Problem/Opportunity Statement
Objective:
Students are expected to capture the problems/opportunities associated with the case study, presented in lecture, in a one-page statement.
This paper is to be written as if the students were on the staff of a senator/congressional representative. Students are asked to thoroughly, yet concisely, describe the problems/opportunities (biological concerns that suggest the need for establishing a public policy) associated with the case study. The paper should present a balanced view of the problems/opportunities the case presents. It should include a brief description of the history, current status, and consequences of inaction with regards to the topic. The information provided must be accurate and demonstrate an understanding of the issues and terminology. As a reminder, your audience is not a scientist, but demands correct information. A senator's time (and attention span) is very limited, so you must capture her/his attention with concise writing.
The paper should exhibit a logical flow of information. The opening paragraph should establish a clearly focused controlling idea, indicating the intended direction of the paper. Every paragraph should begin with a sentence that either suggests the topic of the paragraph or provides a smooth transition. Meanderings and unnecessary repetitions should be eliminated.
The papers will be graded on the following criteria:
Content (50%):
- Excellent: Addresses the assignment thoughtfully and with clear focus, displays awareness of and purpose in communicating to audience, completely describes problems/opportunities in a compelling way, details the history, current situation, and consequences, appropriate use of terms (45–50%).
- Strong: Addresses the assignment clearly and analytically, addresses audience needs and expectations, completely describes the problems/opportunities, details current situation and history, appropriate use of terms (39–44%).
- Adequate: Addresses the assignment with some analysis, addresses most audience needs, describes most aspects of problems/opportunities, covers current situation and history, uses appropriate terms (33–38%).
- Flawed: Addresses the assignment inadequately, shows insufficient audience awareness, lacks reasonable explanation of the problems/opportunities, does not develop current situation or history, incorrectly uses technical terms (26–32%).
- Deficient: Fails to address the assignment, demonstrates lack of audience awareness, focuses on inappropriate problems/opportunities, lacks current status or history, disregard for appropriate jargon or incorrect use of terms (0–25%).
Organization (30%):
- Excellent: Demonstrates sophisticated organization, first paragraph establishes a clearly focused controlling theme, makes effective connections between paragraphs, message is concise (28–30%).
- Strong: Demonstrates clear and coherent organization, first paragraph establishes a clearly focused controlling idea, flow exists between paragraphs, no unnecessary repetitions (23–27%).
- Adequate: Demonstrates adequate organization, first paragraph establishes a theme, paragraphs function together, minimal meandering (19–22%).
- Flawed: Displays random or confusing organization, strays from controlling idea or lacks clear direction, paragraphs lack relation, meandering or repetition present (13–18%).
- Deficient: Lacks organization or organizes illogically, lacks a controlling idea, no paragraphs or paragraphs unrelated, includes excessive repetition or meandering (0–12%).
Surface Correctness/Physical Layout (10%):
- Excellent: Displays superior, consistent syntax, sentence variety, word choice (3 or less grammatical mistakes), physical layout (font, spacing, margins) is clean and easy to read (10%).
- Strong: Displays coherent syntax, sentence variety, word choice (fewer than 6 grammatical mistakes), physical layout is clean and easy to read (8–9%).
- Adequate: Displays adequate syntax, sentence variety, word choice (fewer than 7 grammatical mistakes), paper readable but physical layout is unacceptable (6–7%).
- Flawed: Displays inadequate syntax, sentence variety, word choice (more than 8 grammatical mistakes), errors or physical layout impede understanding, inadequate proof-reading (4–5%).
- Deficient: Lacks syntax, sentence variety, inappropriate word choice, excessive grammatical errors rendering paper essentially unreadable, lack of proof-reading (0–3%).
Task (10%):
- Excellent: Paper is on topic, 1 page in length, focuses on objectives (10%).
- Strong: Paper is on topic, 1 page in length or slightly longer, stays focused (8–9%).
- Adequate: Paper is on topic, roughly one page in length, maintains focus (6–7%).
- Flawed: Paper is on topic, length or focus may be inappropriate (4–5%).
- Deficient: Paper misses the topic, length or focus unacceptable (0–3%).
