rubric for an “A” paper: An A paper will include the following: a clearly defined thesis in the first paragraph which prepares the reader for the essay which follows; original analysis of the topic which draws on the relevant sources; demonstrates an understanding of the sources/evidence and accurately evaluates it in relevance to the topic; the presentation of a logical argument to demonstrate the validity of the thesis by use of specific citations from the sources; demonstration of outstanding control of proper English prose including grammar and punctuation by the use of complex and well-constructed sentences; the use of a vocabulary that is precise, advanced to the university level and varied. Also the paper will show that the student had read and followed the instructions given for the assignment. instructions for paper: 3. In a 1-2 paragraph introduction/thesis statement, the student will identify in specific terms the topic under analysis and which question this essay will address or answer. The main body of the paper will demonstrate your points or argue your contention(s) with specific citations from the text noted in parentheses (the page number from the Penguin edition is sufficient; if you use a different edition, you must turn it in with the paper so that I can check the citations.). No footnotes or endnotes are required. Quotes of two lines or less may remain in the body of the text; quotes longer than two lines must be indented and single-spaced (one-tab indent for each line). After the long quote, return to double-spacing the text. 4. All students must use the Penguin edition of Sophocles, The Theban Plays, as their only source; no secondary sources or material from the internet is allowed. See the discussion of plagiarism in the syllabus. 5. The paper must come to some conclusion, as even a negative conclusion has value. 6. The essay must be double-spaced in a readable font (no less than 12) and with normal one inch margins. There will be no page requirements, only a minimum of 1500 words and a maximum of 2000 words. The students must provide a page which documents word count of the essay. After the essay is complete, go to print options and use the document property option. It will provide a word count. 7. All references to the names of the plays must be in italics, as this is the correct way to identify titles. 8. At the end of the paper, the following statement with the student signature must be included: I attest that this essay assignment is based solely on my use of the Theban Plays of Sophocles and that I have not used any secondary sources, any information from the internet, nor received any assistance from another individual (Writing Center excepted). Student name_________________________ Student signature 9. In the formal prose style required for this assignment, the following are not allowed: a. The overuse of the first or second person: no I, we, us, my, you, your, etc. b. Colloquialisms or slang (writing as you speak or worse) c. Rhetorical questions (Alas, what would Oedipus do?) d. An under-developed vocabulary; use a thesaurus (avoid the phrase, he, she, it says) e. The passive voice (Oedipus failed many 104 students, not many 104 students were failed by Oedipus) f. Incorrect grammar (subject-verb agreement, subject-antecedent agreement, etc); without correct grammar, your essay will lack clarity and this will lead to a reduction in the grade. g. Incorrect punctuation; learn the rules for the proper use of the comma, colon, semi- colon, and period. Incorrect use may lead to a lack of clarity and a lower grade. h. Unclear antecedents for the relative pronouns (this, that, those, etc.). 10. MAKE SURE TO PROOFREAD THE ESSAY BEFORE TURNING IT IN! SPELL-CHECK AND GRAMMAR-CHECK ARE NOT ENOUGH.

rubric for an “A” paper: An A paper will include the following: a clearly defined thesis in the first paragraph which prepares the reader for the essay which follows; original analysis of the topic which draws on the relevant sources; demonstrates an understanding of the sources/evidence and accurately evaluates it in relevance to the topic; the presentation of a logical argument to demonstrate the validity of the thesis by use of specific citations from the sources; demonstration of outstanding control of proper English prose including grammar and punctuation by the use of complex and well-constructed sentences; the use of a vocabulary that is precise, advanced to the university level and varied. Also the paper will show that the student had read and followed the instructions given for the assignment. instructions for paper: 3. In a 1-2 paragraph introduction/thesis statement, the student will identify in specific terms the topic under analysis and which question this essay will address or answer. The main body of the paper will demonstrate your points or argue your contention(s) with specific citations from the text noted in parentheses (the page number from the Penguin edition is sufficient; if you use a different edition, you must turn it in with the paper so that I can check the citations.). No footnotes or endnotes are required. Quotes of two lines or less may remain in the body of the text; quotes longer than two lines must be indented and single-spaced (one-tab indent for each line). After the long quote, return to double-spacing the text. 4. All students must use the Penguin edition of Sophocles, The Theban Plays, as their only source; no secondary sources or material from the internet is allowed. See the discussion of plagiarism in the syllabus. 5. The paper must come to some conclusion, as even a negative conclusion has value. 6. The essay must be double-spaced in a readable font (no less than 12) and with normal one inch margins. There will be no page requirements, only a minimum of 1500 words and a maximum of 2000 words. The students must provide a page which documents word count of the essay. After the essay is complete, go to print options and use the document property option. It will provide a word count. 7. All references to the names of the plays must be in italics, as this is the correct way to identify titles. 8. At the end of the paper, the following statement with the student signature must be included: I attest that this essay assignment is based solely on my use of the Theban Plays of Sophocles and that I have not used any secondary sources, any information from the internet, nor received any assistance from another individual (Writing Center excepted). Student name_________________________ Student signature 9. In the formal prose style required for this assignment, the following are not allowed: a. The overuse of the first or second person: no I, we, us, my, you, your, etc. b. Colloquialisms or slang (writing as you speak or worse) c. Rhetorical questions (Alas, what would Oedipus do?) d. An under-developed vocabulary; use a thesaurus (avoid the phrase, he, she, it says) e. The passive voice (Oedipus failed many 104 students, not many 104 students were failed by Oedipus) f. Incorrect grammar (subject-verb agreement, subject-antecedent agreement, etc); without correct grammar, your essay will lack clarity and this will lead to a reduction in the grade. g. Incorrect punctuation; learn the rules for the proper use of the comma, colon, semi- colon, and period. Incorrect use may lead to a lack of clarity and a lower grade. h. Unclear antecedents for the relative pronouns (this, that, those, etc.). 10. MAKE SURE TO PROOFREAD THE ESSAY BEFORE TURNING IT IN! SPELL-CHECK AND GRAMMAR-CHECK ARE NOT ENOUGH.