Hi. Since we’re approaching the deadline
for your first paper, I thought I’d take
a few minutes to talk about what I’m expecting
from you. In your unit folder you will find
the document “rubrics”. This is a sheet
that I use to help me grade your papers. I
don’t assign a certain number of points
for each of the elements I list, but instead
the sheet keeps me focused on what I’m looking
for in an “ideal” paper. A superior paper
really handles a number of tasks well. To
begin with, the paper needs to conform to
basic MLA guidelines for formatting. I’m
not worried about citations at this point,
but I do want to see a paper that has proper
margins, font size, header, title, etc. More
importantly, though, the paper needs to show
a clear understanding of “The Cave”, and
a willingness to look beyond just the obvious.
Explore Plato in depth. A superior paper usually
does this by using carefully chosen quotations
and then examining and analyzing those quotations.
If you’re having trouble with Plato’s
text, and it is a difficult one, I’d suggest
rereading it several times, taking notes,
rereading all the discussion boards on “The
Cave”, and perhaps even doing some research
to see what other people have said about the
allegory—although if you use other people’s
ideas, you do need to give them credit by
citing them. We’ve also had to read information
on introductions and thesis statements, so
I expect to see some care and attention spent
on this part of the paper. It’s the first
thing your reader sees, so you want to make
a good first impression. In many ways, this
may be the hardest paper of the year, but
if you take the time to do the preparation
work and then commit to writing multiple drafts
before turning in a final copy, the work will
pay off in all the papers you write this year.
Within two weeks of the paper deadline I will
return a graded copy of your paper via Blackboard.
You can get this by clicking on the grade
in your gradebook (which is usually under
Tools) and downloading this copy. Please read
those comments closely, as they’re designed
to help you improve as writers. Good luck!
