US-1 students have two evaluation choices. The default for all students is an end-of-term two-hour exam on course materials. Students passing the exam will receive the standard two ECTS credits for the course, with a number grade based on exam performance.

Optionaly, students may also write one short paper of roughly 3-5 HTML printout pages (see examples linked below) using the TRENPK5 paper template as a guideline to font face and size, margins, page length, and HTML coding. If completed on time and in the proper digital and citation format (see below), this optional paper will be worth two additional credits, with a resulting total of 4 ECTS credits for the course. The paper will also receive a number grade, and the final course grade for students who complete the paper will be based on an averaging of the grades for the exam and the paper.

Students wishing to write a paper should notify John and submit a completed Paper Approval Form.

Topics, Procedures and Grading for the [Optional] Paper

Papers may be written on a broad range of topics according to student choice, but should fall within one of two basic categories:

1. The first category would be a topic of the student's choice on basic differences between standard American and British English (the first course segment). Papers may be original projects, or expansions to papers produced by past students on different aspects of American English (see examples). Papers must be written using (A) MLA citation style and (B) the FAST [TRENPK5] standard paper layout, using manual HTML coding. In practice this means that first-year students selecting the paper option should also be taking TRENPK5 and TRENPK6 simultaneously with US-1. (Second-year ETRAN or FAST students should have taken PK5 and PK6 previously.)

2. The second category would be on a book of the student's choice which has been written by an American author (and published as an American edition). The paper should briefly summarize the book, and then identify and contrast selected 'Americanisms' — lexical items which indicate that the text is 'American', possibly including how these compare with British "equivalents" (see examples).

   Papers may also be written on periodical or web article(s) or comparisons of these or other published material as long as there is (a) adequate source material and (b) a focus on the identification and explication of 'Americanisms'.

3. Layout for all papers should follow the FIN-1/FAST Research Paper Layout Guidelines and be cited according to the MLA-modern style outlined in the Quick Guide to Citations and PK6 Citations Index.

4. Please read carefully the guidelines linked above before considering the paper option. The assumption for those writing papers, as noted above, is that they will either be currently taking or have already completed the TRENPK6 Academic Citation and Documentation course. NB: All papers must be written in the 3rd person as described in the Layout Guidelines.

Initial MS-Word Papers vs HTML Versions If Requested

1. Papers should be initially submitted as MS Word A4 printouts (printed on only one side of each sheet of paper). Basic evaluation will be given on this Word printout.

2. Papers which are exceptionally good may be requested for inclusion in the US-1 web archives. Therefore all papers must be available on request in the HTML format described above; this is the version that would be archived. Usually such papers will need minor revision, as marked on the Word printout initially submitted, and subsequently discussed with the student, after they have been initially graded and returned.

3. Where an HTML version is requested, the final paper grade will be based on the revised HTML version of the paper. If students are taking the TRENPK5 Digital Literacy course simultaneously with US-1, the paper could be used to satisfy the PK5 'paper requirement'.

'Baseline Fallback' For Students Who Choose the Paper Option

Occasionally, students who choose the additional paper option may be 'overcome by events' and are unable to complete the paper, or are unable to submit papers on request in the required digital format. In such cases students will receive a final grade for 2 ECTS credits based only on the ['baseline'] class exam.