76-101 SCALE FOR EVALUATING CONTRIBUTION PAPERS How to evaluate a contribution paper: for each of the following criteria, choose an appropriate response from the Agree-Disagree scale and put its corresponding number in the criterion’s Score column blank: Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree ----------|---------------------|------------------|--------------------| 0 1 2 3 REASONING AND CONTENT The contribution paper . . . Score 1. includes an introduction that identifies and clearly defines a problem/issue and argues persuasively for its existence and significance ___ 2. analyses at least 4 of the texts we have read ___ 3. 2 or 3 appropriately defined & named approaches used to categorize the positions represented by the texts being analyzed ___ 4. good characterizations of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and of the positions within each approach with respect to the problem/issue/question ___ 5. says something "new," (e,g, a fresh or surprising insight, an unexpected contrasts, etc.)--that is, it clearly makes a mainpoint at one of the milestones and includes persuasive reasons and evidence to support that mainpoint ___ 6. anticipates potential objections to or misunderstandings to its important points at the "seeing the issue," "defining the problem," and/or "choosing a solution" milestones & presents appropriate faulty-return paths arguments ___ 7. uses textual evidence (quotes or close paraphrases w/reference notation) appropriately and accurately and in ways that support its most important claims. ___ 8. includes background information appropriate for a reader who has not read the original texts ___ ORGANIZATION The contribution paper . . . 1. is focused and appropriate in tone, displaying a sense of purpose and audience ___ 2. exhibits a clear pattern of organization which emphasizes important points (e.g., intro. . .analyses (ordered by chronology, idiosyncrasy, merit, or other principle). . . conclusion) and maintains coherence through good transitions (e.g., forecasting, etc.). ___ 3. is appropriate in tone (i.e., it is objective and respectful, not "talkie" or "faultfinding"). ___ EXPRESSION The contribution paper’s . . . 1. diction, grammar, & spelling conform to standard, idiomatic, written American English ___ Grand Total = ____ [Remember: the contribution paper is, more or less, a synthesis/analysis paper that you have transformed and extended to make a main point—that “new” thing you have to contribute to the conversation on multiculturalism as an educational reform. Therefore, the criteria for a synthesis/analysis paper are relevant to a contribution paper, and to aid you in writing your contribution paper, I have provided below a slightly modified version of the synthesis/analysis scale. Note: the contribution and the synthesis/analysis scales do overlap some. See also the checklist on pages 227-228 of KGN and, especially, the checklist on pages 269-70 and the discussion that follows.]