Instructions
- Each of these essays should be minimum 1,500 words
- Essays shorter than 1,350 words will not be accepted.
- The student’s name should not appear anywhere in the document. (The papers will be printed out and graded blind)
- Essays should be written in Times New Roman 12pt font (or equivalent) and double spaced
- The student should provide a word count. The word count excludes citations and bibliography.
- Austin Peay’s rules about plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, and collusion apply in full.
- The essays are due in the D2L Dropbox on the due date no later than 11:59pm
- Essays are penalized 5 points for each day they are late up to 6 days.
- Essays later than 6 days late will not be accepted.
- Any major citation format is acceptable (MLA, APA, Chicago…)
- Looking at outside sources is strictly forbidden
Content
- Each week the readings are organized around a theme or a debate.
- Your job in these essays is to take a position on this debate (or theme) and use the readings, as well as your own insight, to inform this position of yours.
- You must cite each of the readings at least once during the course of your argument.
- Before you can take a position, you should introduce your reader to the debate and the various positions taken in the literature. This will require a brief summary.
- This summary should be accessible to someone not familiar with the literature already.
- You have done your job if your reader understands what the issues are and understands the reasons you have given for your position.
Grading Criteria
- Clarity of your position (20%)
- Clarity of the positions of authors discussed (20%)
- Clarity of reasons given for your view (20%)
- Clarity of reasons given to doubt rival views (20%)
- Spelling, syntax, grammar, organization (20%)
- Failure to cite a class text (-10%)
- Use of outside sources (-100%)
