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ENG110 – College Writing

Unit 2 Assignment: Supported Paragraph

Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 2
Points: 100

Overview:

In an essay, evidence is either summarized, paraphrased, or quoted. Though
having opinions and our own ideas on subjects is essential, the key to proving a
point is the evidence we use to support that point. In this assignment, you will be
creating one paragraph in which you respond to a question with evidence and
practice writing in the third-person perspective. The key to this assignment is to
make sure that the paragraph you write only has one topic and includes evidence
to back up that topic.

Instructions:

Read Chapter 37.2: Reynard Loki, “Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?” Then, answer the
following question with supporting evidence in one paragraph comprised of at least
seven (7) sentences:

What is the link that you see between cell phones and health-related issues?

1. First, begin your paragraph with a clear topic sentence that states what the
paragraph is about.

2. Next, include supporting sentences that explain and prove your topic.

3. Then, in the center of your paragraph, include a direct quote from the reading as
one piece of evidence to support your topic.

4. Finally, comment on and explain the quotation and wrap up your paragraph with
a concluding sentence.

Requirements:

• Include a title page and running header.

• 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 “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 reference.

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 Direct quoting Direct quoting is Direct quoting is
not incorporated in is attempted present in the present,
the paragraph or but is not paragraph and incorporated
does not relate to incorporated in offers basic properly, and
the topic of the the paragraph support to the supports the topic
paragraph. No in- correctly. In-text topic of the of the paragraph.
text citations are citations may not paragraph. In-text citations
used. be included or

may not be
properly
formatted.

In-text citations
include very
few errors.

are included and
properly
formatted.

Topic and No topic sentence A topic sentence A topic sentence A topic sentence
Supporting is used to focus is attempted to is attempted to is attempted that
Sentences the paragraph,

and the overall
paragraph does
not have a clear
topic, is not
formatted as a
paragraph, and
includes no
supporting
sentences.

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.

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.

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 The writer’s The writer’s The writer’s
is not objective. voice is not voice is mostly voice remains
First and second- always objective. objective, using objective, using
person are used Third-person is third-person and third-person
consistently. used incorrectly,

and first/second-
person is often
used.

only occasionally
slipping into first
or second-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 to 4
sentences.

Paragraph is
between 5 to 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 Writing is hard to Writing is Writing is easy to Writing is free of
Mechanics understand

because of errors
in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation.
Word choice is
inappropriate for
an academic
setting. Sentence
structure is often
unclear.

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.

understand
despite minor
errors in
punctuation,
spelling, and
grammar.
Appropriate
word choice is
used for an
academic setting.
Sentence
structure is
mostly clear.

almost all
punctuation,
spelling, and
grammar errors.
Appropriate word
choice is used for
an academic
setting. Sentence
structure is clear.