Assignment Requirements

            On every assignment I hand out is a section on assignment requirements. Not doing these will result in the specified penalty. Fail to do more than one and the assignment might automatically fail or be rejected entirely. Below is an example of requirements for a response.

• Response must be from 200-500 words. Shorter responses will receive an F. 1/2 length responses are void.
• Max grade of P for responses that do not mark the argumentative thesis in bold type.
• Automatic F for 1st (I, my, we, our, us, etc.) or 2nd (you, your). Write in 3rd person.
• Quotations are required or max grade of P. Please integrate quotations instead of "dropping" them in.
• Please use MLA in-text citations

Requirement categories

• Word Count: You must reach the minimum word count. The maximum word count is more of a guideline (you can go past it without penalty), but every student should strive for the maximum guideline. Doing only the minimum will only get you a minimum grade.
• Thesis in Bold: You need to be aware of your thesis and what your claim is. I want you to mark your thesis so there is no guesswork as to what you are trying to argue.
• Point of View: First person pronouns (I, me, we, our, us, etc.) or 2^nd (you, your) should be avoided in academic writing. These words put the focus on the writer or the reader instead of the topic. More on Point of View
• Quotations: Arguments require support, and I prefer quotations as that form of support. For every argumentative premise, you need support for it either using reason or a quotation. Don’t use only one quote to satisfy a requirement. Use as many quotes as necessary to establish your idea. Do not use quotes to describe what is happening or summarize.
• Citations: Use MLA in-text citations to indicate where your quotations or paraphrases came from. This is an essential skill when it comes to research writing, and proves that you are not plagiarizing. More on MLA