While every semester brings its own challenges, we are told that the anticipated outbreak of H1N1 flu may wreak havoc on our plans. So, should you contract the illness, the most important thing is to avoid infecting others. To do this, don’t attend class or office hours if you have the flu (and wait 24 hours after your symptoms disappear). Unlike my normal policy, I will not require medical documentation for flu-related absences so don’t visit the Student Health Center which will simply send you home. I will adjust deadlines and arrange makeups as necessary. Anyone who infects me will be hunted down and forced to read everything I’ve ever written from kindergarten onward, a fate much worse than flu.

1. Clear statement of problem and thesis - In the first 2 pages, you need to provide a succinct statement of the phenomena you are studying and provide a crisp statement of your central thesis/argument.  Unlike a mystery, I want to know the outcome before I read the paper.
   
2. Quality of evidence and argument - Have you persuaded me of your thesis by the effective use of evidence and a strong, clear argument? If I'm not sure what you're arguing or why you've reached certain conclusions, the paper is less persuasive.
3. Quality of research - Your goal is to find the best sources available on your subject, such quality being a function of the competence of the authors, the nature of the publication outlet, your use of proper reference styles, and the appropriate use of quotation and paraphrase. Relying too heavily on one or two sources or principally upon unreliable sources counts against you. So does improper citation. I am generally impressed by papers that draw on scholarly books and articles in academic journals, long feature articles in major newspapers (e.g., the New York Times) or serious magazines, such as Harper's or The Atlantic.
4. Quality of writing - The best papers offer a clear authorial voice that speaks simply and clearly and is expressed in writing that follows accepted rules of grammar, syntax, and spelling. Poor writing, excessive formality, bad proofreading, and the like inhibit effective communication.
5. Linkage to course themes - This is a biggie. If your paper reads like it was written by somebody who didn't take the class, then it misses the mark. You need to incorporate the theories, concepts, questions, and themes that are dealt with throughout the semester. How does it bear on some of what we've found already?
   
6. Meeting deadlines - This is a negative criterion. You have two deadlines, submitting the paper topic & a preliminary list of references on Wednesday, October 21st and turning in the final paper in both hard copy and electronic format via Turnitin. The paper is due on Wednesday, December 2nd. For the first deadline, you will need to provide me (in writing) with a paragraph about the subject of your paper and a list of at least five potential sources that are not on the course reading list. I will review this submission and either okay your topic and sources (often with additional suggestions) or indicate that you need to meet with me in person to discuss it. While I allow for some change in focus once the proposal is accepted, a final paper that diverges massively from the proposal will be subject to special scrutiny. Late papers will be penalized at the rate of one grade per day, i.e., a B+ paper received on Friday becomes a B, a C+ the next day, and so on.