ESSAY 1
PERSUASIVE ESSAY

Essay 1 will be a persuasive essay (750 words or more) based on a vacation (real or imagined). Using the best/worst approaches you have used in recent journal entries, identify a specific vacation, state whether you think it is “good” or “bad” and support your viewpoint using four or five reasons. Remember, in a persuasive essay, you are stating your opinion (your reader may not necessarily agree—and that’s okay!) and attempting to persuade others to accept it by stating evidence in support of your opinion.

The most successful persuasive writing will display the following characteristics (use this as a checklist, your essay will be graded on these criteria):

Idea
-is the essay clearly focused on a specific opinion?
-is the opinion stated in a clear lead sentence, capturing the reader’s attention and interest?

Organization
-is there evidence of a definite introduction, body, and conclusion?
-Is the opinion supported with at least four facts or reasons?
-is each reason fully developed with appropriate details and examples?
-does the conclusion sum up the reasons or provide a suggestion for action?

Voice
-is the writing engaging and compelling?
-does the writer’s voice shine through?

Word Choice
-is clear, specific language used?
-do transitional words and phrases help maintain coherence and establish importance?

Sentence Fluency
-are sentences well built, complex, and varied in length?
-does the writing have a natural flow?

Conventions
-are conventions of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage are used effectively to enhance style and readability?
-are there less than three errors in the final draft?

Other
-does the essay meet the format requirements (including word count, double spacing, and heading)?
-is the essay handed in on time, with the rough draft stapled to the back of the final draft?

ESSAY 2
COMPARISON/CONTRAST ESSAY

Essay 2 will be a comparison and contrast essay (750 words or more) based on the two novels you read by the same author.  Both the rough draft and the final copy will be written in class. When you make a comparison, you tell the similarities and differences between two related things in order to make an important point about them. One method of organizing such an essay is a subject-by-subject comparison. You discuss all the details about one subject and then discuss all the details about the other. The other method is a feature-by-feature comparison.

The most successful comparison and contrast writing will display the following characteristics (use this as a checklist, your essay will be graded on these criteria):

Idea
-does the essay clearly and precisely present the items being compared?
-does it explain why the items are being compared, so as to attract the reader’s attention and interest?

Organization
-is there evidence of a definite introduction, body, and conclusion?
-are the at least four points of comparison used to present the similarities and/or differences?
-is each point fully developed with appropriate details and examples?
-is the conclusion clearly based on the comparison?

Voice
-is the writing engaging and compelling?
-does the writer’s voice shine through?

Word Choice
-is clear, specific language used?
-do transitional words and phrases help maintain coherence and establish importance?

Sentence Fluency
-are sentences well built, complex, and varied in length?
-does the writing have a natural flow?

Conventions
-are conventions of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage are used effectively to enhance style and readability?
-are there less than three errors in the final draft?

Other
-does the essay meet the format requirements (including word count, double spacing, and heading)?
-is the essay done on time, with the rough draft and evaluation sheet stapled to the back of the final draft?

 ESSAY 3
PROCESS ESSAY

Essay 3 will be an in-class process essay (750 words or more) based on a topic of your choice. When you explain a process, you will have one of two purposes in mind. Your purpose may be to help your reader make or do something by following step-by-step instructions. On the other hand, it may be to help your reader understand how something works. For instance, you might write an essay explaining how the gears on a ten-speed bicycle work or what hikers should do if they are lost.

The most successful process writing will display the following characteristics (use this as a checklist, your essay will be graded on these criteria):

Idea
-is the essay clearly focused on a specific process?
-is every detail considered, including gathering of materials?

Organization
-is there evidence of a definite introduction, body, and conclusion?
-does the essay follow sequential order, flowing smoothly with clear transitions?
-is each step explained fully?

Voice
-is the writing engaging and compelling?
-does the writer’s voice shine through?

Word Choice
-is clear, specific language used to explain the steps?
-do transitional words and phrases help maintain coherence and establish sequence?

Sentence Fluency
-are sentences well built, complex, and varied in length?
-does the writing have a natural flow?

Conventions
-are conventions of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage are used effectively to enhance style and readability?
-are there less than three errors in the final draft?

Other
-does the essay meet the format requirements (including word count, double spacing, and heading)?
-is the essay handed in on time, with the rough draft stapled to the back of the final draft?

ESSAY 4
NARRATIVE ESSAY

Essay 1 will be a narrative essay (750 words or more) written in first person. It will be based on a day in the life of an inanimate object in ancient Rome. You may choose any object you wish, so long as it is part of the daily life of an ancient Roman.   When you write your essay, remember that a good narrative tells a story through the use of character(s), setting, and plot (which must include a problem and a resolution).   Get into character and be creative!

The most successful narrative writing will display the following characteristics (use this as a checklist, your essay will be graded on these criteria):

Idea
-is the essay clearly focused, with an original setting and character(s)?
-do relevant details develop a central theme, which may be enhanced by description and dialogue?

Organization
-is there evidence of a definite introduction, body, and conclusion?
-does the essay follow chronological order, flowing smoothly with clear transitions?

Voice
-is the writing is honest, engaging and compelling?
-does the writer’s voice shine through?

Word Choice
-is precise and vivid language used to tell the story?
-do the words used convey the intended message in a powerful and interesting way?

Sentence Fluency
-are sentences well built, complex, and varied in length?
-does the writing have a natural flow?

Conventions
-are conventions of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage are used effectively to enhance style and readability?
-are there less than three errors in the final draft?

Other
-does the essay meet the format requirements (including word count, double spacing, and heading)?
-is the essay handed in on time, with the rough draft stapled to the back of the final draft?

ESSAY 5
DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

Essay 5 will be a descriptive essay (750 words or more) written in third person based on the photo you are given. Be sure to use plenty of sensory details, so that your reader can hear, smell, taste, see, and hear what's happening! DO NOT LOSE THE PHOTO--IT MUST BE HANDED IN WITH YOUR ROUGH DRAFT AND FINAL DRAFT.

Idea
-is the essay clearly focused and based on the photo attached?
-does the essay involve relevant details incorporating all the senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch)?
-does the essay include writing techniques which support the idea?

Organization
-is there evidence of a definite introduction, body, and conclusion?
-does the essay follow a logical order (e.g. chronological order or spatial order, whichever is appropriate)?
-does the essay flow smoothly with clear transitions?

Voice
-is the writing is honest, engaging and compelling?
-does the writer’s voice shine through?

Word Choice
-is precise and vivid language used to tell the story?
-do the words used convey the intended message in a powerful and interesting way?

Sentence Fluency
-are sentences well built, complex, and varied in length?
-does the writing have a natural flow?

Conventions
-are conventions of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and usage are used effectively to enhance style and readability?
-are there less than three errors in the final draft?

Other
-does the essay meet the format requirements (including word count, double spacing, and heading)?
-is the essay handed in on time, with the rough draft and photo stapled to the back of the final draft?