consistently used where necessary and formatted correctly.
Reference entries are usually formatted correctly. Errors are minor and rare.
12.75 points
The essay demonstrates ALL the descriptors in Meets Expectations and AT LEAST ONE of the Exceptional descriptors.
11.25 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
At least three of the following are formatted correctly: title page, page number, headings, spacing, and font.
Citations are used where necessary, but the format is sometimes incorrect.
Reference entries contain enough information to find the source, but the format is often incorrect.
9.75 points
The essay does NOT demonstrate ALL of the criteria in Meets Expectations.
0 points
The essay demonstrates AT LEAST ONE of the following:
Two or fewer of the following are formatted correctly: Title page, page number, headings, spacing, and font.
Citations are frequently omitted where necessary.
Reference entries contain little evidence of attempting APA format.
Score of Editing and Formatting: In-text citations, references page, general APA format.,/ 15
Use of Source Material: Selection of evidence (quote vs. paraphrase), quality of paraphrases, setup of evidence, tie-in of evidence.
20 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Quotes and paraphrases are chosen strategically and meaningfully tied-in to the claim.
Evidence from sources is integrated smoothly with helpful and relevant contextual information.
17 points
The essay demonstrates ALL the descriptors in Meets Expectations and AT LEAST ONE of the Exceptional descriptors.
15 points
The essay demonstrates ALL of the following:
Quotes and paraphrases are chosen with some sense of strategy and an attempt is made to tie them to the claim.
Evidence from sources is set up appropriately, though integration could be smoother or more helpful to the reader.
13 points
The essay does NOT demonstrate ALL of the criteria in Meets Expectations.
0 points
The essay demonstrates AT LEAST ONE of the following:
Quotes are used excessively.
Paraphrases are often patch-written or plagiarized.
Evidence often lacks a clear or appropriate setup.
Score of Use of Source Material: Selection of evidence (quote vs. paraphrase), quality of paraphrases, setup of evidence, tie-in of evidence.,/ 20
Total
Score of Unit 1 Exploratory Essay Rubric,/ 150
Overall Score.
Be sure to have 1 article for EACH side of your controversial topic. You will select 6-8 articles for the final paper, representing both sides of the argument you are researching this semester.
In exploratory research writing, you are explaining the discussion points and topics to your readers without taking a position of one side or another and without sharing your opinion.
Even if the topic is debatable and highly controversial, instead of promoting your personal opinion, you have to objectively introduce the ideas of others, explain and show how their information is related to each other’s, and how the information may connect and diverge.
You are not showing your agreement with some authors and disagreement with the others.
You should stay neutral both in your comments on the found information and in your conclusions reached at the end of the discussion.
You will have the opportunity to choose a side and argue your opinions based on research/data in the final paper - The Argument Essay due in week 6.