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Step 1: Initial Submission (earn up to 85% of the possible points for the assignment)
Your initial submission should include all of the following components:
Content
In this essay you will identify and explain 3-5 of your core values.
You will also discuss the origins of these core values.
Organization
Include an introductory paragraph, where you grab the reader’s attention, provide a transitional statement, give a clear thesis statement, and map out the 3-5 key points that will support your thesis. (review elements of an introduction)
Include 3-5 body paragraphs where you include details and examples to help you develop and support your key points. (review body paragraph structure)
End your essay with a concluding paragraph where you restate your thesis, summarize your key points, and leave the reader with the “so what?” (review successful concluding paragraphs)
Language Choices
As a writer, you are free to decide how you use language, keeping the following in mind:
style: your language choices should result in a consistent writing style that is purposeful and aligned with your goals
readability: your language choices should ensure that your ideas are clear and easy to follow
When composing your paper, think about the conventions for academic writing, including:
punctuation: this includes things such as recommended use of commas, colons, and apostrophes.
word-level accuracy: this includes things such as capitalization, spelling, word-tense, and usage.
sentence-level accuracy: this includes things such as sentence boundaries, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Take time to review your language choices after you’ve written your essay. Think about your goals for the style of this essay and your own writing habits (like using “text-speak,” omitting capitalization, or writing sentence fragments). Revise as necessary to accomplish your style and readability goals.
Reading your paper aloud is a helpful technique when reviewing your language choices for style and readability.
Sources and Documentation
You are not required to use sources for this assignment.
Format and Length
At the top of the page, include your name, the assignment name, and a title that reflects your specific essay focus. (See example below.)
Your paper should be typed, double-spaced and in 11 or 12-point font.
Your final product should be a minimum of five paragraphs (about 700-1000 words) in length. However, the quality of the content of this essay is most important. Be sure to fully answer the prompt.
Sample Header and Title for Assignment Submissions
Kim Lee (student’s name)
Core Values Essay (assignment name)
Honor, Trust, and Love (title)
Reflection Questions
The reflection questions are to be answered separately. (They are not part of the essay.) Post these in the “comments” box when submitting your assignment. You can number your answers or write them in paragraph form. Be sure to address all four questions.
Aside from simply meeting the requirements, what were your personal goals for this assignment?
When reviewing your language choices, what choices did you make for staying within or moving beyond conventions for academic writing and what impact did the Grammar Lab content have on those writing choices?
What parts of your work on this assignment are you most proud of?
What challenged you in this assignment and/or where do you need additional support from your instructor?
Step 2: Revise and Resubmit (earn up to 15% of the possible points for the assignment)
Students who want to earn the up to the maximum possible score can choose to complete the following revision and revision reflection components of the assignment.
Revise your assignment based on feedback from your instructor, your peers, and/or your own writing goals. In your revision, track the changes from your first draft so that your instructor can easily identify where you made revisions. Submit your revised essay as a file in this assignment folder.
Use strikethrough to indicate areas that should be deleted.
Use bold-face to indicate areas where you are adding content.
Complete a revision reflection. The reflection questions are to be answered separately and posted in the “comments” box when submitting your revised assignment. You can number your answers or write them in paragraph form. Be sure to address all three questions.
Which areas of feedback did you choose to address in your revised version and why?
How did you address this feedback in your revised version?
Which areas of feedback did you choose not to address in your revised version and why?