WRT 205/Spring 2016                         Grading Rubric: Unit III NYTs Magazine 

[1]  How well does the title provocatively focus the reader’s attention, as well as the lede? Is it thoughtful, creative, clever? Does it lead the reader into the text and provide some insight into the issue?

The title is quite provocative.  It gets right to the point of my article and what I discuss throughout the course of it.  My title is also somewhat controversial, considering the fact that it makes an assertion about Donald Trump that many people disagree with.  As a result, I feel like that makes it even more enticing for people to continue on reading.  In regards to my lead, it is both thoughtful and creative, and ties in personal experience during my life to the subject with which I am discussing.  I feel that it brings me closer to the reader and is characteristic of a blog article, rather than a research paper.

[2]  How well does the introductory section of the article invite the reader into the paper, as well as offer up exigency?  How does it locate a problem or controversy within a context that provides background and rationale?

My introduction does a marvelous job, in my opinion, of bringing the reader both closer to me, the writer, as well as the subject with which I will be discussing.  It gives a small amount of background on Donald Trump, the man who is discussed throughout the course of this paper, as well as gives the reader a problem or controversy, or rather a position that I am taking that will be proven throughout the article.

[3] How well does the writer offer up a strong ‘idea’ that requires analysis to support and evolve it, as well as offers some point about the significance of evidence that would not have been immediately obvious to readers.?

My idea or point that I am trying to prove becomes quite evident quickly throughout the course of this blog article.  I make it clear what I am trying to prove in my writing, and I use various analyses and examples in order to prove this point.  Because of the fact that this is a blog article, and not a research paper, I chose to leave out direct quotes and things that would have to be cited.  Instead, I did research and do have evidence that proves my point, but said things in my own words.  I felt that it would be more characteristic of a blog article.

[4] How well does the writer show clarity of thought; uniqueness of presentation; evidence of style; and historicized topics?

I like to think of myself as someone who can clearly articulate thoughts and put them down on paper in a coherent manner.  That definitely applies to this article.  I felt that my points were clear and well thought out, and that they specifically pertained to the subject I was referencing.  In addition, I had many historical examples of evidence to support my claims, as well as present day evidence.

[5]  How well does the writer recognize that a NYTs Magazine audience will challenge ideas that are overgeneralized or underdeveloped or poorly explained? (that is, did the writer avoid cliché and vagueness or address points/issues readers are likely to have?)  How well did the writer decide about how to develop, sequence, and organize material?

I felt that in my article, vagueness and generalizations were not used.  In fact, one of the points that I tried to hone in on throughout the course of this paper was that generalizations are bad and shouldn’t be used, so for me to use generalizations myself would be a contradiction.  In addition, clichés were not used here.  All of my points were valid and came up with on my own, and don’t speak to a talking point or something easy to discuss.  They all came from evidence I combed through.

[6]  How well does the writer research a controversy, develop a persuasive stance, utilize research about the topic,  and join the ‘debate’ by making an argument of importance?

I did much research before writing this article.  In addition to the plethora of sources I used during my TedTalk presentation, I felt that I did a good job of utilizing new evidence.  That being said, its important to recognize the fact that in a blog post, I felt that it would be more appropriate to avoid using direct quotations and citing of sources.  Instead, I looked at the evidence that I had found to support my claims and said them in my own words, which I felt was more appropriate for a blog article.

[7]  How well does the writer meet or exceed research expectations of assignment requirements (6 appropriate secondary sources, 1 visual source, (or more) and primary research? ).

Speaking for myself, I did find evidence and facts that were used throughout the course of this article in a variety of ways, and thus, I did meet or exceed the limit referred to above.  However, I can’t emphasize enough that I felt it would better suit my article to type those facts and present them in a way that made the reader feel as if they weren’t reading a Masters Degree thesis paper, but rather an article by someone who was speaking to them in a language that was easier to understand and more enjoyable to read.

[8]  How well does the writer integrate secondary and primary sources (that support and complicate the topic) effectively into the text, introducing and contextualizing them, and “conversing” (i.e. no drop-quoting) in ways that deepen and complicate the analysis?

Conversing was what I felt was the strongest part of my article, and it started from the very first word.  I felt that it was extremely important to have the reader feel a connection and an interest that would have them continue to read.  My anecdote at the beginning did just that, in my eyes.  In addition to that first paragraph, the entirety of the article speaks in a way that I believe allows the reader to feel as if its a conversation or a speech between two friends, rather than a dissertation that would bore them.

[9 How well does the writer persuade an audience to consider claims made from a particular position of authority on which you have built your research?  How strong and effective is the writer’s use of rhetorical tools (ethos, logos, pathos)?

The claims that I am making should persuade any reasonable person who is reading this article, because they are all facts.  Everything in my article that I have used as evidence to support my claim is a fact, not conjecture.  In addition, much of the evidence I use can be found if the reader wishes to do a little “googling” themselves, and as a result, they will see that my sources are reliable.

[10] How well does the writer select appropriate, interesting, revealing visual?  Has the writer placed a visual strategically in the essay and provided relevant commentary on and/or analysis of them?  Do the visuals contribute to the essay in meaningful ways (i.e. would the essay be affected if the writer took the visual away)?

The writer did not do a good job with providing visuals.  I dropped the ball in that manner, and take full responsibility for the fact that my article will not be as aesthetically pleasing as other peoples’.  

[11] How well does the writer show development of final article using various drafts, in-class peer editing and workshops, and/or teacher comments?

Based on the first draft and the outline that I conducted about 2 weeks ago in regards to this final paper, it has come a long way.  My evidence is much more effective and concise than it initially was, and in addition, my ability to converse with the reader and use anecdotes and my own voice to appeal to their senses has greatly improved.

[12]  How well does the writer use hyperlinks—are they effective/appropriate?

Hyperlinks were not used.  However, as stated in the question, the effectiveness or appropriateness of hyperlinks was brought into question.  As I have stated throughout the course of this reflection, I wanted and made sure to create an article that wasn’t overly intimidating or dense, but rather something that someone would enjoy reading.  I feel that when someone enjoys reading it, they are more likely to believe and take the claims one is making as factual.  Because of the fact that I didn’t use direct quotes, I felt that to use hyperlinks would be ineffective and not appropriate.  

[13]  How well did the writer edit for grammar, style, and usage effectively? Does the writer’s attention to sentence level issues help him/her establish authority or credibility on the issue?

I pride myself in making sure that grammar, style, sentence structure and flow are all perfect.  I double checked my article to make sure that in my mind, everything was top notch when it came to the way the article read.  In addition, I made sure that both spelling and grammar, and as stated above, style and sentence structure were all conducive to the reader having a pleasant experience delving into my article.