You may write a 5-7 page thesis-driven paper that focuses on a particular play or issue related to Shakespeare that we have discussed in class. If you choose this option you must first contact me (or visit me in office hours) to discuss the topic and argument that you are pursuing. In addition, this assignment requires you to refer to at least one outside source in making your argument. Your essay must therefore have a list of Works Cited that follows MLA guidelines.
Please refer to the following rubric when completing your assignment. I will use this in grading your essay.
| Requirement | Excellent | Good | Needs Improvement | Incomplete or Missing |
| Research | -Essay includes at least one carefully chosen secondary source used in constructing its argument.
-Passages, phrases and sentences from Shakespeare and the sources are gracefully introduced, analyzed thoroughly, and are generally well-integrated and relevant to the argument of the essay. |
-Essay could have more engagement or more examples drawn from research.
-Passages from Shakespeare and research are mainly well-integrated, but there is occasionally the need for further elaboration or analysis. |
-The essay utilizes sparse research and little textual evidence from Shakespeare’s play.
-Included passages are not well integrated or analyzed within the essay. |
Essay does not present any research and is not based on the . |
| Thesis | -In the first paragraph, essay presents a clear, provocative thesis that is controversial enough to excite real debate about the paper’s general topic. It is specific and well supported by evidence from the research. | -Essay presents an argument, but it could be more clearly stated or developed.
-Evidence does not connect closely to the thesis. |
-The essay presents a summary of research or general themes and ideas about the chosen play and topic, rather than an argument.
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| Introduction and Conclusion, | -Essay opens and finishes strongly, offering the reader an interesting way of presenting the topic (not simply a restatement of the essay assignment or a vast, unsupportable generalization) and a conclusion that does more than repeat the main points of the paper. | -Introduction and conclusion are functional, but mainly fill space and do not provide a strong beginning and end to the paper. | -Essay begins with a trite or overly general introduction and lacks a conclusion. | |
| Organization | -Essay has a logical flow and progression, with one point leading naturally into the next. Each paragraph explores a key idea in support of the larger thesis. Paragraphs are also coherently organized and developed. | -Essay is well-organized, but may have some paragraphs that need further work or organization. | -Essay is disorganized—each paragraph lacks a clear organizing idea, or there are several paragraphs that present unfocused ideas. | |
| Bibliography and Citation | -Essay follows proper MLA citation format (as outlined in the MLA Handbook, 8th Edition).
-All sources are cited and included in a list of works cited with entries that are formatted properly. |
-Essay uses MLA citation, but there are several errors or inconsistencies in its use.
-List of Works Cited has several errors and/or incorrect formatting. |
-Essay does not use proper MLA citation format (or only used it sporadically).
-There is no list of works cited at the end of the entry. |
No attempt has been made to use citations or include a bibliography. |
| Grammar, Spell-Checking, and Proof-Reading | -Though not necessarily perfect, essay is written with correct grammar and usage, is properly punctuated, and is carefully proofread and spell-checked.
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-There are occasional mistakes or repeated problems in grammar, usage, and/or punctuation.
-A few typos or mistakes are present that could have been corrected in proofreading. |
-Essay is full of grammatical errors, improper punctuation, and other problems with usage.
-There may be several typos or other problems that should have been edited out in proofreading. |
N/A |
| Formatting and Presentation | -Essay follows guidelines outlined in Mulready’s Shakespeare Essay Style Guide, particularly:
q About 5-7 pages q Typed and double-spaced q 12 pt. Font, Times New Roman q 1 inch margins on top, bottom, left, and right q Title (but no title page) q Pages Stapled or clipped together |
-One of the formatting guidelines wasn’t followed. | -Several of the formatting guidelines weren’t followed. | N/A |
