Introduction to the Analysis of Hispanic Texts
Individual Projects
The end-of-term individual project is one of the most important efforts that each member of the class will complete. The nature of the project will be defined during the term and will respond to individual interests. In addition to the grading criteria outlined below, this project should also respond to the opportunities made possible by contemporary digital forms of research materials and dissemination. The class will play a major role in deciding exactly how their projects will appear. It is a project that will be completed in the phases that follow.
- Prospectus (1-2 pages) due October 22. (What problem will you address? Why do you judge this problem important? What is the state of your research? What are the most significant works you have found in your research? Why are they significant? If you have developed a thesis by this time, what is it? How do you plan to exploit the Web/digital environment in the presentation of your project?)
- Good, clean draft on paper of the text due December 7. (A rough draft of all basic pages should be posted, linked, and operating correctly on line, with a URL that will be attached to this course site.)
- Completed project due December 17 at 12:00 noon.
The individual project should be the equivalent length of about 7-10 pages (± 1-2 pages) double spaced. It is generally a research paper and requires evidence of consultation with outside resources in the form of a list of properly cited and consulted works. These works should include written sources, whether from academic journals, books, or reliable Web sources.
Apart from the above, I look for:
- An specifically articulated thesis that responds to a stated question, problem or topic. (I'm rather inflexible about this — believe it.)
- A logically organized text that leads to the conclusion of the stated thesis.
- Complete sentences.
- A text free from misspelled words and serious grammatical errors that reflect carelessness.
- A text free from long superfluous quotations that remain unanalyzed.
- A text neatly presented with formatting consistent with academic standards.
- Evidence of outside research, i.e. printed or internet sources.
If any of the preceding items is missing the project will receive some kind of C. If more than one of the preceding items are missing the paper will receive an even lower grade.
If the paper conforms to all of the above criteria I then look for the following:
- Originality and thoughtfulness.
- A full, interesting, and engaged response to the thesis.
- Effective use of outside sources.
- Clear and interesting organization.
- Paragraphs with a clear topic sentences.
- Clear transitions between paragraphs.
- A distinct conclusion, rather than a simple end to the writing.
- A clear and efficient (i.e. not wordy) writing style.
- A voice that clearly addresses its audience.
- Appropriate graphics and suggested hypertext links, if they enhance the project in a meaningful way.
Based on the degree to which these criteria are met a grade of some kind of A or B will then be assigned.
Naturally, no form of plagiarism will be tolerated. If evidence of this occurs the project will receive an automatic grade of NC, and the person will be reported to the Dean of Academic Programs who will take appropriate steps.
Adapted from Bean, 264.