POL 357 Guidelines for “Thank You
for Smoking” Paper

(Due: To Be Announced --
Get the class handout)
       


Topic: "To what degree does Christopher Buckley's fictional slice-of-life account of Academy of Tobacco Studies' lobbyist Nick Naylor provide an accurate portrayal of lobbying in America?  In what ways does it provide an inaccurate picture of lobbying and lobbyists?  Be specific (use material in the course -- lectures, texts, and readings -- and in the novel) in discussing how accurate (realistic/unrealistic?) or inaccurate you think the novel portrays the job of a lobbyist and the politics of lobbying.  What could a reader learn about real world lobbyists and lobbying from reading the novel?  Does the novel have pedagogical, i.e., educational, value for students of political science?"

The paper should be a coherently organized, well-thought out, clearly expressed analysis about the questions listed above.  Your paper is expected to be about seven to ten pages, one-and-an-half or double-spaced, typewritten on standard weight paper (not onion-skin!) with standard margins (about an inch) all around.  In addition, please include a cover page with a paper title, your name and student identification number, and staple the pages together.  Number your pages starting with the first page of text.

The paper must be the product of your own work.  That is, you must not collaborate with nor borrow from others in the writing of your paper.  Plagiarism, i.e., "to pass as one's own the ideas or words of another" is a serious offense and may result in dismissal from the class.  The writing must be your own work.  Be certain to supply accurate documentation when you use the words or ideas of another person or source, i.e., quoted material must be attributed to its author.  Use the in-text short citation form: (Berry and Wilcox, 2009, 100), (Buckley, 1994, 168), (Brown, POL 357 class, November 6, 2008).  For example the text in the body of a paper would read:

Business has an advantage “in being able to purchase multiple forms of representation” (Berry and Wilcox, 2009, 180).

See the Falk, Grizzard, and McDonald article in the Copy Pack/E-Reserves for an example of a manuscript that uses the in-text short citation format.  Also include a references-cited page at the end of your paper.

Your writing should be clear and interesting; a high-level of competency is expected in terms of grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence structure.  A good paper will normally require more than one draft to get into proper shape.  A paper that just strings together a bunch of quotes is not a good paper; a good paper is one primarily composed of your own words and thoughts.  In your writing, always elaborate in sufficient detail so that I can clearly understand your concerns and arguments.  Conclusions, opinions, et cetera, should always be supported by appropriate evidence.

The paper is due TBA at the start of class.  Late papers will be penalized one letter grade for each day tardy, as stipulated in the syllabus.

If you have questions or concerns about the assignment, please ask.

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Grading Guidelines

"A" (Excellent): highest level of work/outstanding achievement
  --consistent, high level of performance
  --states and develops a thesis with original insight and vigor
  --utilizes appropriate material from the novel and the course (texts, readings, lectures, etc.)
  --full and complete answers to the questions in the assignment
  --stress on specific information and concrete examples
  --ideas are logically developed in well chosen words and phrases
  --displays mastery of basic grammar
  --complies with mechanical instructions contained in the paper assignment

"B" (Good): above average/evidence of concerted effort and good grasp of the material
  --states a thesis clearly and develops it logically and adequately
  --uneven quality of work in the paper (most parts good; some parts not so good)
  --some good, but not enough utilization of novel and course materials (see above)
  --some good, but not enough utilization of specific information and examples
  --good answers to most aspects of the assignment
  --complies with most mechanical instructions contained in the paper assignment

"C" (Satisfactory): acceptable/modest quality & effort/some grasp of material/little critical reflection
  --insufficient time and effort given to the assignment
  --central ideas presented, but not developed
  --inadequate/insufficient use of material from Buckley and the course (see above)
  --some work missing, e.g., some questions unanswered
  --vague statements/little support for points of view expressed
  --some errors in mechanics
  --lacks imagination, vigor, and clarity of thought and expression

"D" (Poor): poor overall quality/little or no engagement with the material
  --little awareness of assigned readings displayed
  --rushed, "last minute" quality/obvious that a rewrite was needed/failure to proofread
  --evidence of knowing the film, but not the Buckley novel
  --incomplete answers to questions/work missing
  --below average achievement in expression and developing ideas
  --thesis is unclear or supported illogically or inconsistently
  --errors of fact, interpretation and analysis
  --repeated, serious grammatical errors

"F" (Failure): unacceptable level of performance/fails to respond appropriately to the assignment
  --no awareness of the assigned readings
  --fails to express and/or support a thesis
  --complete failure to deal with the assigned questions
  --evidence of plagiarism or copying
  --serious errors of fact, interpretation and analysis
  --serious, repeated errors in grammar, spelling, and sentence structure
  --failure to comply with mechanical instructions contained in the paper assignment