Ms. Sallee American Literature
12 September 2007 B and E Blocks
Rubric: One-pager on Ragtime (25 points)
Due 9-17 (E); 9-18 (B)
Assignment: Set out and discuss the complexities of one of our course themes using one or two characters, scenes, or symbols. The purpose of the one-page structure is to help you establish a narrow focus, make every word count, avoid generalities and throwaway phrases or sentences, and keep your quotations economical and apt.
Manuscript Requirements (5)
- (2-3) / + (4) / ++ (5) / ___Be based exclusively on your reading and thinking, along with class discussion and notes.___Be 1 page single-spaced, 11 or 12 point font, reasonable margins, carefully edited and proofread
__ Include a full heading (your name, my name, course name, due date) and an original title that points to your thesis, centered, but neither italicized nor underlined
__ Be submitted at the start of class on the due date (late: -5)
Introduction-Thesis (5)
- (2-3) / + (4) / ++ (5) / ___Contain a brief (2-4 sentence) introduction.___Include (as part of the introduction) a clear, original thesis statement that argues a position, leads to analysis rather than summary, and gives some sense of the complexities of the theme. Please underline your thesis.
Organization and Development (10)
- (4-6) / + (7-8) / ++ (9-10) / ___Develop your argument (thesis) with an organizational strategy that is clear and logical___Contain 4-5 direct quotations from the text that:
___Support the thesis
___Are effectively and economically embedded into your writing
___Are followed by a discussion of their meaning and relevance as related to your thesis
___Are properly cited (e.g. page number in parentheses; full bibliographical information on your edition cited at bottom of page)
__ Use language precisely and effectively—make every word count.