Administration of Justice Writing Guide

Dr. Cynthia Lum

1. What are your primary concerns when reading and grading CLS papers?

That students are critically examining the subject matter. I am interested in whether they are making the connections between readings, lectures, and application of those readings and lectures to a particular question.

2. What is the most important advice you give to students on their papers?

Organization, write in a straightforward manner, independent thought. For my graduate students, I need to see evidence of independent thought and "gems" (points they make to show they made a connection between something learned in class or a reading, and an application in research or policy).

3. What do you find students struggle with the most?

Undergraduate students tend to give their opinions, rather than write statements that are informed by scientific fact. They are conversational in their writing and base their assertions and conclusions on personal experience, rather than information, research, and science.

4. What aspects of a strong CLS paper do you value most?

Evidence of independent, critical thought.

5. Do you focus most on content, style, or structure?

Content

Dr. Danielle Rudes

1. What are your primary concerns when reading and grading CLS papers?

Independent thought; synthesizing material/theories and adding your own argument to the academic conversation; logical argument; organization

2. What is the most important advice you give to students on their papers?

Prepare, outline, and start early; edit/revise; build your paper through stages; talk to your professor; read syllabus/prompt carefully, and talk to your professor if you don't understand it; use your classmates for help

3. What do you find students struggle with the most?

Independent thought; joining the academic conversation; analyzing by answering the "how" and "why" questions

4. What aspects of a strong CLS paper do you value most?

Independent thought; quality of research (ie: using academic sources—not popular ones)

5. Do you focus most on content, style, or structure?

Critical thinking/Independent thought

6. What is your writing strategy?

If you are more comfortable with speaking and presenting than you are with writing, you could begin by creating a powerpoint presentation that answers the prompt—it serves as a useful outlining device.

Dr. Jon Gould

1. What are your primary concerns when reading and grading CLS papers?

Basic grammar; argumentative writing; many students can only do descriptive writing

2. What is the most important advice you give to students on their papers?

Analyze and explain—if you can't do this, then you don't understand the topic. Follow this guide: PEAR. Present a position, Explain, present Alternatives, Respond

3. What do you find students struggle with the most?

Grammar (ie: Subject-Verb agreement); argumentative writing

4. What aspects of a strong CLS paper do you value most?

Clearly stated position; limited description/background information; working well with concepts.

5. Do you focus most on content, style, or structure?

I grade on grammar; If the writing gets in the way of the substance … the grade will be deducted

Dr. James Willis

1.What are your primary concerns when reading and grading CLS papers?

Making logical arguments; being able to analyze and synthesize

2. What is the most important advice you give to students on their papers?

Writing is hard work; it takes time and effort. "It's the same as going to the gym and working out in order to get stronger; you become a good writer by doing."

3. What do you find students struggle with the most?

Showing how they think—they don't make their thought process explicit

4. What aspects of a strong CLS paper do you value most?

Logic of thought; use of evidence/support

5.Do you focus most on content, style, or structure?

1. Structure; 2. Content; 3. Style

6. How do you approach grading?

I give writing points for transitions…Even if the transition is weak, it's better than not having one. Tips on how to be an independent thinker: "Students think they need to find something new, but that's not the case. They can show their own way of thinking by the questions they choose to ask and the answers they come up with."

7. What is your Writing Strategy?

Write in sections—piece by piece—by asking questions about your topic that genuinely interest you, questions you don't already know the answers to. For instance, if you were writing a paper on how to teach a course on the theories of justice, you might begin by asking "why is the course important?" and "what do we already know about how it's taught?" and "what are some ways to teach it?" Answering these questions with appropriate evidence and sources will help the paper take shape.

Dr. Lisa Newmark

1. How do you approach grading?

My primary concern in grading in the IT Ethics course is that students follow the instructions and do what they're supposed to do. Their work must show that they understand the basic concepts behind the assignment.

2. What advice would you give students?

My advice is to read the instructions so you understand what you are supposed to do, and ask questions about anything that's unclear. To make sure your writing is clear and makes sense, students should read a draft out loud to themselves, then correct mistakes and awkward wording.

3. What do you look for in papers?

I want to see papers that show serious intent, a thoughtful approach, and understanding of the paper requirements and purpose or concept behind the assignment.

4. What do you focus on when grading?

I focus mostly on content and structure, not so much on style or appearance (as long as it's readable).

5. Anything else you would like to add?

I think the biggest obstacle is taking assignments seriously and doing the background work, so that they understand what the assignment requires and they take the necessary steps.

Dr. Shannon Portillo