How to play Go

Write a paper which explains to the reader how to play Go so an astute reader will be able to play and score a legal game of Go without asking questions. Assume that the reader is a literate adult, but knows nothing about the game. You are free to assume that the reader has played other games and therefore knows concepts common to many games such as play, turn, and win. Include rules related to the following concepts along with any others you feel appropriate: equipment, moves, capture of a group, territory, and scoring. Be sure your capture rules correctly handle ko, suicide and snapback situations. You need not explain strategy, though you may choose to if it helps the reader understand the rules.

Your paper should be about 500-800 words (2-3 pages). You will be assessed primarily on clarity, your ability to connect with the intended audience, and your ability to effectively explain the rules of the game. Although it's best if you can avoid using any diagrams, you should use diagram(s) if you cannot explain a concept sufficiently clearly in words alone. Such diagram(s) should be placed in clear context by your text.

If you aren't clear on some rules, you may wish to locate a set of official rules on-line as a guide. When using such sources, be sure to close the source and write your paper in your own words. Also, be sure to cite the source.

A brief aside is in order for the student who is fond of using they (or their) in place of he (or his). Please read Lunsford section 29g for guidance on making pronouns and antecedents agree, and section 33b on avoiding use of he and his to refer to persons of either sex.

For this particular paper, I will use the following grading guidelines. (Large portions are adopted verbatim from Lewis Hyde.)

The F paper is reserved for cases of plagiarism, excessive lateness, or some other serious failure to comply with the terms of the assignment.
The D paper, in some significant way, doesn't answer the question that was asked. A D paper which does answer the question is filled with mechanical faults (errors in grammar and/or spelling). Paragraphs do not hold together; ideas do not develop from sentence to sentence. This paper usually repeats the same thoughts over and over, perhaps in slightly different language but often in the same words. It is usually rambling and directionless.
The C paper is full of grammatical errors, or is somewhat hard to follow due to a poor choice of overall structure. Probably the author has misjudged the reader by assuming knowledge which the reader may not have and has not carefully explained a significant portion of the rules.
The B paper has few grammatical errors. It's easily understood after one reading, and all the rules are clearly presented. The paper is well organized and although some sentences may not be elegant, the ideas in them flow well.
The A paper has all the qualities of a B paper, but in addition it is lively and well paced. Not only are the rules to Go logically presented, but the author seems to have predicted where the reader might get confused, lost, or bored, and has anticipated questions the typical reader would have.