Plagiarism Warning

So far I've had to remove the three posts submitted because of plagiarism.  Because I do not want to be sued by the owner of the original content, I highly suggest your work be original.  Do not look for short cuts.  Remember, if you can find it on the internet, so can I.

Also, remember that you have been in a classroom with your teachers for almost 180 days.  We know how well you write, and we know your style.  Here are some obvious clues of plagiarism for your teachers:

• You receive consistent 2s or 3s, yet suddenly, your writing is a 9.  Hmmmm....
• Your using words your own English teacher doesn't use.  Hmmmm....
• Your post makes no sense because you cut and pasted so many parts of another source that it is now nonsensical.  Hmmmm....
• You suddenly read a whole book in three days, yet you have never read any previously assigned  book this year in it's entirety.   Hmmmm....
• You failed the Preface/Ch 1-3 quiz on Friday with a 23, yet all of a sudden, you've read the entire book, understand every part, and are now writing like a published scholar.  Hmmmm....

There are more, but those are the most obvious signs of plagiarism/cheating.

According to Alief AUP, plagiarism carries the penalty of a 0.  That means if you submit it and I catch you, you will not receive credit for the assignment.  If you don't receive credit, your grade book shows missing work.  If your grade book shows missing work, you will not receive extra credit and your waiver/exemptions will be null and void.  Oh, and there are no rewrites for quiz grades, so it's impossible to make up this missing assignment.  Don't make a poor decision. 

Please remember you are smart enough to analyze and evaluate the book for yourself.  Just keep reading until you find a passage that you understand and can analyze.  I do not want to see any outside sources.  Period.

In case you need a reminder for what plagiarism is, here is a helpful link from the OWL at Purdue University. 

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/2/

Thanks, Ms. Tuttle

General Posts Rubric

General Writing Rubric

Explanation of Scores

8-9 The post answers all parts of the question completely, using specific evidence from the work and showing how that evidence is relevant to the point being made. The post demonstratesstylistic maturity through an effective command of sentence structure, diction and organization. It need not be without flaws, but must reveal an ability to choose from and control a wide range of the elements of effective writing.

6-7 The post also accurately answers all parts of the question, but does so less fully or effectively than posts in the top range. Discussion of techniques used in a passage may be less thorough and less specific. Post is well-written in an appropriate style, but with less maturity than top posts. Some lapses with diction or syntax may appear, but demonstrates sufficient control over the elements of composition to present the writer's ideas efficiently.

5 The post discuses the question, but may be simplisticor imprecise. May attempt to discuss the techniques of the passage, but may be overly general or vague. Adequately written, but may demonstrate inconsistent control over the elements of composition. Organization is attempted, but may not be fully realized or particularly effective.

3-4 The post attempts to answer the question, but does so either inaccurately or without the support of specific evidence. May confuse the topic presented in the passage or otherwise misrepresent the passage. Discussion of techniques may be omitted or inaccurate. Writing may convey the reader's ideas, but reveals weak control over syntax, diction, or organization. May contain many spelling or grammatical errors. Statements are seldom supported with specific or persuasive evidence.

1-2 The post fails to respond adequately to the question. The post may misunderstand the question (or the passage). May fail to discuss the techniques used or otherwise fail to respond adequately to the question. The paper is unacceptably brief or poorly written on several counts. Writing reveals consistent weakness in grammar or basic other basic elements of composition. Although may make some attempt to answer the question, response has little clarity and only slight, if any, evidence in its support.

0 A post that makes no attempt to deal with the question receives no credit.

9-50 points of blog,8-45, 7-40, 6-35, 5-30, 4-25, 3-20, 2-15, 1-10, 0-5, no blog-0

Blog Topic #3

What makes Jay Gatsby so great?   

Do not summarize the plot or action. Be sure your answer includes evidence and thorough explanantion. See grading scale for more information.

Blog Topic #2

Many works of literature deal with political or social issues.  Analyze how F. Scott Fitzgerald uses elements of style (literary elements) to explore the issue of the decline of the American Dream. 

Do not summarize the plot or action.  Be sure your answer includes evidence and thorough explanantion. See grading scale for more information.

Blog Topic #1

How does F. Scott Fitzgerald use plot structure or organization to contribute to meaning (theme)? 

Do not summarize the plot or action.   Be sure your answer includes evidence and thorough explanantion.  See grading scale for more information.

Model Blog - Diction and POV analysis

Fitzgerald creates a 1^st person narrator with Nick Carraway, who appears to be an objective and nonjudgmental speaker.  He is thoughtful since he ponders the advice of his father, observant and warm because he recounts how others attach themselves to him, yet slow to react in the face of confrontation.  When he states, “I was unjustly accused of being a politician,” (5) two implications exist.  One, politicians are comparable to other derogatory names; no one wants to be accused of being a politician any more than a person would want to be called a "jerk."  Secondly, politicians connote dishonest and manipulative characteristics.  Often we do not trust politicians, and the reader must note the significance in terms of Nick as the narrator.  A primary focus for this novel is whether or not Nick will be a trustworthy narrator, keeping in mind the fact that this accusation was “unjust.”  Through a close analysis of the speaker and point of view from the onset of the novel, the audience might predict a possible theme in The Great Gatsby, which is initial appearances can be deceiving.  Superficiality seems a normal part of the upper class society and Fitzgerald clearly finds such attitudes distasteful.