write a 500-word illustration essay about a topic of your choice. Your essay will be graded on its ability to adhere to illustration essay conventions. Does your essay assert some serious
problem or point that needs to be illustrated? Does the essay present an illustration that clarifies the main point or your
position on the problem? Does the conclusion connect to the opening?
You will be graded using the following categories: content, organization, grammar and style conventions, resources,
references, and APA formatting. Your essay will also be graded on its development. See the flow chart on page 77 in
Strategies for Writing Successful Research Papers for guidance. Be sure that you revise, proofread, and format your
essay according to APA standards. See The CSU Citation Guide. If you use outside sources, you need to use quotation
marks for lifted language, as well as in-text and reference list citations. The APA organization/formatting should adhere to
specifications for research papers, including the following:
A title page that includes the title of the paper, the name of the student, and the name of the institution (Columbia
Southern University);
A proper running head according to APA 6th edition guidelines found in The CSU Citation Guide on pp. 13-14;
One (1) academically valid source (see p. 18 of The CSU Citation Guide for assistance with finding sources
through the CSU Online Library)
A reference page with a centered header of “References” properly reflecting all sources used within the text (see
The CSU Citation Guide, p. 16 for overall formatting guidelines and pp. 7-12 for formatting guidelines for specific
source types).
The most reliable sources for appropriate information on the Internet will come from .gov, .edu, and .org sites or sites
specifically devoted to scholarly writing, such as websites of scientific journals. Unacceptable sources are blogs,
unreferenced articles, or general information from .com sites. General encyclopedias are prohibited sources and include,
but are not limited to, Wikipedia, Encarta, Britannica, and World Book. Please utilize the CSU Online Library for credible
and reliable electronic sources. If your essay is less than 500 words, you will not receive full credit, and depending on the
word count, your grade may be severely impacted.
