Technology&Media&Rhetoric: Dissoi Logoi Rubric
This document describes the features of an A paper, B paper, etc. To earn an A, you want to make sure that your paper fits the descriptions of the A column. If your paper meets the other descriptions, it
will earn the other grades. If you do one thing well and another less well, I will average them out as much as I can. So, if your paper toggles b/w A descriptions and C descriptions, it will likely earn a B.
A B
Dissoi The project identifies a human practice,
Logoi Topic discusses its importance, and explains what is
and at stake in the various ways this practice
comes to be. The project fairly and
Execution
thoroughly articulates various technologies
(techniques and tools) and what they want
(their consequences). It identifies both
differences and similarities between
technologies. Perhaps it uncovers points of
divergence or convergence that the sources
themselves may overlook.
Sources & The project engages several sources. The
Citations project engages those sources thoroughly,
carefully, and ethically, articulating arguments
in detail. The essay properly identifies the
perspective(s) of its various sources. It uses
quotation, paraphrase, and summary with
precision. MLA is consistently used correctly.
Style Through word choice and sentence structure,
the project’s prose is both remarkably
focused and appropriate for the rhetorical
context—that is, the writing engages and
directs a reader. The prose may occasionally
display an isolated problem with usage,
spelling, and/or punctuation.
Organ- The project is clearly signposted: there are
ization clear transitions between paragraphs; topic
sentences accurately introduce the subjects
of paragraphs; and paragraphs have a
coherent focus. In addition, the introduction
identifies an organizing principle, and the
essay follows it consistently.
The project identifies a human practice,
discusses its importance, and explains what
is at stake in the various ways this practice
comes to be. The project also offers
contrasting technologies, though the piece
may occasionally tip its hand—that is, the
piece may fail to fully consider alternate
technologies. Perhaps the essay overlooks
key differences and similarities among
sources.
The project engages several sources. The
project engages those sources thoroughly,
carefully, and ethically, articulating
arguments in detail. There may be small
inaccuracies in capturing perspective(s) of its
various sources. There are also a couple of
small problems with quotation, paraphrase,
and summary. MLA is used throughout,
though there may be isolated errors.
Text is accessible throughout: sentences
build ideas that appropriately direct the
reader. The project may be marked by a few
minor problems with usage, spelling, and/or
punctuation.
The essay mostly features clear transitions
between paragraphs; topic sentences
accurately introduce the subjects of
paragraphs, and paragraphs have a
coherent focus. In addition, the introduction
identifies an organizing principle that the
essay follows consistently. However, the
essay may occasionally fail to follow on its
organizing principle.
C D/F
The project identifies a human practice, but
perhaps it relies on a static definition of the
practice to assess difference technologies.
Moreover, the project articulates one technology
more thoroughly than the others, without carefully
considering alternate perspectives. Nor does the
project identify what’s at stake in answering the
question. In some cases, a “C” essay is one that
loses sight of the specific practice with which the
essay began.
The project attempts to engage sources, though
occasionally the project mismanages some of those
sources, either failing to explicate them fully or
introducing large inaccuracies in capturing
perspective(s). The project also is inconsistent in its
use of quotation, paraphrase, and summary. MLA is
attempted, but contains repeated errors.
Text is accessible in most places; majority of
sentences can be understood. However, problems
with usage, spelling, and/or punctuation
repeatedly mark the project’s prose throughout.
The essay is inconsistent in its use of transitions
and topic sentences. Many paragraphs lack a
coherent focus. In addition, the essay may fail to
identify an organizing principle, or it may fail to
consistently follow the organizing principle
identified in the introduction.
Nathaniel A. Rivers | English 1900 | Technology, Media & Rhetoric | Fall 2019 | 1
The project fails to identify a
human practice. The project
simply runs several sources
together, but there is no way to
identify why the project is
discussing the sources. Or, the
project offers a traditional
argumentative essay that
forwards a single perspective.
The project mismanages sources,
either failing to explicate them
fully or misconstruing their
arguments. The project also is
careless in its use of quotation,
paraphrase, and summary. The
citation system contains multiple
and repeated errors.
The citation system is hard to
recognize.
Several passages are inaccessible
or even incomprehensible. There
are multiple and repeated
problems with usage, spelling,
and/or punctuation.
The essay lacks transitions and
topic sentences. Many
paragraphs lack a coherent focus.
The essay fails to attempt any
consistent structure.