Argument Paper Rubric

Rubric for your Argument/ Research Paper DUE DATE: SEPTEMBER 20/23, 2013





Familiarize yourself with this rubric, as your grade will be derived from it.

Name _________________________________________ Period _____ Date turned in_____________________
1. Paper is typed, 14 font, Times New Roman, doubled spaced, complete with students’s name, date, teacher’s name, class, period. There should be no extra spaces between paragraphs. ( I will not accept a paper that is not typed.) 10

2. Introduction has an effective and appropriate attention-getting device and a carefully prepared thesis statement or claim, placed in the position of power, at the end of the first paragraph. 40

3. Paper has a logical organization. All sentences belong in their paragraphs. 20

4. Sentence structure is sound and varied. 20

5. Transitions connect the paragraphs. The reader is led gently into the next idea without whiplash. 20

6. Paper contains few or no mechanical errors, such as punctuation, spelling, grammar and usage. 20

7. Any quotations used are woven seamlessly into the paper, not awkwardly plunked in, as if they’ve fallen from the sky . 20

8. Your paper concludes with a thoughtful, enduring understanding that was a logical outgrowth of your research. Your conclusion should reflect your initial claim, but it should not be a carbon copy. Don’t announce that your are concluding. Simply conclude. 20

9. You have established a rational, objective tone and displayed logical reasoning. Your paper should address possible counterclaims in a fair manner. 20

10. Your Work Cited page is absolutely perfect in MLA style. Refer to http://owl.english.purdue.edu to verify. This page must be precise. I will be very picky on this. Be sure to use a variety of credible sources, both print and electronic databases. (At least three different sources) 60

11. You have accurate parenthetical documentation throughout the entire paper. You have followed the guidelines given to you on http://owl.english.purdue.edu. You have given credit where credit is due. You have not plagiarized another’s work. You have cited your sources accurately.


***** I WILL NOT ACCEPT A PAPER WITHOUT IN-TEXT CITATIONS****** 70
12. You have included copies of ALL your sources, the actual articles, as well as the publishing information. *****I will not accept a paper without this.*********Please highlight the appropriate sections. Be sure you use MLA style. 40

13. You have included an outline. This can be informal, even hand-written. 10

14. You have attached this form with your own calculations of what grade you think you deserve, filled out in its entirety. 10

15. You have read your paper aloud to a family member. 20


Total 400

The Chosen Summer Assignment: DUE BY OCTOBER 28, 2013

April 23, 2013

Dear Future Junior Honors English Students:

As the school year is coming to a close, it is almost time to start thinking about summer.

Picture yourself in the backyard hammock. The birds are singing. You are sipping a

lemonade, and you are reading a great book. My hope for you is that you have already

selected a few good books that are on your personal line-up, waiting on your night stand,

ready to offer you a vicarious adventure.

By way of assignment, I would like to offer you the opportunity to read a really good book. It is

not long, but it will keep your newly acquired analysis skills sharp. Please read The Chosen by

Chaim Potok, and do the following activities:

1. Make a vocabulary list of at least twenty words from the book. Include definitions. Choose

words that you think will provide a bit of a challenge to you and other classmates. Then create a

brief vocabulary quiz, using all the words from your list.

2. For each chapter, select two lines that you think are particularly meaningful. They may speak

to character development or offer other insight about the story. Briefly tell why you think each

line is significant.

3. Type a one half page journal response to the book when you have finished it. You may

include what you believe to be the theme of the book, your response to passages that were

particularly powerful to you, and any possible personal connections you had with any of the

characters or the events of the story. Please double space, and use 14 font, Times New Roman.

Please avoid any Sparknotes-type website. I would not want to rob you of your own

experience with the text. This is very important. If you are unsure about plot, or you have

questions about characters, you may discuss the matter with another student or family member, but

do not go to the web.

I look forward to having a wonderful year next year. I’ve already heard good things about

you—collectively, that is, and I am anxious to meet you. Make it a great summer!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Loveless

Junior Honor English Teacher

I am the Expert Report

“I am the Expert” Oral Report (50 points) and Written Report (50 points)

See the calendar for your own personal due date.

Oral Report Rubric (Stay within the three to four minute limit, please.)

1.        Begin with an appropriate attention getting device.  Points will be deducted for this kind of an opener:  “So, yeah, I did mine on...”	10
2.       Show good eye contact with the audience.  Don’t read your report.  You may use a 3x5, but I will have your written report in my hand while you are presenting to the class.  Be sure you have prepared separate notes.	10
3.       Sound enthusiastic about your topic!  Don’t drone on and on.  Speak loudly, clearly, and confidently.	10
4.        Practice in advance for a smooth performance.  Avoid fillers, like “uh,” “you know,”  “like,” and “um.”	10
5.        Have a demonstration portion to your presentation.  It should be visually interesting.  Some areas of expertise lend themselves a bit more easily to this forum than others.  Think of something you can show that represents your topic.	10
Total	50

Written Portion (Two page minimum, Typed with Times New Roman, 14 Font)

The following ideas are merely suggestions of what you may want to include in your paper:

Tell how you became involved in your area of expertise.

Include some of the history.

What tools or equipment might be necessary?

Do you have a role model?

Can you outline the steps involved?

Predict the future popularity of this topic.

What kinds of skills have you developed as a result of your interest in this hobby that have helped you in other areas of your life?

Do you enjoy helping others learn about it?

How does it make you feel?

Why do you think you are interested in it?

Where, when, and with whom do you do this activity?

Be sure to proofread for spelling errors, grammar errors, and sentence structure.

You will need an introduction, complete with attention getting device and thesis statement, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion that ties it all together.

1st Term Calendar 2013

2013/2014  Honors English 11    Term 1 Calendar (August 26-October 31)          You are welcome.

Aug 26   A Disclosures/ Dress code/ Quirk quiz/New vocab	Aug 27   B Disclosures/ Dress code/ Quirk quiz/New vocab	Aug 28   A Disclosure quiz/Native American Lit/Anne Bradstreet/I am the Expert due for last names A-D	Aug 29   B Disclosure quiz/Native American Lit/Anne Bradstreet/I am the Expert due for last names A-D	Aug 30   A I am the Expert due for last names E-H/Have read pp 35-43 Captivity Narrative/ Grammar
Sept 2  Labor Day	Sept 3   B I am the Expert due for last names E-H/Have read pp 35-43 Captivity Narrative/ Grammar	Sept 4   A DERJ Accountability/I am the Expert due for last name I-M/Sinners, Jonathan Edwards/Who, Whom	Sept 5   B DERJ Accountability/I am the Expert due for last name I-M/Sinners, Jonathan Edwards/Who, Whom	Sept 6   A Vocab quiz/I am the Expert due for last names N-Z/ Have read pp. 50-63, Olaudah Equiano/TOP TEN CONCERNS/ Samples
Sept 9   B Vocab quiz/I am the Expert due for last names N-Z/ Have read pp. 50-63, Olaudah Equiano/TOP TEN CONCERNS/ Samples	Sept 10   A Mrs. Fager/Argument	Sept 11   B Mrs. Fager/Argument	Sept 12   A New vocab/Three Topics, main ideas for each, three working these statements/Who,Whom Quiz	Sept 13   B New vocab/Three Topics, main ideas for each, three working these statements/Who,Whom Quiz
Sept 16   A Library Time/Rough draft due at end of period	Sept 17   B Library Time/Rough draft due at end of period	Sept 18   A DERJ acct/Begin The Crucible/Peer-edit/New vocab	Sept 19   B DERJ acct/Begin The Crucible/Peer-edit/New vocab	Sept 20   A The Crucible/Final argument paper due at beginning of period
Sept 23   B The Crucible/Final argument paper due at beginning of period	Sept 24   A Counselors coming/Vocab quiz	Sept 25   B Counselors coming/Vocab quiz	Sept 26   A Crucible half-way quiz/New vocab	Sept 27   B Crucible half-way quiz/New vocab
Sept 30   A  Parent Teacher Conference	Oct 1   B  Parent Teacher Conference	Oct 2   A Crucible/ Grammar	Oct 3   B Crucible/ Grammar	Oct 4   A Crucible/DERJ acct
Oct 7   B Crucible/DERJ acct	Oct 8   A Crucible/Vocab quiz	Oct 9   B Crucible/Vocab quiz	Oct 10 A	Oct 11   B
Oct 14   A Crucible review	Oct 15   B Crucible review	Oct 16   A Crucible Final	Oct 17  UEA--No school!!	Oct 18   UEA--No school!!
Oct 21   B Crucible Final	Oct 22   A Crucible Project Due DERJ Acct/John and Abigail Adams Letters 1&Grammar/Have read: If your last name starts with A-D, Franklin (pp 65-77), E-H, Henry (pp. 78-84), I-M, Paine (pp 85-93), N-Z, Jefferson (pp 95-1052	Oct 23   B Crucible Project Due DERJ Acct/John and Abigail Adams Letters 1&2Have read: If your last name starts with A-D, Franklin (pp 65-77), E-H, Henry (pp. 78-84), I-M, Paine (pp 85-93), N-Z, Jefferson (pp 95-1052	Oct 24   A Grammar/John and Abigail Adams Letters 3&4/Vocab quiz	Oct 25   B Grammar/John and Abigail Adams Letters 3&4/Vocab quiz
Oct 28   A Introduce the Romantics/Begin Scarlet etter/Last day for late work, including your Chosen projects from the summer reading	Oct 29   B Introduce the Romantics/Begin Scarlet Letter/Last day for late work, including your Chosen project from the summer reading.	Oct 30   A Have read Ch 1&2 of Scarlet Letter/DERJ acct/Assign motif groups	Oct 31   B <End of term> Have read Ch 1&2 of Scarlet Letter/DERJ acct/Assign motif groups	Nov 1 Teacher Prep Day--no school

Disclosure

Junior Honors/IB Disclosure

Course Disclosure
Mrs. Loveless
Honors English 11 and IB
2013/2014

Course Objective: To help you learn to read, write, speak, listen, and think clearly and effectively as you prepare for the ACT, for college, and for a rich literary life beyond college and throughout your life.

Course Requirements: Read your assignments carefully.  Come prepared to participate in class     discussions.  Work diligently on your writing. Never fall in love with your first draft. Nearly any piece of  writing can be improved.
 Commit yourself to academic integrity.

 Supplies and Materials:
 Pencils and pens with black or dark blue ink  only
 A spiral notebook for in-class journal writing (Please no messy, frayed edges)
 A loose leaf binder with plenty of paper, divided into five sections: Assignments, Notes,  Vocabulary, Grammar, Literary Terms
 Our literature textbook
 You will also need to bring your own reading book each day.

Citizenship: Davis School District Policies will apply.   Be positive and respectful.
 Be prepared for class.   Use appropriate language while speaking and writing.
 Absences: Three or more unexcused absences result in an automatic U.
 Tardies will have a negative effect on academic grades as well as citizenship.
 One to two tardies could be an H or an S. Three could be an N, but four or more is an automatic U.  Citizenship grades can be a combination of inappropriate behavior, unexcused absences, and tardies.  Inappropriate cell phone use in class is considered to be a citizenship matter. Cell phones should be turned off while in the classroom. Texting, calling, receiving texts, or texting may result in a U.

Grading:

A 93% A- 90%

B+ 85% B 83% B- 80%

C+ 75% C 73% C- 70

D+ 65% D 63% D- 60%

F 59% and below

Late Work Policy:  Work is due on the assigned due date, regardless of whether the student was present when the assignment was given or when it came due. Late work may be accepted for half credit, if it is submitted within seven calendar days of the original due date. When I am absent, I have to get a substitute. When you are absent, you will need to get a substitute to take your class notes and to turn in your major assignments.  Pick someone on whom you can rely.

Missed Tests: Missed tests may be made up only if the teacher is notified prior to the test. The student or parent must notify the teacher personally or may call the business office at 402-3900 and leave a message. Tests may be
made up on the first day the student returns to school during class or after school, at the teacher’s convenience.
Tests may not be made up after that test has been returned to the class. Quizzes must be taken within five days of your return.

Academic Integrity:  Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will result in a loss of both academic and citizenship credit. Cutting and pasting other people’s research from the Internet or other sources without correctly citing sources is also considered to be a form of plagiarism. Lifting phrases, sentences, whole paragraphs, and entire essays is wrong. Parents and administration will be contacted.

Hall Passes:  Each student will receive one hall pass per term. If it is returned at the end of the term, the student will receive 20 extra credit points to be added to his/her academic grade.

Movies:  The following is a list of movies from which I will select a few that may be shown in part or in full. If you object to any of these movies, please notify me within ten days, so that I may find a suitable, alternative activity. The Crucible (an edited version), The Scarlet Letter, (The Meg Foster version, not the Demi Moore version) The Simpson’s Do The Raven, A&E Biographies (Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, and F. Scott Fitzgerald), selected sections of American Literary History, Inherit the Wind,  Tell-Tale Heart, The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Bernice Bobs Her Hair.

I am genuinely excited about teaching this year. I absolutely LOVE this stuff! And I love to share it with my students. I will work for the success of each one of my students. Please feel free to contact me at school during my preparation periods, 3^rd and 6th. See the bell schedule for exact times. After school is also a good time to catch me. Please email me with any concerns, and I can usually get back to you that very day.
mloveless@dsdmail.net

MRS. LOVELESS’ DISCLOSURE FORM TO RETURN
Please keep the above portion for your records and return the following portion to me.

I have read, understood, and will support the policies explained in this disclosure statement, including the policy about late work, cell phone use, and missed tests.
Student signature ____________________________Date_______

Parent signature ___________________________Date________

Please print student’s name __________________________ Period  _____

Bring this back to class for points.