Purpose: To capture the reader’s interest and to provide enough general information to understand the thesis and the arguments

Advanced / Proficient / Basic

Introduction

/ Starts with fascinating quote , story, something
General information integrated seamlessly
Makes relation to US history and us obvious
Specific information clarifies subject
Includes background information necessary to understand rest of paper but excludes unnecessary detail
Thesis and definitions included at the end / Starts with revealing quote, story, something
General information included
Clearly sets out relation to US history
Specific information included
Includes background information necessary to understand rest of paper
Thesis and definitions included at the end / Starts with boring quote or story, nothing
General information included poorly
Fails to set out relation to US history/doesn’t try
Specific information included poorly
Background information necessary to understand rest of paper left out
Thesis and definitions included at the end

Thesis & Definitions

/ Thesis is arguable, provable and strong
Thesis is clear, concise and obvious
Definitions are integrated into prose very well
Definitions clarify necessary phrases & words; leave out unnecessary ones / Thesis is arguable and provable
Thesis is clear and concise
Thesis is not passive
Definitions are integrated into prose
Definitions clarify necessary phrases & words / Thesis is not arguable or provable
Thesis is difficult to understand or find
Thesis is passive
Definitions don’t exist, poorly integrated into prose
Definitions muddy necessary phrases & words

Purpose: To capture the reader’s interest and to provide enough general information to understand the thesis and the arguments

Advanced / Proficient / Basic

Introduction

/ Starts with fascinating quote , story, something
General information integrated seamlessly
Makes relation to US history and us obvious
Specific information clarifies subject
Includes background information necessary to understand rest of paper but excludes unnecessary detail
Thesis and definitions included at the end / Starts with revealing quote, story, something
General information included
Clearly sets out relation to US history
Specific information included
Includes background information necessary to understand rest of paper
Thesis and definitions included at the end / Starts with boring quote or story, nothing
General information included poorly
Fails to set out relation to US history/doesn’t try
Specific information included poorly
Background information necessary to understand rest of paper left out
Thesis and definitions included at the end

Thesis & Definitions

/ Thesis is arguable, provable and strong
Thesis is clear, concise and obvious
Definitions are integrated into prose very well
Definitions clarify necessary phrases & words; leave out unnecessary ones / Thesis is arguable and provable
Thesis is clear and concise
Thesis is not passive
Definitions are integrated into prose
Definitions clarify necessary phrases & words / Thesis is not arguable or provable
Thesis is difficult to understand or find
Thesis is passive
Definitions don’t exist, poorly integrated into prose
Definitions muddy necessary phrases & words