Coms 200 course paper 1

COM 200 Winter 2026 Course Paper 1 Prompts and Grading Rubrics

This document contains following sections. Please read all sections carefully.

1. Course Paper Length and Due Date
2. Course Paper Submission Policies
3. Writing, Citation, and Referencing Policies
4. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policies
5. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Model Policy
6. Grading and Grade Appeal Policy
7. A Sample Response
8. Course Paper 1 – Seven Prompts and Grading Rubrics.

1. Course Paper Length and Due Date

• There are two course papers throughout the quarter.
• Each paper poses SEVEN specific questions/prompts.
• From these, you will respond to FIVE prompts.
• Each response should be between 450 and 600 words, though the exact length may vary depending on the specifics of the prompt.
• Use your word count judiciously. You may exceed the maximum word count by up to 10 percent if you must, but no more than that; we will stop reading beyond this limit and no extra credit will be given.
• Do not go below the minimum word count. Responses below the minimum word count will be graded on a reduced scale proportional to the shortfall. For instance, a response that is 50 percent below the minimum word count (for example, 225 words instead of 450) will be graded out of 2.5 points instead of 5.
• Each question includes a customized and detailed rubric for scoring. We will use this rubric for grading your paper.
• Please read these grading criteria before you start writing so that you know exactly what is being asked of your answer.
• Furthermore, read the following policies carefully and make sure to follow them throughout the assignment.

Course Paper due dates:

• Paper 1, Friday, 2/6, 11:59 PM
• Paper 2: Wednesday, March 11, 11:59 PM

2. Course Paper Submission Policies — Read Carefully

A. Late Penalty and Extension Policies

Late penalty. The late penalty is a 10% deduction per day, up to two days, after which a zero will be applied. Keep in mind that the Canvas system applies the late penalty automatically and considers any submission from 0.1 minute to 23 hours and 59.00 minutes late as a full day late.

Assignment Extension and Make Up Policy. All due dates and times are posted in this syllabusplease mark your calendar and prepare ahead. Work, tech failure, family events, vacations, early trips home, multiple deadlines or exams, late enrollment, wrong file submissionthese are not valid excuses for missing a deadline. Please also note, your TA and the instructor will most likely not be available during the weekend. If you have any questions about the assignments or grading, contact us during the workday.

If you need an extension of the deadline for the course papers due to an unforeseen emergency or severe medical problem, you must make a reasonable effort to reach out to your TA with an extension request in writing (e.g., via email), before the deadline. Clearly explain the reason, severity, and duration of the extension requested. For an extension request longer than one day, a medical note is required to justify. Please redact or delete your private information or imagery. Giving your TA sufficient time to respond well before the deadline will increase the chance of favorable consideration. Upon receiving a written request, your TA will approve or deny any extension request on a case-by-case basis. Out of fairness to those who submit the paper on time, we will not consider a request for extension or late penalty removal after the deadline has passed. A medical note submitted more than a week late may not be considered.

B. Turn-it-in/SimCheck

To detect plagiarism, this course uses the Turn-it-in/SimCheck for all paper submissions. The tool is integrated into the Canvas submission system. You must check the similarity report in the Submission Details when you upload your paper. The system flags any similarity with previously submitted work or online content by a percentage score. The only acceptable similarity is the question prompt and/or any references and properly cited direct quotes. Except for references and statements with direct quotes, in each sentence, if five consecutive words match word for word between a students work and another source, that is a sign that the work is plagiarized. To avoid unintentional plagiarism, you can rework and resubmit your paper as needed, but only until the deadline. Avoid sharing your ideas or drafts with others as all parties involved in a plagiarism case will receive no credit. There will not be any redo or re-submit opportunity. When found, any plagiarized submission will be immediately reported to the

.

C. Reusing course papers

If you have taken this course already you cannot reuse the course papers. Resubmitting the same paper/answer is considered as self-plagiarism and it will be flagged by Turn-it-in as a plagiarized paper. Your writing must be significantly changed. No sentence can match word for word.

D. Incomplete paper, corrupt file, corrupt hyperlink, and tech disruption policy

Please note:

• You must address five prompts in each course paper, with each response clearly separated.
• Incomplete submissions receive zero for the missing parts, with no redo.
• Check your file and hyperlinks before and after submission, prior to the deadline. Black, corrupt, or inaccessible files, or files with broken hyperlinks, will receive a zero, with no redo.
• Device loss or internet issues are not acceptable excuses for late or failed submissions. Use a cloud-based storage system.
• If you do not have a stable internet connection, consider using UW Library computers, noting that the library may close before course paper deadlines.

3. Writing, Citation, and Referencing Policies

A. APA Policy

• First and foremost, if you want to get a good grade in this assignment, you need to learn how to cite lecture materials and format a reference in a bibliography accurately in APA Style. APA (American Psychological Association) Style is widely used in the social sciences, business, and some of the life sciences. APA Style uses brief in-text citations in the text that refer to an alphabetical list of references appearing at the end of the work. Start with this guide from the UW Library: .
• To write a good course paper, paraphrase academic materials legitimately instead of extensively copying and pasting from the readings and lecture/reading review slides. All paraphrased content must be cited with the relevant page number. See an example of a legitimate paraphrase here (
• ).
• You should cite lecture contents using in-text citation (here are several ways to cite a source in-text:
• ). Keep the use of direct quotes limited to 15%-25% of the essay. Accompany them with a page number from the original source if available.
• Do not risk plagiarizing. Everything that is not an original thought from you must be cited, both in text and in bibliography placed at the end of each response.
• Use for all in-text citations (e.g., Winner, 1980, p. 122). This is not a W course. There is no option to revise and resubmit or to get written feedback on early drafts. If you have any queries about the paper, visit me or your TA during our office hours. If you need extensive training and support with writing, please consult with
• in advance.

B. Citing Class Lectures

• General Format
• (Author Surname, Year)
• Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Lecture title. Specific page [if applicable] [Format, e.g., video lecture, PDF, Excel, Word document, or PowerPoint slides provided by your instructor]. Name of the University, Course Title Canvas: URL of website.
• In-Text Citation
• References:
• Sample citation and reference of a hypothetical lecture
• Sample in-text citation: (Rahman, 2023)
• Sample references: Rahman, A. (2023). Week 11: Political communication [in-person lecture]. Slide: Public opinion and polling. University of Washington, Introduction to Communication Course Canvas:

C. Citing Multiple Class Lectures in the same reference list

• Within a given response, if you have two or more sources by the same author in the same year, use lower-case letters (a, b, c) with the year to order the entries in the reference list. Use the lower-case letters with the year in the in-text citation.
• Research by Berndt (1981a) revealed strong correlations. However, a parallel study (Berndt, 1981b) resulted in inconclusive findings.
• Examples of citing multiple lectures. In-Text Citation: In the Lesson 7 lecture (Rahman, 2023a), we learned about the phenomenon of news desert, which also indicates a strong need for regulating private media, argued by Rahman (2023b).
• Sample references:
• Rahman, A. (2023a). Week 8: Media regulation [in-person lecture]. Slide: Federal Communications Commissions. University of Washington, Introduction to Communication Course Canvas:
• Rahman, A. (2023b). Week 11: Political communication [in-person lecture]. Slide: Public opinion and polling. University of Washington, Introduction to Communication Course Canvas:

D. General Rule for Citing Course Interviews (APA 7)

• For interviews hosted inside Canvas and recorded for the course, you should treat them as course media content. In APA 7, these are cited like online videos or recorded interviews, with the person who conducted or uploaded the interview listed as the author. Here are some general principles you should follow:
• In-text citations
• Use the interviewees last name and the year
• Include a timestamp when referring to a specific moment or statement
• Paraphrasing is preferred over long quotations
• Reference list entries
• List the interviewer or uploader as the author
• Include the full interview title
• Identify the format as [Video]
• Name the site as COM 200 Introduction to Communication Canvas
• Provide the Canvas URL (no login details required)
• In-Text Citation Examples (APA 7)
• Paraphrase, general reference: (Harold, 2026)
• Paraphrase with timestamp: (Harold, 2026, 12:4013:15)
• Narrative citation: In the interview, Harold explains how her research focuses on culture and power in everyday contexts (Harold, 2026).
• Reference List Entry (APA 7)
• Correct format for your course interview:

McGarrity, M. (2026). Interview with Christine Harold [Video]. COM 200 Introduction to Communication Canvas.

• If you want to keep the full interview title visible (also acceptable in APA 7):

McGarrity, M. (2026). Dr. Matt McGarritys interview with Dr. Christine Harold [Video]. COM 200 Introduction to Communication Canvas.

• Both are fine. The key is consistency across submissions.

4. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policies

It is your responsibility to read and understand the University’s definitions of academic and personal misconduct.

Plagiarism is a serious violation of the

. The University of Washington Student Governance Policy,

, which includes (but is not limited to)

• Cheating
• Falsification
• Plagiarism
• Unauthorized collaboration
• Engaging in prohibited behavior
• Submitting the same work for separate courses without the permission of the instructor(s)

Plagiarism includes

• Using another writers words without proper citation
• Using another writers ideas without proper citation
• Citing your source but reproducing the exact words of a source without quotation marks
• Borrowing the structure of another authors phrases or sentences without crediting the author from whom it came
• Borrowing all or part of another students paper or using someone elses outline to write your own paper
• Using a paper writing service
• Having a friend write the paper for you

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Model (AI/LLM)

• Unauthorized AI use = plagiarism and academic misconduct
• Fake or fabricated references (including broken or fake links) result in an automatic zero
• Polished writing without real engagement with course materials may receive a low or zero score
• You are responsible for all content you submit, even if AI is disclosed
• Violations may be reported to the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct (CSSC)

Why writing matters in this course. Contrary to the popular belief that AI is taking away writing jobs, authentic and original human writing still matters. The purpose of writing assignments in this course is to help you to develop your skill to express your understanding of course materials using academic language. Some assignments may explicitly allow or require the use of AI tools, with clear learning goals and ethical guidelines. Outside of those cases, relying on AI to generate content means outsourcing your cognitive ability or missing an essential opportunity to think critically, reflect, and develop your own voice as a writer. Over time, this can harm both your academic development and professional credibility.

Course-specific expectations. This course values your original thinking and learning, and your writing should reflect that. We are interested in your own understanding of the course materials. AI-generated work may not adequately reflect the specific lectures, readings, and discussions emphasized in this class and may receive a low or zero score, no matter how polished it appears. Writing that is well organized, uses advanced vocabulary, and draws on outside sources but shows only superficial engagement with the course materials may also receive a very low score or zeronot necessarily because of AI use itself, but because it does not demonstrate genuine understanding of the course content.

Limitations, risks, and academic integrity. You are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of everything you submit. Submitting AI-generated text as your own work is considered plagiarism and academic misconduct. While limited use of AI tools, such as strictly for proofreading purposes may be useful, these tools are not a substitute for your own learning, critical thinking, writing, and editing skills. Furthermore, tools like ChatGPT generate text by predicting word sequences rather than truly understanding content. As a result, these tools can produce responses that are inaccurate, misleading, clich, biased, or entirely fabricated, including false data and fake references. If, in a response to a course paper prompt, we find any hallucinated or fake references, including hyperlinks that lead to mismatched sources or display This page could not be found, the response will receive a zero, with no opportunity for appeal or revision. Repeated offenses may result in a zero or a failing grade for the entire assignment and will be reported to the

for academic misconduct.

6. Grading and Grade Appeals Policy

You will receive an automatic notification when a grade/score is posted. Please make sure to check your grades promptly. If you wish to contest a grade, please submit a written appeal within three days of receiving the score to your TA. An appeal submitted later will not be considered. Merely stating that your paper deserves higher marks is insufficient. In your appeal, clearly and logically explain why you believe the grading is incorrect or specify which specific criteria from the grading rubric you believe warrant higher marks and provide reasoning to support your argument. It is important to focus your appeal on the merits of your own work and not make comparisons with other students’ grades. Please note that we will not consider appeals of a zero given for fake references in a course paper.

7. Sample Response.

Below you will find is a sample essay with question, response, citation, and reference/bibliography, which was written by a student in a previous quarter. Do not copy or reuse any part from this sample essay as doing so will flag your paper for plagiarism.

Prompt 1:

In lecture, we used this definition of Communication: A systemic process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings (Wood, 2017). Provide and discuss an example for each of the four underlined aspects of this definition (systemic; process; symbols; create and interpret meanings). Finally, add your own definition of communication and provide a supporting example.

Response to Prompt #1:

The definition of Communication includes various aspects that elaborate upon the field of study. The emphasized words within the definition of Communication can be exemplified through certain concepts. Communication is systemic, meaning that its “based on preexisting meanings that have previously been socially constructed” (Rahman, 2023a). An example of this is seen in languages, as words in every language have already been defined and are collectively understood to have specific meanings by speakers of each language that exists. Therefore, languages are based upon a system that is already in place, as people continue to learn and speak the same languages that already exist and have defined words carrying particular interpretations. Communication involves a process because it gradually evolves throughout generations (Rahman, 2023a). Languages were created dynamically, as new words and connotations were added throughout history, and the new additions to each language built upon the foundational characteristics that were already established, including grammar. For instance, the evolution of slang terms is a very dynamic process, as new words and phrases with certain meanings are constantly being created and popularized. Furthermore, slang terms are often based upon words that already exist, as the new terms are usually shorter versions or abbreviations of longer words or phrases.

Communication also features symbols, which represents [meaning] through things and words that humans utilize to convey certain meanings and are often widely understood (Rahman, 2023a). In the modern digital age, memes are an example of symbols that are commonly used on the Internet to illustrate specific meanings. For instance, memes can be used to signify comedic situations through text and images, which are often relatable to many people depending on their race, gender, class, and relationship status among other pre-existing factors (Kanai, 2016). Therefore, memes symbolize collective experiences that many Internet users face throughout their life. Creating and interpreting meanings is also a goal of Communication, as humans interact through this process of generating a social reality (Rahman, 2023a).

An example of this would be the creation of political parties. The Democratic and Republican parties were created in America to give people a way to convey their beliefs to the government, as well as identify with specific political agendas. After the two main political parties in America were established, meanings were interpreted by members attaching certain ideals to what each party stands for. For example, Democrats tend to believe in providing healthcare for all. However, these ideals are constantly being built upon as new political issues arise, such as how combating climate change has recently become an important issue to many Democrats. As a result, the meanings that were originally created and attached to being a member of either political party evolve in their interpretations throughout time.

I would define communication as a process and relationship in which people exchange information, ideas, and emotions using shared symbols and cultural systems. This shapes how we perceive, behave, and understand each other in… [Content truncated to 3000 words]

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