Gradatorium: Final Papers - Introduction

This page is probably the part of the Gradatorium that you are most interested in perusing. After all, 201 culminates in the final research essay. We would be doing you a disservice in the Gradatorium if we didn't show you some of the work that students do in 201, and help you evaluate why it merits the grade it receives.

Resist the temptation to go right to the A paper! This is a good paper, but chances are good that you will actually learn more from the C and B papers because they do good things even as they exhibit weaknesses. The coupling of strengths and weaknesses brings the 201 paper skills into relief in ways that help students learn how to improve their own written work.

But do visit the A paper. You will immediately see that it isn't perfect. While an essay need not be flawless to merit an A in 201, it does need to be outstanding in important ways.

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