| When
essays come in on time, they can earn the maximum number of points by
showing that the student writer is in control of all of the items listed
below. Regardless of the topic, essays earn passing grades when
the
- Thesis
is analytical and stated
- Paragraphs that serve
effectively to introduce, conclude, or support, but in so doing, narrow
down to one of the following specifics
(and anything else needed for effective comprehension)
[ ] people with names one can find in a phone book
[ ] places with names one can locate on a map or globe
[ ] times one can locate on a timeline, clock or calendar
[ ] events which a film director such as Ron Howard can take straight
to the set
[ ] items one can obtain on a purchase order
[ ] direct quotations of words that occur in a print or electronic
text.
- Transitions organize
the information to show that the writer, not the texts to which s/he
refers, is in control
- Grammar
errors average out to one per page or fewer. To see how grammar problems can skew a hiring professional's view of your application, click and read the article here.
- References to other people's
ideas and direct quotations conform to the guidelines currently recommended
by the Modern Language Association (MLA)
The quality and consistency of the above determine the grade range
-- F, D, C, or B.
- For the additional criterion
that signals an A or superior writing, see the Garth
Brooks discussion.
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