research an environmental issue (such as the Kyoto Treaty, smog, or another topic discussed with your instructor) and write a feature article about the issue.
The article should be between 375 and 450 words long.
It should describe the problem.
It should explain what's currently being done (if anything) to solve the problem.
It should contain current and relevant statistics and quotations.
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Excellent
(41 – 50 points) Good
(31 – 40 points) Fair
(21 – 30 points) Needs work
(20 and fewer points)
Angle and purpose 15 points maximum: The purpose of the article is clear. The reader is left with a solid understanding of the topic. 12 points maximum: The purpose of the article is mostly clear. The reader is left with a pretty clear understanding of the topic. 9 points maximum: The purpose of the article is not quite clear. The reader doesn't get a solid understanding of the topic. 6 points maximum: The article does not establish a clear purpose.
Research and sources 15 points maximum: At least five sources are used and cited throughout. 12 points maximum: Three to five sources are used and cited. 9 points maximum: Only one or two sources are used and may not be cited accurately. 6 points maximum: It appears that no sources were consulted.
Interest 10 points maximum: The article contains facts, figures, and word choices that make it exceptionally interesting to readers. 8 points maximum: The article contains facts, figures, and word choices that make it fairly interesting to readers. 6 points maximum: The article contains some facts or figures but is only marginally interesting to read. 4 points maximum: The article does not contain facts, figures, or word choices that make it interesting to read.
Writing mechanics 10 points maximum: There are no spelling or grammar errors. 8 points maximum: There are very few spelling or grammar errors. 6 points maximum: There are various spelling and grammar errors throughout. 4 points maximum: There are a lot of spelling or grammar errors.