Today we are reviewing everything we have learned about writing our monthly response papers and focusing on the overwhelming importance and significance of words. 

Each of you have been given a page from The American Heritage Dictionary.

You may pick any word on the front or back of that page.

You must write your Dec. Monthly Paper about that word, using the page as your in-text and Works Cited citations.  Remember in-text citations must include the first word of your Works Cited citation and the page number.

“Your Word.” The American Heritage Dictionary. 4th ed. 1981. Print.

Your monthly paper will count as 75% of your Eng. 10 first semester exam.  The other 25% will come from the “gift of words” exchange item you create.  This may be done using the dictionary page as the pictures demonstrate, or you may create any gift of words item to put into the class exchange.  Your score for this additional 25% will come from the quality, creativity, and originality of your exchange gift.

So, let’s get down to the specifics of the response paper:

Your response paper is graded using the Response Paper Rubric in Turnitin.  There are six primary categories graded. Each one of those five categories is worth 16 percent of the 100 point grade.

FOCUS 
The text focuses on a topic to inform a reader with ideas, concepts, information, etc

An Exceptional paper is one in which the text clearly focuses on a compelling topic that informs the reader with ideas, concepts, information, etc. Your piece establishes its central idea clearly and
effectively in the opening paragraph and maintains focus throughout the piece. Each paragraph is logically linked to the main idea and all sentences within the paragraphs serve to further develop and maintain this focus.

An Inadequate paper, on the other hand, is one in which the text has an unidentifiable topic with minimal ideas, concepts, information, etc.

This is the section where you get credit or lose it based on having a specific, well developed thesis statement that is supported throughout the paper.

DEVELOPMENT

The text presents relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, and examples. The conclusion ties to and supports the information/explanation.

An Exceptional paper is one in which the text provides significant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations that fully develop and explain your personal responses toward the topic. Each paragraph contains at least f our sentences. The conclusion provides insight to the implications, explains the significance of the topic, and projects to the future, etc.

An Inadequate paper, on the other hand, is one in which the text contains limited facts and examples related to the topic. The text may fail to offer a conclusion.

This is the section where you get credit or lose it based on how you develop and support your thesis throughout the paper as a whole.

AUDIENCE 

The author anticipates the audience’s background knowledge of the topic.

I am your audience.

COHESION

The text uses appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, creates cohesion, and clarifies the relationships among complex ideas and concepts.

An Exceptional paper is one in which the text strategically uses words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of text. The text explains the relationships between the topic and the examples and/or f acts. Your ideas follow and relate to each other in a logical and effective way.

An Inadequate paper, on the other hand, is one in which the text contains few, if any, words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text. The text does not connect the topic and the examples and/or facts.

This is the section where you get credit or lose it based on how well you transition from one paragraph or idea to the next.

LANG & STYLE

The text presents a formal, objective tone and uses precise language and topic-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic.

An Exceptional paper is one in which the text presents an engaging, formal, and objective tone and uses sophisticated language and topic-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic. Your work reveals evidence of thoughtful responses to the text and it does not look or read as if it were written at the last minute.

An Inadequate paper, on the other hand, is one in which the text illustrates a limited or inconsistent tone and awareness of topic-specific vocabulary.

This is the section where you get credit or lose it based on the style, tone, and word choices that you make.

CONVENTIONS

The text demonstrates standard English conventions of usage and mechanics along with discipline-specific requirements (i.e. MLA, APA, etc.).

An Exceptional paper is one in which the text intentionally uses standard English conventions of usage and mechanics along with discipline-specific requirements (i.e. MLA, APA, etc.).

An Inadequate paper, on the other hand, is one in which the text contains multiple inaccuracies in Standard English conventions of usage and mechanics.

This is the section where you get credit or lose it based on punctuation, sentence structure, capitalization, and MLA format. Nearly every error in this category can be caught and corrected by proofreading your work and checking the details against the examples you have been given.

So now, let’s look at an example essay.

Anyone wishing to turn in a first draft for early grading may do so by the start of class on Monday Dec. 7th.

Because this paper is the bulk of your semester exam, no one will be allowed to re-due the paper if a failing grade is earned on the final paper which is due by the start of class on Dec. 15th and NO LATE papers will be accepted for this assignment.