FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

GENERAL EDUCATION

Position Essay (Midterm

Summative Assessment)
Learning Objectives

Upon the submission and evaluation of the assessment, the student would have:

1. Exhibited the lessons learned through the creation of a position that will best
encapsulate the learning.

2. Produce an academic paper, albeit not necessarily of publishable material, but is

on par with the expectations of the university on Academic Integrity.

Outputs

1. Position Essay (Midterms)

The paper proposal would draw on concepts and skills learned during the first few weeks
of the semester.

The students should work in groups of 5 and would write a position essay on a
statement that they have picked from the provided list below:

 Unsound economic policies contribute to the widening gap between the rich and the poor.
 The economy is designed and structured to favor the elites and business tycoons.
 Infrastructure investments are not benefiting the poor or those in the grassroots. Instead,
they give more opportunities for private corporations to travel their goods and products
conveniently to the far-flung communities.
 Social services shouldn’t be seen as a marketable thing. They are rights everybody should
have access to.
 Transnational corporations shape global rules which also largely influence economic policies
of developing countries.
 Globalization intensifies capitalism, making more opportunities for private and transnational
corporations to control free market trade.
 While countries definitely have gains from globalization, there are still those who are on the
losing end. Individuals whose skills are no longer valued including those who are digitally
illiterate seem to have little to no gains from this global phenomenon.
 Economic policies mainly drive globalization. Thus, the degree of globalization is always a
political thing.

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GENERAL EDUCATION

Position Paper

5 4 3 2
Criteria Highly Proficient Approaching Needs Scor
Proficient Proficient Improvement e
Context The paper provided The paper Students provided Students did not
sufficient resources provided some resources provide any
for the background sufficient for the suitable resources
(15%) of the paper and resources for background and for the background
the argument of its the the argument of and the argument
thesis. These background of its thesis. These of its thesis. Prior
resources drawn the paper and resources were concepts on
on reputable the argument scarce and were academic research
academic journals of its thesis. not on par with need to be
and other similar However, academic journals reviewed.
resources. more and other similar
resources from resources.
reputable
academic
journals could
have been
used.
Organization The paper was The paper was The paper needs The paper is not
organized. Its organized. Its improvement on organized. Review
thesis statement, thesis organization. Its on prior concepts,
argument, and statement, parts were not including APA 7th
(20%) other parts were argument, and distinguished ed is needed.
written in a definite other parts properly and
sequence such that were clearly connected with
its parts are distinct distinguished. each other.
but are related to Their References also
each other. connection adhered to APA
References also could have 7th ed.
adhered to APA 7th been better
ed. established.
References
also adhered
to APA 7th ed.
Academic The paper The paper The paper The paper
Rigor contained a thesis contained a contained a thesis contained a thesis
and argument that thesis and and argument that and argument
prove to be argument that needs some wherein prior
(20%) relevant and prove to be improvement on concepts and skills
logically valid. It is academically its logical validity. throughout the
also unique for its relevant and Its academic course were
academic merit. All logically valid. relevance should absent.
facets of the paper also be better
were well- established.
supported.
Introduction Well-developed Introductory Introduction Thesis and/or
introductory paragraph states the thesis problem is vague or
paragraph contains contains some but does not unclear.
(Background detailed background adequately Background details

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GENERAL EDUCATION

, History, background information explain the are a seemingly

Definition of information, a clear and states the background of the random collection
explanation or problem, but problem. The of information,
the Problem, definition of the does not problem is stated, unclear, or not
Thesis problem, and a explain using but lacks detail. related to the topic.
Statement) thesis statement. details. States
the thesis of
(20%) the paper.

Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion does

summarizes the summarizes summarizes main not adequately
main topics without main topics. topics, but is summarize the
(Refutation/ repeating previous Some repetitive. No main points. No
Organization sentences; writer's suggestions suggestions for suggestions for
) opinions and for change are change and/or change or opinions
suggestions for evident. opinions are are included.
(15%) change are logical included.
and well thought
out.

Use of All source material All sources are All source Lacks sources
Sources is used and accurately material is used. and/or sources are
smoothly integrated documented, All sources are not accurately
into the text. All but many are accurately documented.
(Documentat sources are not in the documented, but Incorrect format is
ion, Context) accurately desired format a few are not in used. Sources are
documented and in on the Works the desired format not relevant nor
the desired format Cited page. on the Works reliable. Review on
on the Works Cited Some sources Cited page. Most prior concepts,
(5%) page. All sources are relevant sources are including APA
are relevant and and reliable. relevant and 7thed is needed.
reliable. References reliable. The students did
References also also adhered References also not provide any
adhered to APA to APA 7th ed. adhered to APA suitable resources
7thed. The The students 7thed. The for the background
students provided provided some students provided and the argument
sufficient resources resources for sufficient of its thesis. Prior
for the background the resources for the concepts on
of the paper and background background of the academic research
the argument of its and the paper and the need to be
thesis. argument of its argument of its reviewed.
thesis. thesis.

Mechanics Punctuation and Sentence Work contains Work contains

capitalization are structure is structural multiple incorrect
correct. generally weaknesses and sentence
(Punctuation correct. Some grammatical structures. There
and awkward errors. There are are four or more
Capitalizatio sentences do three or four errors in
n) appear. There errors in punctuation and/or
are one or two punctuation capitalization.
errors in and/or
(5%) punctuation capitalization.

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FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY
GENERAL EDUCATION

and/or
capitalization.