Research Essay, Draft (Homelessness)

Can you help me understand this English question?

For the research paper on homelessness It is not expected that you have a polished work, but it is expected that you present an earnest effort for a draft. Aim for 3.5 full pages with four entries for an annotated bibliography. Include basic in text citations to avoid confusion for you reader and ensure academic integrity later on.

Intro and Thesis: Intro is relevant to prompt, displays thoughtful, well-expressed word choice, and is grammatically correct. The thesis sets up a discussion that is arguable, rather than factual, and is broad enough that it could support an essay. Opening also includes intro to text, author and characters the essay will focus on.

Development/Analysis: Essay deepens as it progresses through author’s voice, well-chosen language, and thorough analysis of source material. Essay reflects independent thought grounded in the essay topic, class discussion and close reading. Essay is grounded in a discussion of the novel and outside sources meaningful advance and support the discussion/argument rather than feeling tacked on.

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSource Integration/MLA format: Essay includes well-chosen quotes, paraphrase and summary that are cited. Source material supports the thesis and further develops and deepens the essay discussion. Outside sources are introduced in the essay with two of the following: author’s name, publication and title of work. MLA in-text citations and works cited page are present and correctly formatted for type of source. All sources are contextualized and integrated in MLA style using signal phrases and citations. Required outside sources are included. (hint: see Purdue Owl online or Writer’s Reference of help with using and citing sources in research essays.)

Organization: Topic sentences support thesis and provide a sense of the paragraph’s focus; Possesses well-constructed paragraphs that fuel the argument; appropriate, clear, and smooth transitions; organization serves essay effectively.

Writing Quality: Ideas are expressed in clear, succinct and varied word choice. Sentences are free from major grammatical errors. Language heightens and supports content. Proofreading is evident.