March 6

Timed Essay Writing Day

Tomorrow, you will have the entire class to write your essay. You can either start with a hand written copy or a Google doc.

Make sure that you use the thesis statement you created today in class.

Remember your heading should look like:

Kim Smith                                   Your Name

Mrs. Scales                                  Teacher’s Name

English 9 – Period 3                   Class Information

7 March 2017                               Date in MLA format

 

Introduction

  1. Your first paragraph should begin with a hook that draws the reader’s attention to your paper.
  2. You must identify the title and author of the text you are writing about. In this case that means writing The Metamorphosis in italics or underlined if being hand written and stating that it was written by Franz Kafka.
  3. Your first paragraph should end with your thesis statement.

Body paragraphs

  1. A topic sentence for each body paragraph. That is like a mini-thesis statement that supports the real thesis statement, and controls the direction of the essay.
  2. Support for topic sentences that are properly cited with the page # it came from. This would look like (42).
  3. Transitions to and from the previous and next paragraph.

Conclusion

  1. Clearly wraps up the paper
  2. Returns to, but does not simply repeat the thesis
  3. Tells the reader’s what you want them to take away from the paper

 

The Rubric being used for this assignment has five parts. You should read the descriptors for each level of all five parts and pay special attention to the differences represented by the bolded world.

UNDERSTANDING (20%)

Outstanding 20 pts

Reading and Understanding of text is outstanding. Writing demonstrates full comprehension of ideas both explicit and inferential indicated by grade-level reading standard. Accurate analysis and reasoning is demonstrated through ample textual evidence.

Good 15 pts

Reading and Understanding of text is strong. Writing demonstrates comprehension of ideas both explicit and inferential indicated by grade-level reading standard. Mostly accurate analysis and reasoning is demonstrated through adequate textual evidence.

Average 10 pts

Reading and Understanding of text is acceptable. Writing demonstrates limited comprehension of ideas both explicit and inferential indicated by grade-level reading standard. Minimally accurate analysis and reasoning is demonstrated through limited textual evidence.

Needs Improvement 5 pts

Reading and Understanding of text is below grade-level expectations. Writing demonstrates weak comprehension of explicit ideas and no comprehension of inferential ideas indicated by grade-level reading standard. Very weak analysis and reasoning is demonstrated through faulty textual evidence.

Unacceptable 0 pts

Shows no comprehension of ideas indicated by grade-level reading standards. Inaccurate or no analysis and reasoning is demonstrated with little or no textual evidence.

IDEAS (20%)

Outstanding 20 pts

Addresses the prompt and introduces a complete thesis with precise claim(s). Body paragraphs have defined topic sentences that all support the thesis.

Good 15 pts

Addresses the prompt and introduces a thesis with claim(s). Body paragraphs have defined topic sentences that support the thesis.

Average 10 pts

Addresses the prompt and introduces a thesis attempt with a an attempt at a claim(s). Body paragraphs support the thesis.

Needs Improvement 5 pts

Does not fully addresses the prompt or introduces a weak thesis. No claim(s) expressed. Body paragraphs do not adequately support the thesis.

Unacceptable 0 pts

No thesis statement.

ORGANIZATION (20%)

Outstanding 20 pts

Development is even and organized to make important connections and distinctions with relevant support. Language creates cohesion and clarifies relationship among ideas. Formal and objective style and tone consistently demonstrates awareness of purpose and audience.

Good 15 pts

Development is organized with some support and cohesion. Language creates cohesion and links ideas. Style and tone demonstrates awareness of purpose and audience.

Average 10 pts

Development and support are minimal. Language links ideas. Style and tone demonstrates limited awareness of purpose and audience.

Needs Improvement 5 pts

Lacks organization, or is undeveloped, and provides little support. Or Language and style develop no awareness of purpose or audience.

Unacceptable 0 pts

Lacks organization, is undeveloped, and does not provide support. Language and style develop no awareness of purpose or audience.

CONVENTIONS (20%)

Outstanding 20 pts

Full command of conventions indicated by grade-level standards. Few minor errors do not interfere with the meaning of the text.

Good 15 pts

Command of conventions indicated by grade-level standards. May have minor errors that occasionally interfere with overall meaning or readability.

Average 10 pts

Some command of conventions indicated by grade-level standards. Several minor errors that interfere with overall meaning or readability.

Limited command of conventions indicated by grade-level standards. Errors often interfere with overall meaning or readability.

No command of conventions indicated by grade-level standards. Frequent and varied errors often interfere with overall meaning or readability.

MLA (20%)

Proper Times New Roman 12 pt double spaced font with indented paragraphing. Four line heading correct. Two or more in-text citations correctly used, and a properly formatted Works Cited page all demonstrate a strong grade-level command of MLA format.

Proper Times New Roman 12 pt double spaced font with indented paragraphing. Four line heading mostly correct. One or more in-text citations correctly used, and a properly formatted Works Cited page all demonstrate an adequate grade-level command of MLA format.

Mostly proper Times New Roman 12 pt double spaced font with indented paragraphing. Four line heading mostly correct. One or more in-text citations correctly used, and a properly formatted Works Cited page all demonstrate an understanding of grade-level MLA format requirements.

Errors in proper Times New Roman 12 pt double spaced font with indented paragraphing. Missing any part of the four line heading, improper or missing in-tex citations and multiple errors on the Works Cited page indicate a weak understanding of grade-level MLA format requirements.

Multiple errors or missing MLA requirements.

 

 

March 6

Writing about The Metamorphosis

Last week you studied how to properly use quotation marks, and we reviewed all of the A-List Academic Vocabulary. We also did a very in-depth review of The Metamorphosis and the characters. This week, you get the opportunity to put all that together with the writing skills we have worked on this year.

Today you will begin writing the first of several essay’s concerning the texts we have read in our unit study of Magical Realism. The essay prompt is:

What role does each character play in Gregor’s metamorphosis and how does it affect the family?

You will need to select specific words, quotations, and scenes throughout the text that reveal the conflicting motivations of the characters. In your essay, you will explain how these scenes support inferences drawn about the familial relationships and reactions to the metamorphosis. How do these develop a theme of The Metamorphosis?

Today you will select those specific words, quotations, and scenes throughout the text that reveal the conflicting motivations of the characters. This should take you about 15 minutes.

The second step will take a little longer, you will have 25 minutes to take the prompt question and turn it into the thesis statement you plan to use in writing your essay.

Everyone must have a thesis statement fully written and approved prior to the end of class today.

Tomorrow you will write a full, timed essay in response to today’s prompt. It is not cheating to plan what you will be writing in class tomorrow.

Remember the following important parts of any essay:

Introduction

  • Hook
  • Title and Author
  • Thesis Statement

Body Paragraphs

  • A topic sentence for each paragraph that supports your theses
  • Support for topic sentence that is properly cited
  • Transitions to and from next paragraph

Conclusion

  • Restatement or Wrap Up of the thesis
  • So What statement

MLA Requirements

  • Proper 4 line heading
  • Proper in-text citations
  • Works Cited page

Essays may be hand written on paper or typed as a Google doc and printed off by the end of class as we will be doing a class activity with the printed copies of the essay’s the following day.