Chinese History Ppaer- 18 pages
Essay writing techniques coherent argument
does the paper have a clear focus?
does it present an analytical argument (as opposed to a description or narrative)?
is the argument directly based on the interpretation of primary sources?
are its claims logical and empirically substantiated?
clear presentation
essay level: clear introduction; coherent structure; conclusion [all 3 linked]
paragraph level: clear theme; topic sentence; logical development; about 6-18 lines
sentence level: clear, reader-friendly, precise prose
quality control
proof-read (clear up grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, non-sequiturs etc.)
correct formatting
see formatting guide in rubric
especially note citation format! (Chicago Humanities: footnotes and bibliography)
Special note on introductions
The intro. should clearly but briefly indicate (not necessarily in this order):
1. the issue your paper addresses
2. why the issue and your argument are significant (briefly contextualize)
3. the paper’s main components and structure
4. the argument your paper makes (focus on what is novel about your contribution)
5. the methodology and main sources you use to explore the question.
Avoid long unnecessary contextualization: omit basic background knowledge (that someone generally familiar with this period of history would be expected to know); put lengthy contextualization important to your specific topic in the essay’s body. The intro. should have a little contextualization, but focus on telling the reader what your paper is about, what it argues, and how it is novel and significant.
Rubric
| I. Argument |
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| Overall project design | |
| Title and Introduction | Title Introduction concise, giving essentials only (papers up to 5 pages: one medium-length paragraph; longer papers: max. two paragraphs); introduces your paper, rather than the topic itself: if you need to provide background information on the topic, do that in the body explicitly indicates the paper’s topic, problem, significance, methodology, main sources (name them if not too numerous) and preferably argument (including brief mention of the argument’s main points); indicates how this paper’s approach and argument differ from those of other scholars engages the reader: shows why the problem is interesting and important accurately represents the paper’s actual content
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| Argument | Essential: directly and effectively addresses a clearly articulated research question; addresses all parts of that question presents an analytical solution to an interpretive problem, rather than describing, narrating or recounting factual information, or summarizing sources based on original analysis of primary sources [rather than ideas presented in secondary sources] based on an accurate and detailed grasp of focus sources and historical context defines important terms and uses them appropriately and with consistency clear and coherent
Goals: persuasive and engaging nuanced, insightful, original, and sophisticated acknowledges an issue’s complexity, even if focusing on selected aspects; addresses diversity of historical experience; accounts for counter-evidence and alternate viewpoints; anticipates potential criticisms
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| II. Sources |
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| overall | the paper always cites the source of information presented the paper’s argument is fully substantiated by cited sources all material cited from sources is directly relevant to the argument
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| primary | sources are sufficient, highly relevant, and in reliable editions (scholarly versions, in print or e-book form; webpages are inappropriate) primary source analysis forms the basis of the paper’s argument the paper accurately represents sources, analyzes them critically, takes into account sources’ production and historical context, and contextualizes individual passages within an entire work
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| secondary | Essential: sources are sufficient, highly relevant, and scholarly the paper accurately represents the views of cited sources, within the context of the entire source
Goals: the paper’s argument is in dialogue with existing scholarship, whether critiquing, expanding upon, refuting, validating, or suggesting alternatives to other scholars’ views [as opposed to simply citing views or information as established fact] interpretation takes into account the source’s production and historical context [i.e. the ways in which a scholar responded to the political, intellectual, social, and personal circumstances of her/his own time]
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| citation format | uses correct practices and format for: referring to and quoting sources in the main text citing sources in footnotes and a bibliography (Chicago humanities “Notes and Bibliography” [NB]): use footnotes, not endnotes [and not in-text citations]; separate the bibliography into Primary and Secondary sources
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| III. Writing and presentation |
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| Paper structure | |
| Paragraphs | include topic sentences that effectively link paragraphs and signpost the argument’s development have a coherent internal structure group a small body of related content, and are of appropriate length (about 6-18 lines) are concisely written, avoiding repetition and unnecessary content.
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| Sentences | are largely free of errors in syntax, spelling, punctuation, etc. are smooth, clear, and concise; use well-chosen and varied structures and vocabulary use tense appropriately (past tense for past events; can use present tense to describe what an extant source “says” or “does”) make minimal use of the passive voice use language appropriate for an academic paper: formal, moderate, nuanced, respectful
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| Formatting and presentation | gives full information on the course and paper (incl. date, paper no.) [this need not be on a separate title page; not included in the page count] has a title (see above) uses 12 pt. standard font (e.g. Times New Roman) uses 1 inch margins is double-spaced has indented paragraphs, without gaps in between has page numbers uses footnotes, not endnotes [and not in-text citations] has a bibliography, divided into Primary and Secondary sources is stapled
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| Submission | Paper is submitted BOTH: electronically, to the assignment drop box on the course website, by the deadline [the time stamp will be the official time of submission] in hard copy, to the instructor [double-sided printing is fine]
Primary sources: attach either PDF file or printout |
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