Writing Project Requirements Wednesday, February 20, 2013 6:51 PM
Ideas and Content: Have you completely answered the prompt in the correct format? Do you have correct 5-paragraph essay format? Does it read like an essay vs. a narrative? Do you explain what your lesson means? Do you explain how your lesson has impacted you? Have you avoided repetitive ideas? Are your examples, observations, anecdotes, explanations all SPECIFIC/PRECISE? Are the examples, observations, anecdotes, explanations details that create engagement? Are they unique? Relatable? Interesting? Insightful? Thoughtful?
Word Choice: Have you identified and eliminated all mediocrity (including “you” and “your”)? Have you used words that are precise and communicate exactly what you want? Have you used words that are vivid to create a picture for your reader?
Figurative Language: What parts need to be more vivid/engaging/descriptive? Did you try a simile? Did you try a metaphor? Did you try personification? Does your figurative language flow with your ideas or stick out “like a sore thumb”? Mechanics:
Have you incorporated semi-colons, colons, dashes, and hyphens throughout your essay? Are they used correctly (do they follow the rules)?
Ideas and Content: Have you completely answered the prompt in the correct format? Do you have correct 5-paragraph essay format? Does it read like an essay vs. a narrative? Do you explain what your lesson means? Do you explain how your lesson has impacted you? Have you avoided repetitive ideas? Are your examples, observations, anecdotes, explanations all SPECIFIC/PRECISE? Are the examples, observations, anecdotes, explanations details that create engagement? Are they unique? Relatable? Interesting? Insightful? Thoughtful? Word Choice: Have you identified and eliminated all mediocrity (including “you” and “your”)? Have you used words that are precise and communicate exactly what you want?
Have you used words that are vivid to create a picture for your reader? Figurative Language: What parts need to be more vivid/engaging/descriptive? Did you try a simile? Did you try a metaphor? Did you try personification? Does your figurative language flow with your ideas or stick out “like a sore thumb”?
Mechanics:
Have you incorporated semi-colons, colons, dashes, and hyphens throughout your essay? Are they used correctly (do they follow the rules)?
Personal Essay Rubric: Ideas and Content
Above & Beyond Excellent Good Average Poor
Word Choice
Above & Beyond Excellent Good Average Poor
Figurative Language – 2 pts. (similes, metaphors, personification, symbolism): _______/2 Advanced Mechanics – 2pts. (dashes, hyphens, semi-colons, colons): ________/2
Prompt: Write an essay explaining a life lesson you have learned and how this lesson has impacted you. (This is NOT a narrative…this is an essay)
Requirements Your essay needs to follow correct 5-paragraph format.
While you will have class time to work on this, there may also be some additional outside work required in order for you to meet the deadlines and turn in a polished piece of which you are proud. 1st person pronouns are appropriate. 2nd person pronouns are NOT appropriate. Your final copy MAY be typed, but it is NOT required. Timeline (is subject to change) Drafting: Tuesday and Wednesday in class (2/12 and 2/13). Complete draft due Thursday, 2/14 Revising: Thursday and Friday (2/14 and 2/15) Finalizing: Outside work Final copy due Thursday, 2/21
