Three Response Essays [30% of the final grade]
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A
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B
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C
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D
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Source Use/
Evidence
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Includes at least 5 well-chosen quotations from the sources and citations (APA parenthetical and a works cited page); cites sources when paraphrasing; explains the connections between the evidence and main ideas clearly and makes explicit connections between sources
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Includes 3-5 cited quotations and citations; cites sources when paraphrasing; makes explicit connections between the sources and the main ideas
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Does not include direct quotations, but mentions and cites the sources where appropriate; does not clearly make connections between the sources and main ideas
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No quotations and few citations when paraphrasing or referencing the sources
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Study Questions
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Answers all of the study questions to some degree, perhaps developing some answers more than others based on the focus of the essay
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Answers all of the study questions or touches on the topics/sources from all of the study questions
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Fails to answer many of the study questions but still touches on the topics of the questions
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Does not answer the study questions directly but does touch on some of the topics of the questions
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Argument
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Synthesizes the answers of the study questions into a cohesive essay and makes a clear argument that explores a larger theme and what it reveals about the West or the United States as a country or society
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Makes an argument relative to the study questions but does not clearly articulate what it reveals about the larger themes pertaining to the West or the United States
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Does not include a clear argument but does try to connect answers to the study questions into a cohesive essay
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Does not include an argument and also fails to connect the answers into a cohesive essay
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Connections to the course and larger themes
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Is careful to fully answer the questions that refer to sources or ideas discussed in previous classes with references to previous readings or class discussions; includes references to previous classes even when not explicitly asked, seeing connections between ideas from different class discussions
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Refers to ideas discussed in previous classes when prompted and makes connections to larger and reappearing themes
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Does not connect the study questions to previous classes or material but at least briefly mentions a larger theme discussed previously
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Fails to connect the essay’s topics to sources or ideas discussed in previous class periods
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Writing Mechanics
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Well-organized paragraphs with topic sentences; transitions between paragraphs; includes an introduction and conclusion; writing style is clear; very few spelling and grammatical errors
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Has paragraphs centered around a particular topic and many have topic sentences; transitions between most paragraphs; has an introduction and a conclusion; writing style is mostly clear; few spelling and grammatical errors
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Many ideas per paragraph; no topic sentences; abrupt or rough transitions; includes errors that could be avoided through proofreading; has an introduction and, at the very least, concluding sentences
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Many ideas per paragraph; no transitions; lacks an introduction or conclusion; poorly organized; many grammatical and spelling errors; unclear due to poor sentence structure or other mechanical issues
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