Revise

 English IV Essay due to Dr. Forman Sept. 26

Revise your rough draft into a polished final draft

Due Thur Sept. 26 for A & F periods (both hardcopy in class and email Word attachment)

◊2-4 page polished essay, double-spaced with proper formatting (100 points)

◊Revised, edited, proofread, no more than two errors per page

◊Must have a main point (a point of view, a claim) that is not too obvious

◊Compare and/or contrast two basketball poems (A period)

   Or Asimov’s vs. Phillip Dick’s portrayal of robots (F period)

◊Header in upper right hand corner (last name, space, #)

◊Upper left hand corner: name, class, period, date, teacher

◊Title: unique to your essay, should preview your essay topic

◊Opening sentence that hooks the reader

◊Introduction that sets up your argument and context

◊Thesis statement: most specific sentence you can craft that outlines your main argument and analysis. Revise this sentence several times, even after you write your paper.

 ◊Paragraphs: topic sentences that are not examples, but claims, then quotes, evidence, examples carefully analyzed to show how they support your claims. End paragraphs with your main point or a transition.

◊Conclusion: Your best points and their larger implications. If you use ‘I,’ use it in the conclusion.

◊Proofread carefully for errors, especially these: 1) ‘s possessives

2) its vs. it’s

3) comma before quote: ,” not “,

4) don’t underline your own title

5) don’t space differently between paragraphs

6) poems in quotes, novels in italics (“Fast Break” vs. I, Robot)

 7) avoid sentence fragments

8) Works Cited: separate page listing all the works you’ve consulted in alphabetical order

9) avoid comma splices

10) proper imbedded parenthetical citations: “insignia” (Hirsch line 20)

11) don’t risk plagiarism by searching the internet without citing your sources and finally

12) proofread after you print.

Most important of all, in college essays, you must have something to say and know what it is.

Essay Rubric                                                     

 opening  more analysis

 MLA header      title    MLA punctuation  introduction          

 thesis sentence      organization      clarity of syntax

 more precise word choices   development of main idea

 clarify & exemplify main idea  narrow main idea [] details/examples

 topic sentences   body ¶s   closers  PROOFREAD   

 conclusion   comma splice  agreement  ‘s  __________

                                           

unclear<------------------------THESIS-------------------------->specific

                                      

unclear<---------------------ORGANIZED-------------------------->logical

                                   

rough<---------------------SENTENCES---------------------------->smooth

Essay Scoring Rubric                                                    Score: [______]

A or A-	B+ or B	B-, C+ or C
-outstanding, sharp insight clear/consistent mastery -develops ideas -a few minor errors	-effective; demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery -occasional errors or lapses in  quality	-competent -demonstrates adequate mastery -lapses in quality
-insightfully develops a point of view -outstanding critical thinking -use striking examples   -2nd source useful	-effectively develops a point of  view -demonstrates strong critical  thinking -uses appropriate examples for support	-develops point of view -competent critical   thinking -adequate examples  to support position
-v. well organized & clearly focused -demonstrates clear coherence -smooth progression of ideas, flow	-well organized and focused -demonstrates coherence and  progression of ideas	-generally organized and focused -demonstrates some coherence and progression of ideas
-exhibits skillful use of language -uses varied, accurate, apt   vocabulary	-exhibits facility in the use of  language -uses appropriate vocabulary	-adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of lang. -uses generally appropriate vocab.
-demonstrates meaningful variety    in sentence structure	-demonstrates variety in sentence   structure	-demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
-free of most errors in grammar,  usage, & mechanics	-generally free of most errors in   grammar, usage, & mechanics	-has some errors in grammar,   usage, & mechanics
Best essays: Thesis: interesting, arguable, incisive; limited in scope; developed • Structure: logical, progressive (not just a list), invites complications,   counterarguments, with links between points; coherent, well-organized paragraphs • Evidence: convincing, well-chosen; readable and understandable, well-analyzed • Analysis: fresh; more than summary; shows how evidence supports thesis; Quotes: well-chosen cited correctly Style: clear, conversational yet sophisticated; diction level appropriate to audience; smooth, a pleasure to read