The document provides instructions for a take-home midterm paper assignment for a Global Issues course. Students must write a 4-6 page paper analyzing how three assigned course readings, "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin, "Planet or Plastic? We Made Plastic. We Depend on It. Now We’re Drowning In It." by Laura Parker, and A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, reflect perspectives on the concept of sustainability from differing viewpoints and possibilities for cooperation among those perspectives. The paper must be submitted by October 10, 2018 and will be evaluated based on content, writing ability, and a detailed grading rubric.

1. Univ 2002: Global Issues
Take-Home Midterm Paper Assignment
The assignment below will serve as the midterm exam for this
course. You will have one week to complete the assignment, and
there will be no opportunity for resubmission. Your completed
draft must be submitted through Webcampus by the assigned
due date: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 by 11:59 PM. Your
paper will be thoroughly evaluated for its content and your
writing ability. The paper’s length should meet the minimum of
four pages,but should not exceed six pages.Your paper must be
written in Times New Roman font (size 11), be double-spaced,
include an introduction and conclusion, include a title reflecting
the content of your paper, and follow the appropriate heading:
Your Name
UNIV 2002: Global Issues
Professor Stone
Take Home Midterm
Title
Paper Topic:
“Sustainability” may mean very different things from economic,
indigenous, environmental, cultural, or geopolitical perspectives
(among other possibilities). Consider how all the following
course readings reflect either (1) a conflict between differing
perspectives on sustainability and/or (2) an opportunity for
cooperation among differing perspectives on sustainability.
· ● “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le
Guin
· ● “Planet or Plastic? We Made Plastic. We Depend on It.
Now We’re Drowning In It.” by Laura Parker
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-
planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/
· ● A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
You must include textual evidence from the readings throughout
your analysis. All in-text citations should follow MLA format,

2. and all three works all must be cited using MLA format on your
Works Cited page. Your support for your argument should come
only from these three readings – there should be no other
outside research completed for this assignment.
TAKE HOME MIDTERM GRADING RUBRIC Student Name:
______________________________ Univ 2002: Global Issues
Criteria
10 Points
7 Points
5 Points
2 Points
Format and Organization
Research paper is double spaced, follows the appropriate
heading, includes a creative title that accurately demonstrates
content of paper; ideas are arranged logically and support the
purpose; ideas flow smoothly from one to another and are
clearly linked; reader can easily follow the line of reasoning
Research paper is double spaced, follows appropriate format,
includes a general title; ideas are arranged logically to support
purpose; ideas are usually clearly linked to each other; for the
most part, reader can follow the line of reasoning
Research paper is double-spaced, but is missing components in
the heading or does not include an appropriate title; the writing
contains some lapses in organization, occasionally ideas fail to
connect; the reader is somewhat clear about what the writer
intends
Research paper is single-spaced and is missing a title, heading
does not follow the required format; writing is not logically
organized, ideas fail to connect or make sense in the order
listed; the reader cannot identify the line of reasoning and loses
interest
Content
Balanced presentation of relevant and legitimate information
that clearly supports central purpose or argument and shows a

3. thoughtful, in-depth analysis of the assigned topic; reader gains
important insights
Information provides reasonable support for central purpose or
argument and displays evidence of a basic analysis of the
assigned topic; reader gains some insights
Information supports a central purpose of argument at times.
Analysis is basic or general; reader gains few insights
Central purpose or argument is not clearly identified. Analysis
is vague and general; reader is confused or misinformed, does
not gain insight on assigned topic
Purpose
The writer’s purpose or argument is readily apparent to the
reader and is effectively and thoroughly introduced to the reader
in the opening of the research paper; paper remains efficiently
focused on the stated purpose
The writer’s purpose or argument is apparent to the reader and
is introduced to the reader in the opening of the research paper;
paper often remains fixed on the stated purpose
The writer’s purpose or argument is somewhat apparent to the
reader; is introduced to the reader but does not appear in the
appropriate placer; paper strays at times from the stated purpose
The writer’s purpose or argument is unclear to the reader; paper
contains lapses in organization and content because it lacks a
purpose or point
Supportive Evidence and Examples
Supportive evidence is effective and exceptionally convincing,
relevant, and consistent in supporting the purpose or thesis of
the paper;
Supportive evidence is effective and mostly convincing,
relevant, and for the most part remains consistent in supporting
the purpose or thesis of the paper;
Supportive evidence is somewhat convincing, and relevant; for
the most part, consistency of examples does not remain
consistent
Supportive evidence is ineffective, unconvincing, and
irrelevant; paper lacks consistency and does not focus on the

4. purpose of thesis of the paper
Mechanics
Control of grammar, no lapses in language; paper is almost
entirely free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors
Paper may contain few lapses in language; may contain few
spelling, punctuation, and/or grammatical errors
Contains several errors in spelling, punctuation and/or grammar,
which distract the reader from the paper’s content
Paper contains so many mechanical errors that the paper cannot
be understood by the reader
Criteria
10 Points
7 Points
5 Points
2 Points
Sentence Structure and Word Choice
Sentences are clear, active, and to the point; sentences are well-
phrased, vary in length and structure, and flow smoothly from
one to another. Word choice is specific, purposeful, dynamic,
and varied; selection of words is consistently precise and
accurate
Sentences are mostly clear, active, and to the point; sentences
are well-phrased with some variety in length and structure, and
generally flow smoothly from one to another. Word choice is
specific and purposeful, and somewhat varied throughout paper;
selection of words is generally good, the writer goes beyond the
generic words to find those more precise and effective
Sentences are somewhat unclear, wordy, and awkwardly phrased
so the reader is occasionally confused or distracted; few
sentence are connected to one another. Word choice is often
unspecific, generic, redundant, and cliched; selection of words
is merely adequate, and the range of words used is limited;
some words are used inappropriately
Sentences are very unclear with several errors in sentence
structure; errors are frequent, becoming a major distraction to
the reader. Word choice is excessively redundant, cliched, and

5. unspecific; many words are used inappropriately, confusing the
reader
Parenthetical Citations
All outside information that is not commo n knowledge or the
author’s original thought is accurately cited using appropriate
MLA parenthetical citations; all citations are correctly placed
and punctuated.
Most of the outside information that is not common knowledge
or the author’s original thought is accurately cited using
appropriate MLA parenthetical citations; most citations are
correctly placed and punctuated, but one or two citations might
contain mistakes.
Most of the outside information that is not common knowledge
or the author’s original thought is inaccurately cited; most
citations are incorrectly placed and with mistakes in
punctuation. .
References are seldom cited to support statements.Author has
no understanding of MLA in-text citations.
Works Cited Page
All entries conform to MLA rules of formatting; citations are
correct in ordering, punctuation, include all necessary
information, appear in alphabetical order, and contain no
mistakes
Most entries conform to MLA rules of formatting; citations are
mostly correct in ordering, punctuation, include most of the
necessary information, appear in alphabetical order, but contain
a few mistakes
Entries contain frequent errors in MLA formatting; citations do
not follow proper order of information or are missing
components; citations do not appear in alphabetical order, and
contain several mistakes
Entries demonstrate a complete lack of MLA formatting, and
contains numerous errors that interfere with the reader’s
identification of use resources
Total Points Earned: ______________