All essays must be submitted via e-mail to TaylorRiley@live.co.

uk
no later than 13.08.18 (11:59pm)

For the Hausarbeit, you should develop an argument that addresses the topic you have chosen. You
are expected to critically examine scholarly work on your topic to develop that argument.

It is a critical essay, meaning it is not an opinion piece. You are welcome to say what you think
(using the word ‘I’ as you see fit), but these statements should be based on scholarly evidence.

Scholarly evidence comes from work published in academic books and journals. While you may
cite other sources, like news articles and websites, your use of them should be limited to examples
that support your arguments. This is particularly welcome if you are discussing current events.

In terms of references, you must cite at least six sources. This is because you must justify your
claims and provide some counter-argument material to those claims (even briefly), which requires
evidence. For some topics (i.e. those which require practical examples), I expect to see more
sources than others.

The structure of the essay is up to you, though you should use paragraphs, and include a brief
introduction and conclusion. You are welcome to use headings and sub-headings, but they are not
necessary.

Guidelines:

• Choose one of the questions/topics listed on the website

• The length must be 3,000 words +/-10% (not including Works Cited, headings, notes, etc)
• The essay must be submitted as a Word document (.doc or .docx)
• Format: Double-spaced, font size 12, pages must be numbered
• Include your name and the course title on the first page or on a title page
• You may use any established (e.g. Harvard, Chicago) referencing system, but you must be
consistent

Grading criteria:

• Was the essay submitted on time?

• Did the word count and format fit the guidelines?
• Was the referencing coherent, consistent, and adequate?
• Was there coherence, consistency, and adequacy in terms of the essay structure, writing
style, grammar, and vocabulary?
• Were suitable theories (and examples, if applicable) and adequate sources used throughout?
• Does the essay content correspond directly to the essay topic as listed (i.e. no deviations
from the list of topics provided)?
• Was a strong grasp of the question/topic and the content cited shown in the writing?
• Were well-supported critical arguments made (i.e. ‘discussion’ rather than only
‘explanation’) instead of just summarizing?
 Grading Rubric:

A ‘1’ Essay makes an interesting, complex argument and is thoroughly well-executed. While a ‘1’
essay is the result of serious effort, the grade is based on the essay’s content and presentation.

The major claim of the essay is complex and insightful. The thesis seeks to and
Argument
fully succeeds in responding to the question or topic that is its focus. The
&
introduction has a clear motive that outlines the tenets of the argument and
Approach
demonstrates a meaningful context for the author’s claims.
Strong sources are introduced and used not only to support but also to provide
counter-arguments to the claims of the essay. The evidence includes examples
Evidence and may also involve an original conception of measuring the object of inquiry,
& Analysis and its nuances are insightfully explored. The argument is sufficiently complex
to require an explanation of how the evidence supports the essay’s claims, and
evidence is clearly presented.
Ideas develop over the course of the essay so that the foundations established
early on push the argument toward a more complex conclusion. The structure is
Structure both logical and suspenseful or engaging. The essay either contains clearly
designated headings to help guide the reader, or a strong structure laid out in the
introduction which explains how arguments are ordered.
The writing is clear and concise, yet sophisticated, demonstrating sentence
variety and appropriate vocabulary. The essay is a pleasure to read. The essay
Style
also follows all relevant instructions regarding formatting. It is meticulously
proofread.

A ‘2’ Essay is coherent and well-researched, but lacks the distinct requirements of a ‘1’:

Either the major claim is clear, arguable, and complex but misses opportunities
Argument for nuance or subtlety, or else it set out to explore an ambitious idea whose
& complexity leads to minor errors in articulation. The introduction suggests some
Approach context or stakes for the argument but does not offer strong motivation, or a
convincing motive is gestured at but remains implicit.
All claims are supported with evidence that is integral to the development of the
argument, but in a few places the link between claim and evidence may at times
Evidence
be unconvincing, unnuanced, or insufficiently explained. The analysis
& Analysis
demonstrates several moments of keen insight but also includes arguments that
lack subtlety or are insufficiently explained elsewhere in the essay.
The argument follows a clear logical arc, but small gaps, digressions, or a lack of
Structure
transitional language interrupt the flow of ideas in a few places.
The writing is mostly clear but may contain a few confusing sentences,
Style
mechanical problems, or possible lapses in proofreading. It is mostly engaging.
A ‘3’ Essay has potential, but some problems with argumentation and/or presentation:

Argument The major claim of the essay may be clear but unsupported, or weak in that it is
& vague, simple, or obvious. The essay does not fully succeed interrogating the
Approach question/topic, and the motivation for the argument may not be strong or clear.
Evidence may be lacking, irrelevant, or utilized poorly. Instead of using evidence
Evidence to develop the argument, examples may remain undigested and unexplored. The
& Analysis author may simply summarize and simplify evidence, or present it in a confusing
or unhelpful way.
The argument may be too simple and so does not develop over the course of the
Structure essay. Or the argument may be incoherent or too broad, without any clear
organization or transitions.
The writing may either be adequate, with argumentation problems, or it may be
Style confusing, ill-fitting, or forced, or exhibit some mechanical problems with weak
proofreading.

A ‘4’ Essay has problems with argumentation, and possibly also presentation:

Argument The major claim of the essay does not make sense or is not appropriately
& evidenced. The essay may have analytical potential, but not have a clear
Approach argument or grasp of the content used to argue its points.
The essay’s evidence is inadequate or missing (relying on opinion). It may be
Evidence
inappropriate and/or presented out of context. Very few works may be cited
& Analysis
and/or the quality of cited works may be questionable.
The argument is too simple and/or underdeveloped. It may be incoherent or
Structure
change without explanation.
Style The writing may be poor, with mechanical problems and weak proofreading.

A ‘5’ essay has serious problems with argumentation, presentation, and fails to meet the minimum
essay requirements as set out.