COURSE ASSIGNMENT: TERM PAPER WRITING – DRAFT (25%)

A. Writing the Draft

Using the reviewed extended outline, write out a draft of the term paper. You may begin by
writing the main points for each paragraph. The introduction may be the hardest to write,
so leave it to the last. Compile your reference list. Print-out a hardcopy of your draft for
submission.

B. Turnitin

Submit the softcopy of your draft into Turnitin. The rationale of using this software is to
provide the opportunity for you to see which parts of your write-up is plagiarized. Hence,
you should make the necessary corrections before even submitting the hardcopy of your
work.

Once submitted, Turnitin will produce an originality report with the percentage of
overlapping materials. This percentage is a guide for lecturers to determine if plagiarism has
occurred. Originality Similarity Index should not exceed 20%.

You are allowed to unlimited submissions of your drafts so as to enable you to review the
Turnitin report generated before you submit the final term paper.

C. Format of the Draft

Your paper must:

 be typed, 1.5 spaced, with one-inch margins

 use a 12 point font ( use normal font like Times New Roman or Arial)
 be printed in black ink
 be between 5 to 7 pages in length (do not fall below 5 and do not exceed 7),
excluding cover page & references
 be cited according to APA citation style
 include a cover page with your names, title of paper, your lecturer’s name, the
course code, and your section
 include a reference page

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C. Citation Guidelines

Your draft must cite a minimum of 4 sources of journal articles. It can also include other
academic-worthy materials, such as books, magazines, newspapers and other relevant and
credible sources (unlimited number of academic-worthy sources).

D. Due Date

Your draft must be submitted by 4th meeting.

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 E: ULAB2122: RATING SCALE FOR TERM PAPER (DRAFT - 25%)

EXCELLENT (3 MARKS) SATISFACTORY (2 MARKS) FUNCTIONAL (1 MARK) LIMITED (½ MARK)

Contribu Introduction & ● The introduction is very ● The introduction is ● The introduction is ● The introduction is unclear
tion Thesis engaging. engaging. evident but written in a mechanical ● The purpose of the paper
Statement ● The purpose/thesis of the The purpose of the paper is manner is unfocused and unclear.
To Task
[3 marks] paper is clearly and concisely clearly stated, consisting of an ● The purpose of the paper
(10%)
stated consisting of an argument is evident but written with some
argument and its controlling
and its controlling ideas. difficulty.
ideas, but could be written more
concisely.

Body ● All paragraphs have clear ● Most paragraphs have ● Some paragraphs have ● Few or no paragraphs
[5 marks] topic sentences/main ideas. clear topic sentences/main ideas. clear topic sentences/main ideas. have clear topic sentences/main
● All main ideas are ● Most main ideas are ● Some main ideas and well ideas.
exceptionally well-developed. well-developed developed. ● Few or lacks main ideas
● All evidence from sources ● Most evidence from ● Some evidence from ● Few evidence from
supports all arguments in the paper sources supports most arguments sources supports some arguments sources supports arguments in the
very effectively, providing specific in the paper, providing specific in the paper with sufficient paper and lacks specific evidence,
evidence, details, facts and/or evidence, details, facts and/or evidence, details, facts and/or details, facts and/or examples
examples. examples. examples ● Most sources are not well-
● All sources are ● Most sources are well- ● Some sources are not integrated
exceptionally well-integrated integrated well-integrated

EXCELLENT (2 MARKS) SATISFACTORY (1½ MARKS) FUNCTIONAL (1 MARK) LIMITED (½ MARK)

Conclusion ● Synthesizes or summarizes ● Synthesizes or ● Some attempt at ● Few or no attempt at

[2 marks] all main points effectively. summarizes most main points synthesizing or summarizing main synthesizing or summarizing main
● Highlights importance of satisfactorily. points. points.
topic/issue discussed effectively. ● Highlights importance of ● Some attempt at ● Few or no attempt at
topic/issue discussed highlighting importance of highlighting importance of
satisfactorily. topic/issue discussed. topic/issue discussed.

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 ALL: 90-100% MOST: 70-80% SOME: 40-60% FEW: <30%
EFFECTIVE (4 MARKS) SATISFACTORY (3 MARKS) FUNCTIONAL (2 MARK) LIMITED (1 MARK)
LANGUAG Grammar ● All sentences are well ● Most sentences are well ● Most sentences are well ● Most sentences are
E [4 marks] constructed and have varied constructed and have varied constructed, but they have a awkward, and are distractingly
structure and length. structure and length. similar structure and/or length. repetitive, or difficult to
&
● All sentences are ● Most sentences are ● Some sentences are understand.
ORGANIZ
grammatically correct. grammatically correct. grammatically incorrect, but do ● Numerous grammatical
ATION
not impede meaning errors that impede meaning.
(13%)
EFFECTIVE (3 MARKS) SATISFACTORY (2 MARKS) FUNCTIONAL (1 MARK) LIMITED (½ MARK)

Vocabulary ● Wide range of vocabulary. ● Good range of vocabulary ● Uses appropriate choice ● Uses inappropriate choice
[3 marks] ● All words used are but some placement of words may of vocabulary but lacks variety. of vocabulary.
appropriate for academic text be too ambitious. ● Some words used are ● Most words used are
purposes. ● Most words used are inappropriate for academic text inappropriate for academic text
appropriate for academic text purposes. purposes.
purposes.
*Cohesion ● Wide use of linking words ● Good use of linking words ● Uses basic and limited ● Uses numerous
within and cohesive devices to connect and cohesive devices to connect linking words and cohesive devices inappropriate linking words and
paragraph ideas both within and between ideas both within and between (with many repetitions) to connect cohesive devices to connect ideas
[3 marks] sentences. sentences. ideas both within and between both within and between
sentences.. sentences..
*Cohesion ● Paragraphs are linked in a ● Paragraphs are well linked ● Paragraphs are linked in a ● Paragraphs are not well
between variety of ways (with no in a variety of ways (with some mechanical fashion (basic and linked and fails to signal overall
paragraphs repetitions) to signal overall repetitions) to signal overall repetitive cohesive devices) to direction of writing
[3 marks] direction of writing direction of writing signal overall direction of writing
EFFECTIVE (1.5-2 MARKS) FUNCTIONAL (0.5-1 MARK)

CITATION / REFERENCES ● All quotations and in-text citation format conform to the ● Some quotations and in-text citation format do not conform to
[2 marks] APA/UTM style. the APA/UTM style
● Correct APA format and style used in writing the reference list ● Some inconsistencies in the APA format and style used in
● Includes a minimum of 4 sources writing the reference list
● Includes less than 4 sources
*Linking words are cohesive devices, but are separated here to refer to higher frequency vocabulary, which provides explicit linkage (e.g. and, but, because, etc). *Cohesive
devices refers to more sophisticated linking words and phrases (e.g. moreover, it may appear, as a result, etc), as well as grammatical devices such as the use of reference
pronouns, substitution (e.g. this, the former, etc.), ellipsis (e.g. the first study was on…, the second on…, etc.), or repetition.