Assignment Info, Rubrics, and Grade Criteria

1. Participation 55%

2. Close Reading Assignments (25%)

You will automatically be assigned to a small group for a close-reading activity that is worth 5% of your final grade each novel session. 

Your group will need to choose one passage of the novel that relates to a human rights issue to focus on. It could be as short as one paragraph or as large as several pages. This is not a traditional close reading you would do in a literature course. Your close readings should consist of the following:

• Construct a descriptive thesis about the passage. The thesis statement should not be more than a paragraph. The thesis should explain what the topic of the passage is about and what argument regarding human rights it further illustrates for the reader.  

• Construct an argument about the passage based on your thesis.

• Be sure to analyze the passage carefully.  Make note of the narrative. You should think about this in terms of the following: 
  • Voice -- who is speaking, perspective of the voice, etc.
  • Tone -- is there irony, what emotions are being evoked, etc.
  • Literary devices used  to make point -- metaphors, imagery, etc

• Conclude with offering some possible root causes of as well as solutions to alleviate the human rights violation or concern.  

Each close reading should be between 750-850 words. Divide the work between the group members. 

I have set up a small group wiki for each group to do their work in. Wikis work just like google docs in the sense that you all can collectively edit it. You cannot, however, edit at the same time. You have the freedom to present the wiki in any way you choose. You can include videos, links, images, or it can all be written text.    

When you are finished, and someone has carefully proofed the work, one person from the small group should cut and paste the close reading into the whole class discussion forum for close readings.

You should read each groups close reading and carefully (and constructively) evaluate at least one other group's close reading.  

3. Rubric for Close Reading Assignments

"A" Range

·         Presents a sophisticated and original argument about a human rights issue within the novel that is well supported.

·         The argument looks for meaning within the text and uses observations about elements of the novel (meaning style of text, character development, etc.) to explore the thesis presented and offer evidence.

·         An “A” range close reading is well organized with little to no grammatical or spelling errors and is clearly written what the authors intend by the words written.

·         Uses textual details and analysis to point out patterns within the portion of the text they use and the rest of the novel that may further the argument regarding the human rights issue your group decided to focus on.

·         All elements are included that are required for completion of the assignment.

“B” Range

·         Has an original and well supported argument about a human rights issues within that novel.

·         Selects pertinent evidence to support the argument.

·         Textual details and observations about how the portion of your story works, making intriguing connections between these different details and observations and your human rights issues.

·         Examines the textual details but could have provided further analysis.

·         Makes some connections between elements of the selected work and points to some important patterns but does not make further connections with the human rights issue at hand.

·         Displays clear and fluid argument-based organization on both the sentence and paragraph levels.

·         Is clear and has no or very few errors in grammar, style, or mechanics.

·         Most elements are included that are required for completion of the assignment.

“C” Range

·         Has a defensible argument, though it would benefit from a more probing starting point.

·         Goes slightly beyond summary to cite relevant textual details that support its argument.

·         Begins to analyze textual details but still needs to show how they work together with the passage chosen and the human rights issue under discussion.

·         Displays some organization on both the paragraph and sentence levels.  

·         Grammatical/mechanical problems are present but do not obscure the essay’s ideas.

·         Many elements are included that are required for completion of the assignment.

“D”  Range

·         Asserts a statement of fact rather than a defensible argument.

·         Never goes beyond summary of passage to consider how it showcases a human rights issue.

·         Offers opinions about the text rather than using textual evidence to justify its claims or statements.

·         Little or no organization.

·         Grammatical/mechanical issues obscure meaning.

·         Only a few elements are included that are required for completion of the assigment.

“F” Range

·         Is simply a summary or an opinion piece with no actual thesis.

·         Does not provide any textual details to connect with the chosen human rights issue.

·         An F will also be given if the piece is found to be in part or wholly plagiarized.

4. Final Project (20%)

Please note: To ensure there is a variety of topics and novels explored for final projects, you will need to sign up for which novel you wish to present on. There is a maximum of 6 projects per novel.

The final project will be an assignment that focuses on an authentic assessment. This means that you will look at the real-world applicability of what we have learned throughout the semester. To do this, final projects will focus on human rights issues from our novels that we see in the real world around us today.

You will need to do the following:

1. Summarize the key human rights issues in the novel chosen.
2. Give a run-down of specific domestic and international human rights laws that apply and how they are violated.
3. Find a similar situation in the real world that you can showcase as a case study. Compare and contrast with the novel and repeat steps 1 and 2 for the case study.
4. Outcomes in the novel vs. outcomes in real life. What are they? How do they differ?
5. What can and should be done to alleviate the human rights issue. Here, I want you to think both as a human rights activist and as a realistic policy maker. If money is involved, where does the money come from? If specific training is involved, who will do the training? What sort of training is required.  
6. Anything else you want to include.

 You may present your information as: 

• A series of infographics (e.g., using Venngage or Piktochart) 
• A video (e.g., using iMovie or Powtoon) 
• A series of comic strips (e.g., using Pixton) 
• A podcast  
• A traditional PowerPoint presentation (with voice narration)
• A traditional 8-10 page essay   

There is no specific word limit because it will vary wildly depending on the type of assignment you choose. Post your final product on Moodle under Final Project by December 10, 2020.