Assessment

Scaffolded Semester Project

Description

Everything you will have to submit for this course builds toward your scaffolded semester project. A few weeks into the course, you will choose one of the texts in the anthology and, throughout the semester, you will gradually work towards either a final essay, podcast, or video that presents an analysis and interpretation of the text chosen.

All assignments are to be submitted to me by email to
[email protected] as an attached file saved ENG2850-Lastname_Firstname_Assignment, by 11:59pm on their due dates.
Extensions must be requested at least 48 hours prior to the relevant deadline.
No questions asked, but handing in late work may impact your grade (please see syllabus).

Timeline

Please see the Schedule in the main Menu to see assignment due dates in perspective.

• March 8th (Module 4):
  Send me an email with the title of your chosen text and the format of your final project (essay, podcast, or video). From then on, you won’t be able to change your mind, so, take your time to choose. However, remember that this is only a semester’s project, and that you will learn something no matter the text chosen. Unexpected directions and challenges are always rewarding!
  
  
• March 22nd (Module 6), March 29th (Module 7.1), and April 5th (Module 7.2):
  You will give a very short “presentation” (5 minutes max) about why you chose this text and format (even if you’re still undecided about the format, just explain why). The name distribution is given on the Module 5 page, which occurs a week before presentations start.
  
  
• April 26th and May 2nd (Module 9):
  You will peer-review each other’s project outlines in class, in your usual Breakout Rooms. Please see below for the requirements for an outline depending on your chosen format. You will submit your outlines to my email by the end of the day on May 2nd.
  
• May 3rd (Module 10):
  I will give individual feedback on your outlines.
  
  
• By Tuesday, May 10th, 11:59 pm, after having developed your project with my feedback on your outline, you will submit your project to me.
  
  
• May 17th: I will give you feedback on your project, so you can revise it into its final version.
  
  
• By Tuesday, May 20^th, 11:59pm, after having revised your work based on my feedback and the project workshops done in class, you will submit the final version of your final project.
  **Please note: there is very little room for extensions due to the deadline for submitting grades. Please contact me asap if you need one, but know that I may not be able to grant more than 24-48 hours).**

Directions

1. March 22nd, March 29th, April 5th – In-class “presentation” (5 minutes max.):

After Module 4, once you have given me your chosen text and format, I will give you a time slot to present in class either during Module 6, Module 7.1, or 7.2:

• Tell the class which text you chose, why you chose it, which format you chose or hesitate between, and why.
• You can give a little background on the text if you can fit it into the 5 minutes.
• You are welcome to share your screen and use slides, but you are advised to limit it to 2 to 4 slides so as not to go over your time.
• Remember: This is an informal and ungraded presentation: the purpose is just to share with the class what you’ll be working on. You don’t have to have anything figured out yet, other than the reason why you’re drawn to that particular text and format!

2. Due April 26th for peer-review class, and due May 2nd, 11:59 pm to my email – Outline directions (2-3 singled-spaced pages):

No matter your chosen format, your outline of 2-3 single-spaced pages should contain:

• A temporary introduction with a clear thesis statement and a summary of your main points;
• Subheadings for each main points (2-3 max.). Under each subheading, there should be a brief description of what the point is, quotes from the text, and clear transitions to the next points);
• A temporary conclusion. What have you concluded so far? What’s left to do?
  
  Detailed video instructions for the outline are here (also on the Methodology page).

3. Due May 10th, 11:59pm – Finished project (first version):

I will strive to return your finished projects with feedback by the end of the day on May 13th, so that you have a full week to revise your project into its final version.

Instructions by format are below:

If you chose the essay (1500-1750 words, in Word document format), click here.

If you chose the podcast (8-10 minutes, in mp3 format), click here.

If you chose the video (8-10 minutes, in mp4 format), click here.

4. Due May 20th, 11:59 pm: Revised final project after feedback and class workshops has been applied.

Your final project submission will be the one counted towards your final grade. However, do not skip the finished project: submitting a finished project before its revised version is one of the requirements for an A in this class (see syllabus). The purpose of the finished project is that you get a chance to revise your project before it being considered towards your final grade.

Revision instructions for the final project are below (by format):

Revising your essay:: please use Track changes (in Word app: under Review > Tracking > Click Track changes > Click All Markup) or a different font colour for what you have changed, so I can see the revisions quickly. You can also post comments to yourself or to me in the doc margins. The most of the feedback you get will be on your finished project (before revision).

Revising your podcast or video: you can submit a Word Doc revision, writing what you would have done differently (1-2 pages max). This is to avoid having to record your video or podcast all over again. However, if you know how to edit your video or podcast and want to do that, that’s fine too!

**Before submitting, please use the checklist below (all formats).**

After revision, I will email you shorter feedback on your final project as part of your feedback on the whole course, along with your final grade.

Checklist

Before you submit your finished project, and, later, the final revised version, please use the following checklist:

Thesis/Argument	Is the main “point” of my essay/podcast/video clear throughout? What insights do I offer, or what argument do I make, about my chosen topic? Considering the existing literature on this topic, what do I bring to the table? What are my “findings”?
Support of Thesis	Do I provide details that walk my reader through my argument, step by step? Do I provide rhetorically persuasive reasons and specific evidence to support my thesis in the framework of what has already been argued in the field (remember that your paper is part of a larger academic discussion)?
Quality & Integration of Quotes	Do I summarize, paraphrase, and quote directly in a logical way from the text I’m analyzing? Do I acknowledge my sources either orally or in writing (if writing, is the formatting of my quotes appropriate)?
Counterarguments	Do I address the arguments and beliefs of those who may disagree with my position (in a respectful way)?
Organization	Do I organize my paragraphs in such a way that my reader/listener/viewer can clearly follow my main argument? Do I announce my structure in the introduction, and do I write transition sentences/transition orally when I move on to another point? Can my readers easily follow how I develop and support that argument? Does each paragraph/part contribute to my thesis, and if not, did I delete unnecessary ones? Do my paragraphs/parts smoothly transition into each other using transition words to signal my reader where my argument is going? Do I group information that goes together? Do I use a new paragraph/take a breath when I “switch gears” to a new subject? (No whole pages without paragraph splits or long stretches of talk without a breath).
Style, Grammar & Editing	Have I used the Word spelling and grammar check tool to refine my essay or podcast/video script? If writing, have I proofread myself at least twice to avoid typos and mistakes that would distract my reader from my story? Is my document well presented? Is the layout easy to the eye (Font 12 Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, justified alignment, 1st line indent, etc.) For all formats: does my language contain few if any “to be” verbs (these are only descriptive, not analytic)? Am I concise, formal, and compelling?
Overall Respect of Instructions	Did I respect all instructions on this page? Did I respect the word count or podcast or video length? Am I on time for the due date? If not, did I request an extension at least 48 hours prior to the due date?