B Paper-

For the B paper choose conflict, setting, or character. This essay will be evaluated as a B level paper to be accepted; it needs to be more than just one more paper that you are submitting. Develop your paper so that you thoroughly analyze your chosen element using the terms you have worked with during this course. I expect the essay to be correctly organized and to be fully developed using extensive detail from the story. You are to focus on one fiction element only!!! Do not use Central Idea. One skill you will demonstrate is your ability to analyze, draw a conclusion, and form your own thesis. Examine all aspects of the fiction element that you choose. The minimum length is one thousand words.

A Paper

Relate either of the B assigned stories to research in mystery or science fiction, or with my approval, you may use another selection from the previously assigned stories. Look into one of the following topics and then relate it to the story: origins of the genre (type of writing),

definition,

characteristics,

or sub-genres

You will need to document your paper and have a works cited page, using MLA style. You must use creditable sources, no personal web pages, and you must have authors’ names.

An A paper shows insight and is carefully developed through specific detail using the primary sources. Avoid the obvious content and concentrate on those points that would be evident after analysis of the story. Be careful to have a comprehensive thesis statement.

The B Paper is to be written without consulting any outside sources. You are to write them entirely on your own, as a test would be written, just not in the testing center. Do not expect assistance from me, except concerning allusions or some other aspects of content which I may or may not feel free to address. I will not accept papers that contain errors or omissions that have been previously addressed in the course. For example, I will not accept a paper without an appropriate introduction, or without a topic sentence for each paragraph, or without an appropriate thesis statement, or one that is not written in literary present tense, or one without proper documentation, etc. This paper is a test that hopefully will demonstrate mastery of course content, mastery of the essay, mastery of interpretive-analytical writing and, of course, mastery of the English language. If you do not have time to carefully edit and proof your B paper, you probably should not attempt either. Do not assume that a submitted paper will be accepted; again, these are exams that indicate a certain level of proficiency that, typically, not everyone achieves. Plagiarism will result in an F in the course.

General Guidelines for Grading Papers

The following are necessarily very general guidelines for grading. I would be very happy to go over them with you or answer your questions in regard to them during my office times.

A An A paper needs to

fulfill the assignment,

be interesting,

be thoroughly developed with appropriate detail and specifics,

be clearly organized and insightful with an authentic voice, if appropriate, or objectively written, if appropriate,

be written at college level using literary rather than journalistic style,

be carefully edited and proofed,

be coherent and cohesive, and

be correctly formatted.

B A B paper may have a minor lapse in organization, or

minor lack of helpful detail or specifics, or

minor lapse in cohesion or clarity, or limited

minor errors.

C A C paper may be fairly general, or

contain a major lapse in organization, or

have more than a few minor errors, some interfering with communication, or

have problems with formatting and/or documentation, or

have errors in clarity or cohesion, or

contain some trite content, or

be lacking in development.

D A D paper may be significantly off topic, or

contain major errors in clarity or cohesion, or

be too general or vague in expression, or

contain significant trite content, or

have major errors in documentation or format, or

be lacking significantly in development.

F An F paper may not fulfill the assignment, or

may be significantly lacking in editing or proofing throughout, or

may contain evidence of plagiarism or collusion, or

may be significantly lacking in development or cohesiveness, or

may contain a combination of the weaknesses listed under D.