In this assignment, you’ll read examples–submitted by real learners–of Writing Project #1: The Recipe Blog Post. Then, you’ll answer a series of questions about those examples. You can think of these Model Text Evaluations, then, as “calibration” activities, which will help you to get a better idea of the expectations for Writing Project #1. Keep in mind that none of these examples is perfect, and some do X well and some do Y well. Regardless of the example you choose, it should all help you to see some of the writerly moves that make for good blog posts and the ones that might not be as effective.

The Why
For Writing Project #1, you’ve been challenged with meeting certain project goals, or “Criteria for Quality.” The more closely and consistently you meet those criteria, the better your grade will be. In this (and all!) writing scenarios, it can be difficult to gauge whether a writing move is really meeting expectations. In other words: it’s hard to evaluate writing! So, in this assignment, we aim to help you practice doing so! Once you’ve completed this assignment, you should have a stronger sense of what writing moves make for a “quality” Recipe Blog Post.

Instructions
As you read these instructions, we recommend checking out this example of an excellent Model Text Evaluation (PDF version). It should help you make sense of what you’re being asked to do! (Note: this example comes from an earlier, slightly different version of the Writing Project #1 Model Text Evaluation.)
Review the Criteria for Quality and Rubric for Writing Project #1: The Recipe Blog Post. If you have questions about these materials, be sure to ask them in the Help Forum!
Writing Project #1 Criteria for Quality
Your Writing Project #1 will be evaluated based on how closely and consistently it meets the criteria below. In this Model Text Evaluation, pretend that you’re grading someone’s Recipe Blog Post. Determine whether and how the example texts meet these criteria:
Meaningful discussion of the recipe’s personal and broader significance
In your Preface, impress upon readers why the dish and/or its ingredients matter–to you, as well as in a broader cultural context. Ensure that this significance is explicitly and consistently expressed in the blog post.
Thoughtful incorporation of research
Draw upon clearly credible sources to support your claims about the dish (and/or its ingredients). When incorporating sources, your post should use language and in-text citations to clearly distinguish between your ideas and the ideas you learned from other sources. Sources are documented in a properly formatted (MLA or APA) Works Cited page, as well as in properly formatted in-text citations.
Clear recipe presentation
Your recipe should list all of the ingredients necessary to making your dish, as well as the appropriate measurements for each. Provide easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for preparing the dish. Instructions should showcase thoughtful consideration of a general audience’s familiarity with ingredients and cooking processes.
Effective integration of visual design principles
Your blog post should follow principles of visual design. Choices about color, contrast, space, and balance should be appropriate to the content of the blog post. They should enable readers to easily navigate the document. Images should be consistently illustrative, working to help readers more easily understand your Preface and/or recipe.
Purposeful, sensible, and easy-to-follow structure
Group topics into cohesive units and signal how ideas are related to each other (e.g., through topic sentences and transitional phrases).
Situationally appropriate language
In both Preface and recipe, word choice should be appropriate to a general audience. Write concisely and without undue repetition. Tone should be both informative and engaging.
Read the following examples of Writing Project #1: The Recipe Blog Post:
https://sites.google.com/aaecstudent.com/culturalfoodonaut/homeLinks to an external site.
PDF Version
https://bradleybreenrecipeblog.wordpress.com/Links to an external site.
PDF Version
In a word processing program such as Word, respond to the following questions about one or more of the example texts:
Which of Criteria for Quality do you think the example meets particularly well? Why?
Which of Criteria for Quality do you think the example doesn’t meet particularly well? Why? What concrete, feasible, and important changes would you recommend that the writer take to meet those criteria better?
What are your takeaways? After analyzing these examples, what specific writerly moves would you like to adopt (or even avoid!) in your own project? Why?

Criteria for Evaluation
Criteria for Quality
This assignment is graded for quality, meaning that it is all about doing your best work as a writer–showing how, when you’re trying your hardest, you can (using learning materials) meet a project goal. Thus, your grade will be based on how closely you meet the project goals. Those project goals are as follows:
Specific and relevant evidence from the examples
When you identify areas of strength, concern, and takeaway, root your answers in specific writerly moves from the examples.
Clear relationship between your analysis and the Writing Project rubric
When you explain that a writerly move is an area of strength, concern, or takeaway, root your judgment in the Writing Project rubric.
Concrete, feasible, and important revision recommendations
When noting where the draft could be revised to better meet the Criteria for Quality, make sure that your suggestion is concrete (a clear task), feasible (something the writer could do with minimal time/energy), and important (something that will have a significant impact on the draft)*
*In other words: you should suggest more than improvements to grammar/typos.
Criteria for Completion
While this assignment is graded for quality, it should still be complete. To be considered “complete,” your submission must . . .
answer all of the listed questions
be at least 500 words in length.