For the Exploratory Essay, you are tasked with exploring, analyzing and researching one of the texts that you’ve read in Professor Voisard’s section: Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, or Cinderella. Your goal is to inform your audience about the text based around research that will include any of the critical essays that you have also read for class. You should interpret, summarize, and synthesize ideas across your sources. You’ll want to keep this essay objective by omitting your opinion on the articles; you will have the opportunity to argue a position in your Researched Critical Analysis paper.
Things to keep in mind as you write your Exploratory Essay:
- You must use at least three sources that are relevant to your topic. One of these sources must be found through the CCNY library. You must also use one of the assigned articles from Kay Stone or Jack Zipes. Sources must be approved by the instructor.
- The goal of this essay is to inform your audience of a particular point—you do not need to devise an argument or persuade your audience of anything. Your goal is to gather information on the fairy tale so that you have a more informed opinion.
- It may be helpful to visit Chapter 12 of the Norton Field Guide, “Reporting Information” for guidelines about the exploratory essay.
Questions to ask yourself:
- Do you have a tightly focused topic? Have you kept your opinions out of the essay?
- Did you cite at least three sources on your subject? Did you cite properly according to MLA standards? Did you include a Works Cited page?
- Is your essay well organized and easy to follow?
- Did you define key terms or concepts?
- Did you design your essay appropriately?
- Does your essay have an engaging title?
- Have you proofread and edited your paper for grammatical and punctuation errors?
Your essay should be 3-4 pages long (750-1,000 words), not including your works cited page.
DUE: Thursday, October 1st.
Grading Criteria
90-100
- Has a clear and original topic
- Consistently shows evidence of deep thinking and engagement with the topic
- Reports information without making an argument
- Uses specific examples, sources, and analysis in every body paragraph
- Is well organized and synthesized
- Has clearly been proofread
- Uses three sources, one of which comes from a scholarly journal
- Proper MLA format
- Reflection demonstrates critical self assessment and understanding of audience and purpose
80-90
- Has a clear and original topic, but it may be slightly underdeveloped
- Reports information, but there may be some biases
- Often shows evidence of deep thinking and engagement with the topic
- Uses specific examples, sources, and analysis in almost every body paragraph
- Uses three sources
- Has been mostly proofread
- Proper MLA format
- Reflection demonstrates some critical self assessment and understanding of audience
70-80
- Has a vague or underdeveloped point of view
- Sometimes shows evidence of deep thinking and engagement with the topic
- Uses specific examples, sources, and analysis in some body paragraphs, though these may be underdeveloped
- Is mostly organized, but may have some synthesis issues
- Has not been proofread or has grammatical errors which impede understanding
- Some errors with MLA formatting
- Reflection does not demonstrate critical self assessment
60-70
- Has a vague or underdeveloped topic
- Shows limited engagement with the topic
- Has gaps in organization which are difficult to follow
- Has grammatical errors which impede understanding
- Incorrect MLA formatting
- Reflection does not demonstrate self-assessment or understanding of audience and purpose
