Submit your project here

Rubric and Main Requirements

• If you are are writing a longer paper without any unconventional aspects (website, video, etc), then the explanation point above should be integrated into the paper as a whole. You need to have a clear thesis that unifies the argument of the paper as a whole.  Your paper should be around  2500-3000 words.
• All projects should try to reference course material: theories, concepts, authors as needed throughout their projects.
• All projects should include a works cited section that uses MLA or a system close to that.

• For those opting for something other than a traditional longer essay:
  • You will need to include a 500-1000 word explanatory piece outlining your goals (the length of a mini-paper), methods, their effectiveness, and how it related to the class.
  • Your written portions throughout the rest of the project  (if you are doing a video or audio project, the script [aka what you say] counts towards your word count) should to be at least 1500 (about the length of an essay). Many of you are probably going over this. If you are having trouble meeting this, please let me know. 

• All the above requirements are fulfilled
• Not only is the project clearly connected to the course, appropriate concepts, theories, and theorists are seamlessly integrated throughout.
• If it is a longer paper, there is a strong thesis statement that is developed throughout a logically organized paper.(See earlier rubrics for more information)
• Non-traditional projects center on a clear topic, question, or argument.
• The writing is thoughtful, nuanced and their is a clear authorial voice/style.
• Points are developed and explained more than adequately.

• All the above requirements are fulfilled
• The project clearly connected to the course, appropriate concepts, theories, and theorists are integrated throughout.
• If it is a longer paper, there is a strong thesis statement that is developed throughout a logically organized paper. (See earlier rubrics for more information)
• Non-traditional projects center on a clear topic, question, or argument.
• The writing is clear and concise.
• Points are developed and explained to support the main argument.

• All the above requirements are fulfilled
• The project connected to the course, with some concepts, theories, and theorists are integrated throughout. But there are places where this could have been strengthened.
• If it is a longer paper, there is a thesis statement that is at times needs more development or to be more clearly organized. (See earlier rubrics for more information)
• Non-traditional projects center on a topic, but it may not be entirely clear what that is or why it was chosen.
• Unclear phrasing, organization, typos, etc often distract from the points being made.
• Points are present but need to be developed and explained  further in order to support the main argument.

• Not all of the requirements are fulfilled. 
• The project needs to be more clearly connected to the course.
• If it is a longer paper, there  thesis statement is not clearly established in the introduction nor in the rest of the paper. (See earlier rubrics for more information)
• Non-traditional projects center on a topic, but it may not be entirely clear what that is or why it was chosen.
• Unclear phrasing, organization, typos, etc often distract from the points being made.
• Points are present but need to be developed and explained  further in order to support the main argument.
• It falls into summary rather than analysis/argument.

Other Info

• Forms may vary widely
• You may work individually or in groups
• You choose your own topic
• The unessay allows you to write about anything you want as long as it clearly connects to the course.
• You can take a variety of approaches; you can use as few or as many resources as you wish; you can even cite the Wikipedia.
• The only requirements are that you must use at least one general theory and at least one scholar text from the course AND the goal is to either apply that theory, explain it to an audience of your choice, or in some other way show your ability to put the course material into practice.
• You can present it any way you please
• There are also no formal requirements, EXCEPT for one: 
  • UPDATED: you will need to include a 500-1000 word explanatory piece outlining your goals (the length of a mini-paper), methods, their effectiveness, and how it related to the class.
  • Your written portions throughout the rest of the project  (if you are doing a video or audio project, the script [aka what you say] counts towards your word count) should to be at least 1500 (about the length of an essay). Many of you are probably going over this. If you are having trouble meeting this, please let me know. 
  • If you are are writing a longer paper without any unconventional aspects (website, video, etc), then the explanation point above should be integrated into the paper as a whole. You need to have a clear thesis that unifies the argument of the paper as a whole.  Your paper should be around  2500-3000 words.
  • All projects should include a works cited section that uses MLA or a system close to that.
• Your unessay can be written in five paragraphs or twenty- six. If you decide you need to cite something, you can do that anyway you want. If you want to use lists, use lists. If you want to write in the first person, write in the first person.
• If you prefer to present the whole thing as a video, present it as a video. Use slang.
• Or don’t.
• Write in sentence fragments if you think that would be effective. In other words, in an unessay you have complete freedom of form: you can use whatever style of writing, presentation, citation, or media you want. What is important is that the format and presentation you do use helps rather than hinders your explanation of the topic. You can be digital, analog or mixed media.
The Rubric for the effectiveness of this assignment will be created with feedback from the class
• This assignment is modeled on one used by Dr. Ryan Cordell at Northeastern University (links coming)