Essay ENG 130: Research Essay: Who is Harper Lee and how is her life reflected in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Essay ENG 130: Research Essay
This assignment focuses on your ability to: evaluate researched source materials to be academic, valid, and reliable; to incorporate research fluidly into an essay format; to cite researched information properly in APA format.
The purpose of completing this assignment is: learning how to research valid and reliable sources is an important lifelong skill for school, career, and personal life. You will need to know how to synthesize researched information and present it effectively. As a student of Post, please be sure you use this assignment to solidify your mastery of APA text citations. Ask your instructor questions!

Prompt (what you are writing about):
Who is Harper Lee and how is her life reflected in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Instructions (How to get it done):
• Log in to the library database and search for information on Harper Lee’s biography and the history of To Kill a Mockingbird.
• You must have at least two outside sources (does not include TKA Mockingbird) that are academic and reliable.
• Create an essay that is at least two pages and relates the following information:
o Information on who is author Harper Lee
o How is her life reflected in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Be sure to avoid plagiarism and put the researched information in to your own words. Do not cut and paste!
• Note: This is a research essay and not an argumentative essay. The skills reflected are to find academic and reliable sources and use them in a research-based essay.
Requirements:
• Length and format: at least 2-3 pages.
• The title page and reference page are also required, but they should not be factored into the 2-3 page length of the essay.
• Essay should conform to APA formatting and citation style.
• Use the third-person, objective voice, avoiding personal pronouns such as “I,” “you,” “we,” etc.
• Create a properly formatted APA reference page.
• Use APA format for in-text citations and reference citations for To Kill a Mockingbird and outside sources.
• Please be cautious about plagiarism. Make sure to use in-text citations for direct quotes, paraphrases, and new information.
Research Essay Rubric
Does Not Meet Expectations
0-11
Below Expectations
12-13
Needs Improvement
14-15
Satisfactory
16-17
Meets Expectations
18-20
Organization Many details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper does not use paragraphs. Writing may have little discernible organization, but some details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper uses paragraphs ineffectively. Writing has adequate discernible organization. Paragraphs are generally used effectively. Writing is organized and details are placed in a logical order. Paragraphs are mostly used effectively. Writing is effective, purposeful, and well-organized. Paragraphs are used effectively.
Choice of Academic Sources Student does not include outside sources. Student has sources but they are not academic and reliable. Evidence may or may not relate to the correct topic of the essay. Student chooses one outside source that is academic and reliable. Some of the evidence supports the correct topic of the essay. Student chooses at least two outside sources that are academic. Most of the evidence supports the correct topic of the essay. Student chooses at least two outside sources that are academic and reliable. All evidence supports the correct topic of the essay.
Integration of Research Does not include researched evidence and/or text support is not cited.
Minimal researched evidence is used and/or has many errors in citation formatting. Researched evidence is used from one outside source and/or citation formatting has some errors. Researched evidence is used from two outside sources and/or citation formatting has some errors. Researched evidence is insightfully integrated from at least two outside sources AND is properly cited.
Grammar and Mechanics
Grammar and mechanics’ errors make the essay incomprehensible.
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics errors occur throughout document. Word choices are seldom academic. Sentence structure may be illogical or unclear.
Several errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling and mechanics present. Word choice reveals some understanding of academic language requirements. Many sentence structure issues exist.
Some spelling, grammar, punctuation and mechanical errors are evident. Academic language is upheld. The sentence structure is often logical and clear so that relationships among ideas are established.
Free of punctuation, spelling, grammar, and other mechanical errors. Consistent use of academic word choices. Sentence structure is mostly logical and clear.
0-3
4-6
7-7
8-8
9-10 Title Page APA 7th edition formatting
Student does not provide a title page
Student has multiple formatting errors in the title page OR uses the APA 6th edition title page.
Student has three to four formatting errors in the APA 7th edition title page.
Student has one to two formatting error in the APA 7th edition title page.
Student uses a correctly formatted APA 7th edition title page. Reference Citation/Page APA 7th edition formatting
Student does not provide a reference page.
Student has multiple formatting errors in the
Student has three to four formatting errors in the APA 7th edition
Student has one to two formatting errors in the APA 7th edition
Student uses correctly formatted APA 7th edition reference citations
reference citations/page.
reference citations/page.
reference citations and references page.
and reference page.