ENG110 – College Writing
Unit 2 Assignment: Supported Paragraph
Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday, of Unit 2 Points: 100
Overview: Read this article: Debate on Face Masks Divides Air-Travel Industry
• Gangitano, A. (2020, August 6). Debate on face masks divides air-travel industry. The Hill, https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/510791-debate-on-face-masks-divides- air-travel-industry
You will be creating one paragraph that answers the following question:
• Why or why not should passengers be required to wear a face mask on a plane?
You will write that paragraph in third person (he, she, they, one, it, people) and not use first (me, us, our, we, my, I) or second person (you, your). Most academic writing is done in third person rather than first or second person because the writing is more objective.
The key to this assignment is to make sure that the seven-to-nine sentence
paragraph you write only has one topic and includes evidence to support that
topic. Review the Citing Evidence interactive in this unit for information on how to
include a direct quote in your work. Your evidence should go in the middle of the
paragraph so that you can completely introduce it and explain how it supports
your topic. (See step-by-step instructions about creating a paragraph with
evidence.)
Instructions:
Answer the question above in one paragraph comprised of at least seven (7) to nine (9) sentences. You should use one direct quote from the article.
1. First, begin your paragraph with a clear topic sentence that states where you
stand on the question above.
2. Next, include supporting sentences that explain and prove your topic. Next, remember to not use the words “me,” “I,” “us,” “we,” “our,” “you,” and “your”.
3. Then, in the center of your paragraph, include a direct quote from the reading as
one piece of evidence to support your topic with an in-text citation that looks like this: (Gangitano, 2020, p. #).
4. Finally, comment on and explain the quotation and wrap up your paragraph with a concluding sentence.
Requirements:
• Please submit a Microsoft Word document or PDF.
• Include a title page, a proper font case per APA standards (Times New Roman 12 font is suggested), and a references page. The document should have 1-inch margins and should be double-spaced.
• The direct quote should be included within the center of the paragraph (as opposed to at the start or end).
• Use objective third-person language: “he,” “she,” “it,” “him,” “her,”
“himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “they,” “them,” “their,” “themselves.” (Avoid
subjective language such as “I,” “me,” “you,” “we,” “us,” etc.)
• The paragraph should be at least seven (7) sentences in length.
• Follow proper APA formatting when citing the quote and include the article’s
reference double-spaced on a reference page. For the reference page, simply label the last page of your document References and add this reference:
o Gangitano, A. (2020, August 6). Debate on face masks divides air- travel industry. The Hill, https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/510791-debate-on-face- masks-divides-air-travel-industry
• When using a reference, you indent after the first line of the reference (as seen above).
Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.
Evaluation Rubric for Supported Paragraph Assignment
CRITERIA Novice Emerging Competent Exemplary
Direct Quoting
(0–14 Points) (15–19 Points)
(20–22 Points)
(23–25 Points)
Direct quoting is not incorporated in the paragraph or does not relate to the topic of the paragraph. No in- text citations are used.
Direct quoting is attempted but is not incorporated in the paragraph correctly. In-text citations may not be included or may not be properly formatted.
Direct quoting is present in the paragraph and offers basic support to the topic of the paragraph. In-text citations include very few errors.
Direct quoting is present, is incorporated properly, and supports the topic of the paragraph. In-text citations are included and properly formatted.
Topic and Supporting Sentences
No topic sentence is used to focus the paragraph, and the overall paragraph does not have a clear topic, is not formatted as a paragraph, and includes no supporting sentences.
A topic sentence is attempted to focus the paragraph but is at times either too general or too specific. The paragraph itself sometimes gets off-topic and/or includes supporting sentences that do not relate to the topic.
A topic sentence is attempted to focus the paragraph and is generally well crafted. The paragraph itself sometimes gets off-topic and/or may include some supporting sentences that could relate better to the topic.
A topic sentence is attempted that effectively focuses the paragraph. The paragraph itself stays consistently on topic and includes supporting sentences that relate well to the topic.
Objective Voice
(0–11 Points) (12–15 Points)
(16–17 Points)
(18–20 Points)
The writer’s voice is not objective. First and second person are used consistently.
The writer’s voice is not always objective. Third person is used incorrectly, and first/second person is often used.
The writer’s voice is mostly objective, using third person and only occasionally slipping into first or second person.
The writer’s voice remains objective, using third person without slipping into first or second person.
Paragraph Length
(0–5 Points) (6–7 Points) (8 Points) (9–10 Points)
Paragraph is only one sentence.
Paragraph is between 2 and 4 sentences.
Paragraph is between 5 and 6 sentences.
Paragraph is at least 7 sentences in length.
CRITERIA Novice Emerging Competent Exemplary
APA Format APA format is not followed.
APA format is sometimes followed.
APA format is mostly followed.
APA format is followed.
Grammar and Mechanics
Writing is hard to understand because of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Word choice is inappropriate for an academic setting. Sentence structure is often unclear.
Writing is sometimes difficult to understand because of several errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Word choice is sometimes inappropriate for an academic setting. Sentence structure is sometimes unclear.
Writing is easy to understand despite minor errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Appropriate word choice is used for an academic setting. Sentence structure is mostly clear.
Writing is free of almost all punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors. Appropriate word choice is used for an academic setting. Sentence structure is clear.
