WRITING QUALITY (adapted from N.

Watterson, Harvard Extension Courses) OUTSTANDING An outstanding paper has a strong sense of a voice that is intelligent and engaging. The writing takes on ideas that are significant, ambitious, fresh, and works through these ideas by means of clearly-honed claims that make the reader want to know more. The controlling idea proceeds through elaborated reasons that build findings into evidence (supporting examples) that also allows for counter arguments. All claims contribute to developing the idea, exploring its complexities (raising interesting complications) and subtleties in interpretation. The papers design matches its purpose; moreover, it does so through some elegance of expression and attention to motive. That is, the paper has clear shape, direction, and momentum, all of which are made evident to the reader. No errors of grammar, usage, punctuation or typography will be found. By definition, outstanding is reserved for exceptional papers. WELL DONE The well done paper presents sound and interesting ideas in an organized manner, with carefully laid-out claims and well-chosen examples and justifications. The language is clear and effective, with no pervasive errors of sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, or usage. The papers weaknesses generally relate to what has not been done sufficiently; namely, the thesis or controlling idea may not be especially ambitious or fully focused; claims may not be fully elaborated; analysis or interpretation may stop short or lack sufficient depth. While a well done paper generally has a solid introduction, it usually needs more work on posing a dilemma and/or crafting a real motive for its readers. Sentence structures may be repetitive or wooden. A rating of well done represents a high achievement. ADEQUATE An adequate paper has a central idea organized clearly enough to convey its purpose to the reader. It avoids serious errors of grammar, usage, and style; it may, in fact, have few correction marks or comments. However, it lacks the rigor of thought, power of expression, and insightfulness of analysis/interpretation of a well done paper. An adequate paper meets the minimum requirements without fulfilling to overall purpose of the assignment. WEAK A weak paper is characterized by unclear or fuzzy ideas supported by weakly-defined arguments. Organization may ramble or degenerate into listing points/issues. Examples lack purposeful cause; analysis is often shallow; and personal opinion substitutes for evidence and thoughtful interpretation. The overall argument is too broad and vague. Many weak papers demonstrate problems with sentence structure, word choices, grammar, punctuation, and usage. Although some may have few stylistic errors, the errors of substance will still earn it a rating of weak. UNACCEPTABLE An unacceptable paper may present ideas, but show virtually no development of those ideas. This paper is filled with errors, and/or demonstrates evidence of plagiarism. Such a paper shows an obvious lack of sustained effort and often only minimal revision.