Faculty Resources

Creating the Assignment for Students: An Example

Define an appropriate assignment for your course (ie., research paper, lab report, case study, abstracts, other reports): English 121 assigns a research-supported argumentative essay. The ability to research and defend a position based from an informed viewpoint is important in academic settings, but is also valuable beyond the academic. Knowing how to correctly acknowledge sources is important in academic and workplace settings.

1. Describe it in Detail for the Students: For your last essay assignment, Units 7, 8, and 9 will overlap as you learn how to write an argument essay and how to support an argument with research. Unit 7 will introduce you to argument and show you how to write an Argument essay. Unit 8 will introduce you to research and guide you through the use of various research resources, and Unit 9 will focus on how to incorporate the work of others into your own research paper. You will also have an online research conference with your instructor to review how your draft is developing before you turn in your final paper.

2.     Argument Essay/Research Assignment:

1. Using what you've learned in Units 7, 8, and 9, research and write a 3-6 page argumentative essay. This essay must be supported by researched information and documented in MLA style.
2. The "Graphic Organizer for an Argument Essay" and the "Guided Writing Assignment" sections of Chapter 20 in SCW will guide you through the process of writing this essay.
3. Check the calendar for due dates and notes for completing and submitting the research-based Argument Essay. When the final version is ready, post it to the portfolio.Title the submission, "Research Essay."
2. Break the Projects into Steps include Dates and Points. This projects involves learning how to create an argument, researching, citing, drafting and revising, and covers four weeks in this course. Some of the steps:

o       Brainstorming, Short Assignment:
Warm up for the argument discussion by brainstorming using the example in SCW. pages 78 and 79, on at least three argumentative topics that interest you. Recommendation: Stay away from topics that are based on belief only. Name pro and con positions for each. Submit this assignment in the portfolio with the subject line, Unit 7 Short Assignment.

o       Planning Ahead for the Final Essay:
Start thinking about a topic for your final essay, an Argumentative essay with at least 3-5 sources. The essay will be 3-6 pages long and will use the MLA format for citing sources. Here are the specifics:

• Narrowing Topic Choices: Share your argument topic with the class for their questions and perspectives that you can consider as you begin your research and writing. Put your topic in the Unit 7 discussion forum, so that everyone can see it. (To access this discussion forum, click on the Discussions link found on the Unit 7 front page.) Response: After posting your topic, check back in a day or two to see what others have said/asked about yours and to respond to at least one other class member's topic idea.
• Researching: Using what you've learned in Units 7 and 8, research for materials related to your argumentative essay topic. This essay must be supported by researched information and documented in MLA style. 
• Citation Discussion: Prepare an example of a citation of a quote, and place it in this week's discussion topic, "Citing a Quote."
• Citation Discussion: Prepare an example of paraphrase and place it in this week's discussion topic, "Citing a Paraphrase."
• Argument Peer Review: "Unit 9: Research Peer Review" by the date listed in the calendar. Save your document in the .rtf format and attach it to your posting, or copy/paste it into the message box. Place the title in the subject line of your posting (i.e., "Crying at the Speed of Light"). To access this discussion forum, you may click on the link in the previous sentence, or on the Discussions link found on the Unit 9 front page.
• Try to get as much done on your draft as possible (at least 75%) but, if your draft is not complete by the due date for peer review, post as much as you have finished. Feedback can be helpful, even on a partial draft.
• Complete the Peer Reviews for two papers posted by classmates. Read two other papers and provide a response for the writers. The directions for how to go about this process appear in the first posting from the instructor. Cut and paste the questions from that email into your response to the other writer's draft.
• Research Conference Sign Up: Go to the Research Conference Thread for Unit 9 and Sign Up for a Conference Date. Conferences take place in your portfolio space. The directions for how to prepare for the research confernence appear in the Unit 9 Assignments. I will read and review your materials on your conference date and answer the questions you have posted. There are no points for the sign-up, but the conference is required and important--I will not read your research paper if you have not participated in a conference. Also, if you sign up at an early date, it gives you more time to polish your paper :).
3. Create a Rubric: This is the rubric the instructor will use--use it as your checklist as you prepare your paper. Questions are most welcome.

Rubric for Research-Argument Research Conference and Essay:

Research Conference: 50 points
10 points--Materials posted for conference date
10 points--Outline: Thesis and paragraph topics
10 points--At least two pages of draft with 3-4 in-text citations
10 points--Bibliography
10 points--Specific Questions

Essay Structure: 100 points possible
25 points--Clearly Stated Thesis:  Thesis sets topic and position
25 points--Evidence supports the argument; rebuttal is considered
25 points--The essay demonstrates the assigned essay form (Argument)

Paragraphs
20 points--Each paragraph develops one point
20 points--Each paragraph is unified and coherent
5 points--Intro paragraph introduces the paper
5 points--Conclusion provides a smooth and natural ending

Mechanical and Sentence Errors
25 points:  0-3 errors
20 points : 4 errors
15 points:  5 errors
10 points:   6 errors
No points for more than 6 errors

Research Form and Ethics: 100 Points
    25 points--Citation form
    50 points--Ethics
    25 points--Bibliography Form

Total for Argument Essay/Research = 250 points           Your points:    /250

5. If this is a research project, students will need to get a password by email and can use these article databases at this site: http://www.frontrange.edu/pub_index.cfm?cid=10239.
6. Let students know that writing/tutoring services are available through the OWL:
• Sample reminder; If you intend to use the OWL for writing-tutor assistance, plan enough time for the lab's turn-around time before the paper's due date.
7. Online Conference Directions: Research Conference Sign Up: Go to the Research Conference Thread for Unit 9 and Sign Up for a Conference Date. Conferences take place in your portfolio space. The directions for how to prepare for the research confernence appear in the Unit 9 Assignments. I will read and review your materials on your conference date and answer the questions you have posted. There are no points for the sign-up, but the conference is required and important--I will not read your research paper if you have not participated in a conference. Also, if you sign up at an early date, it gives you more time to polish your paper :).