COM101 60% COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENTS 2024

Assignment 1: Expository Research Essay (1500 - 2000) 20% (………/60 marks (………./20% of Course Work)
Due Date: Monday 11th March 2024.
Conduct a research based on the theme selected for your thematic portfolio (health, education, technology, law etc.) Select the type of exposition that you desire to produce. Your
essay should include the following:
a) Introduction (one paragraph) with a clearly identified thesis statement and a list of the supporting ideas
b) Development/body (at least three to five paragraphs in the first draft and the required amount of paragraphs to satisfy the word count in the final draft)
Each paragraph should expound on supporting details based on the type of exposition chosen.
c) Conclusion: summary of points raised and a restating of the thesis statement
Ensure that the following are adhered to:
 Follow the guidelines for writing an expository essay.
 Show evidence of research by including the following: research findings, studies that have been conducted, statistics, etc. from secondary sources
 Proper in text citations
 Follow the Writing Process (brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing and publishing).
 Your final submission should Include the following:
 A full formal outline of your given topic (Electronic copy due Tuesday 5th March 2023. Hard copy due Wednesday 6th March 2024.)
 A first draft of your essay of no less than 700 to 1000 words (Electronic copy due Tuesday 5th March 2023. Hard copy due Wednesday 6th March 2024).
 A final draft of your essay of no less than 1500 and no more than 2000 words. This would be derived after revising, elaboration and editing the first draft of your essay.
(Due Monday 11th March 2024).
 Reference list of no less than 3 to 8 references.
Use the check list below for guidance.
Essay Writing Check List
Tick( Task Comment
)
MEANING
 Does the piece have a clear topic?
 Are there accurate supporting details
(personal and from research) to provide
evidence to main ideas?
ORGANIZATION
 Does the piece include an introduction?
 Does the piece include a thesis statement?
 Does the piece include a body with
supporting details?
 Does the piece include a conclusion?
 Are there clear transitions between each
paragraph?
 Is the sequence of ideas effective and
logical?
CONCLUSION
 Does the piece have a clear conclusion of
ideas?
 Are the thesis and arguments restated in
the conclusion?
 JBTE COM101: ENGLISH FOR COMMUNICATION --
EXCELLENT
MARK 20 – 18
Arresting and clear Introduction
Content: - a focused opening, a clear thesis
statement, relevant and sufficient
background to orient the reader
………./4
Excellent development:
chosen material is
- quite meaningful and clearly relevant
- avoids repetition
- is sufficient,
-good evidence of research
………../7
Uses three or more strategies for
developing the points
............/3
Good conclusion
-avoids repetition; makes good
deductions/challenges; summarizes
Grading Rubric for essay (Total Marks ……../60 (………/20% Course work)
GOOD
17 -14
Good Introduction - gets the
attention.
- a satisfactory opening, a clear but
not very strong thesis statement;
relevant but inadequate
background ………./3
Satisfactory development:
- chosen material is meaningful with
some relevance (avoids the trite
such constant overuse or
repetition)
adequate development
- sufficient evidence of research
………../7
Uses fewer than three strategies for
developing exposition/argument
……../2
Adequate conclusion free of
COMPETENT
13 - 9
Competent Introduction -
contains
- a fair opening, a limited thesis
statement, barely adequate use
of, and relevance in background
to orient the reader……/3
Uneven development:
- chosen material has some
meaning and relevance, but is
unevenly developed (some
evidence is trite)
-fair evidence of research
………/6
Uses one or two strategies for
developing exposition /
argument, but with uneven
skill ........./2
Fair conclusion with repetition
WEAK
8- 4
Fair Introduction
- a basic opening, a thesis statement
which is not totally clear, very
limited background to orient the
reader…../2
Development that shows much
room for improvement:
repetition common
- limited content – statements or
claims left undeveloped /
unsupported
- chosen material only occasionally
meaningful and/or relevant
- relies on the trite
- very little evidence of research
……/4
Uses only one strategy ……./1
Very poor conclusion ………./1
POOR
3-0
Little to no introduction
- an unfocused opening,
a poor thesis statement,
no background ……/1
Development:
- very patchy, very little
development of content
- inappropriate /
inadequate use of the
strategies for
developing
exposition/argument
- repetition severe
- chosen material lacks
meaning or irrelevant
(much evidence of trite)
- no evidence of research
..../ 2
 ………./4 repetition ……./1 Little attention to correct tone and Uses no strategies …/0
Tone and register show understanding and ……../4 register No conclusion
awareness of audience and purpose Tone and register not always Tone and register not always ………/0 ………../0
……../2 maintained at the appropriate level maintained at the appropriate Too casual / colloquial
………./1 level ………/1 an approach to the
content……../0
MARK 15 – 14 13-11 10 - 7 6- 5 4 -1
Organisation within paragraphs
-paragraphs with logically and effectively - clear topic sentences -- some effective sequencing - limited effective sequencing within There is no clear topic
Organi- internally sequenced ideas, -good paragraph unity within paragraphs and between paragraphs; - limited use of the sentence,
- each par.
sation
has a clear topic/ topic sentence, strong sense of unity - sequencing within paragraphs strategies for developing - poor sequencing within
and and focus within paragraphs paragraphs………/6 - linkage between paragraphs is exposition/argument ………./3 paragraphs;
Structure: inconsistent………./5 - limited linkage between - no clear linkage
Organisation between paragraphs Logically sequenced paragraphs paragraphs between paragraphs
- Logical and effective sequencing of mostly - but not always maintained Some paragraphs have no clear The topic is some paragraphs is ……../2
paragraphs - adequate linkage between focus/topic sentence………./5 unclear
- clear strong linkage between paragraphs paragraphs Most paragraphs lack No real ability to use the
………./8 minor repetition focus………/3 paragraph format
………/7 correctly.
…………2
MARK 15 – 14 13 – 11 10 - 7 6-4 3-0
Uses:
 Grammar - mature expression which avoids clichés
and - very good sentence variety and
Expression: appropriate vocabulary
……../5
- correct grammar and syntax is
consistently good
- excellent clarity of expression
………./5
MARK 10 – 8
-always uses punctuation
Mechani appropriately ........../4
cs: - excellent spelling
………/3
-formatting is observed and always
appropriate
………/3
TOTAL: ………./ 60 marks
Good expression which avoids
clichés and shows good sentence
variety,
- uses appropriate vocabulary
……../5
- correct grammar and syntax
fairly consistent
………./4
- adequate clarity in expression
………../4
7–6
-minor errors in use of punctuation; - a few repeated errors are
errors suggest lapse rather than
lack of skill …../3
occasional spelling errors – no
pattern to suggest inability
………./2
-minor errors in formatting but
mostly appropriate ………./2
- expression shows some
evidence of clichés and limited
sentence variety, vocabulary is
basic ……./4
- use of correct grammar and
syntax shows occasional
inconsistency ……..3
- fair clarity in expression
……../3
5-4
common in use of punctuation -
suggest uncertainty…./2
- a variety of persistent spelling
errors…./1
-errors are common in formatting
and sometimes inappropriate
……./2
- simplistic expression affected by
clichés and limited sentence
variety, vocabulary is basic )
……../2
- use of correct grammar and syntax
with some frequent inconsistency
………/2
- limited clarity in expression
……./2
3-2
-use of punctuation is poor
………./1
- clear weakness in
spelling………/1
-formatting is poor and often
inappropriate ………../1
- expression garbled and
difficult to understand
little sentence variety,
inappropriate use of
vocabulary ……/1
- poor grasp of correct
grammar and syntax
……./1
- weak clarity in
expression ………/1
1-0
-punctuation errors are
severe in the writing
………/0
Frequent, many and
persistent spelling errors.
……./0
- errors in formatting are
severe and inappropriate
………./1
Assignment 2: Thematic Portfolio – 20% (………./50 Marks/……../20 % Course work)
DUE Monday 25th March 2024
4 pieces all centered around the same theme (health, education, family life, etc.)
You will write the following:
 1 expository essay
 1 argumentative essay
 1 critique of an expository scholarly article (obtained online)
 1 critique of an argumentative scholarly article (obtained online)
 Each essay should contain 3 to 5 references.
The portfolio should be sent as one document organized accordingly:
1. Cover Page: course title; assignment task; theme selected; student’s UWI ID number, lecturer’s name, date submitted
2. Table of contents
3. The artefacts in the following order:
Original Expository Essay (700 – 1000 words)
Selected expository article to be critiqued (500 – 800 words)
Your critique of the expository article (page or page and a half long)
Original argumentative essay (700 – 1000 words)
Selected argumentative article to be critiqued (500 – 800 words)
Your critique the argumentative article (page or page and a half long)
4. References page
 GUIDELINES FOR CRITIQUING THE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

 Does this essay present a clear thesis statement?

 Does the essay contain a number of strong, persuasive points in support of its thesis?

 Is the essay organized as an essay that is easy to follow and that avoids repetition or confusion?

 Does the essay present enough supporting evidence to make each of its points convincing? Where could additional examples, factual information, testimony or other kinds of

supporting material be added to make arguments even more effective?

 Will all the supporting evidence be clear to the essay’s particular audience?

 Has at least one major opposing argument been addressed?

 Does the essay avoid any logical fallacies or problems in tone?

 Is the conclusion adequate?

 Give a general assessment of how successful you think the writer has been in achieving the primary purpose in writing the piece.
 GUIDELINES FOR CRITIQUING THE EXPOSITORY ESSAY

 Is the thesis statement clearly expressed?

 Do the topic sentences support the thesis?

 Does each body paragraph contain support material (statistics, examples, explanations, facts etc) that effectively illustrate the claim of the topic sentence rather than

offering mere generalities?

 Are the supporting details clearly expressed?

 Is each paragraph developed in enough specific detail? Could more details be added? More precise language?

 Are the body paragraphs arranged in a most effective order with a smooth transition from one to another?

 Is the material organized effectively into the mode (comparison and contrast, cause and effect, process analysis, classification etc) for the subject material?

 Is the conclusion adequate?

  Give a general assessment of how successful you think the writer has been in achieving the primary purpose in writing the piece.

JBTE COM 101: Grading Rubric for Thematic Portfolio (Total marks:……./50) ………..20% of Course work
Content Organization Mechanics Referencing
Excellen 20-18 15- 14 10-8 5-4
t
Content is clear, accurate and relevant Essays and analyses are well organised and Essays and analyses contain few In-text citations in essays and
in essays and analyses. follow selected theme. Essays and analyses grammatical errors. reference lists adhere to APA
adhere to selected modes. Thesis Sentences are well constructed guidelines
statements and paragraphs are well There is a marked absence of subject and
formulated in essays verb agreement errors, verb form errors,
spelling and punctuation errors
Good 17-10 13-8 7-5 3-2
Content is fairly clear, accurate and Essays/analyses fairly well organised and There are a few grammatical errors. In-text citations and reference list
relevant in essays and analyses follow selected theme. These include: subject verb agreement show some awareness of APA
Essays do not fully adhere to the selected errors, verb form errors, spelling and guidelines
modes. punctuation errors
 Thesis statements and paragraphs are fairly
well developed in essays
Weak 9-0 7-0 4-0 1-0
Content is inaccurate and/or irrelevant Essays poorly organised. There is a marked presence of multiple There are no in-text citations or
in essays and analyses Selected modes not clearly seen. grammatical flaws which inhibit reference list or these show no
Thesis statements and paragraphs lacking comprehension of the content. These flaws awareness of APA guidelines
or are poorly developed in essays include subject verb agreement errors, verb
form errors, spelling and punctuation errors
Assignment 3: Oral Presentation / Argument 20% (……..30 marks/ ……….20% Course work)
DUE Date: Monday 15th April 2023
Follow the guidelines for writing an argumentative essay.
COM ORAL ARGUMENTATIVE PRESENTATION
CRITERIA DESCRIPTION MARKS GIVEN
CONTENT (15) Had a few good points to support stance
Had good ordering of points
Points were well supported by various types of support
Counter arguments acknowledged and adequately rebutted
Counter arguments adequately rebutted
LANGUAGE (8) Used signal phrases such as “firstly” “the most important”
Used short sentences
Used natural language
Used inclusive pronouns such as “we” “us”
 Used words that audience can identify with and understand
Used language appropriately and correctly
BODY Face was relaxed and expressive
LANGUAGE (4) Not overly emotional or rude in body language
Maintained appropriate eye contact with audience
Used gestures naturally and appropriately
Posture was erect yet at ease
VOICE Spoke at normal rate: not too fast, not too slow
(3) Spoke at good volume
Varied the tone of voice
Had clarity: good pronunciation and enunciation
TOTAL

TOTAL MARKS: ………/30 (………./20% Course work)