A Separate Peace Essay Prompt and Rubric_ 2010

SMCHS ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WRITING RUBRIC
SMCHS Graduates will be: Spiritual - People of Faith, Intellectual - Skilled Lifelong Learners,
Physical - Healthy Individuals, Social & Moral - Involved Citizens of the World
Student: ________________________________________ Date: _____________ Class: English 2- Ms. Ayoub
Essay Requirements:
A Separate Peace Essay
1. Contain a minimum of 5 paragraphs
2. Contain a minimum of 2 concrete details per body paragraph
3. Each body paragraph must include at least two sentences of analysis
4. All sources must be primary (text), must be properly cited, per MLA.
4. All MLA formatting must be used (margins, heading, spacing, Works Cited, etc.).
Topics:
You may choose your own topic. Some themes we have discussed in class include: Counterpoints: war vs.
peace; innocence vs. maturity; conformity vs. rebellion; illusion (or appearance) vs. reality; reality vs. memory;
and the characters of Gene and Finny as opposites. Others: coming of age (loss of innocence); denial;
reflection; conscious and guilt; change under crisis; shadow (doppelganger).
It is also recommended that you bring in other literature we have read so far this year to support your thesis.
There are definite connections between A Separate Peace and Lord of the Flies in terms of shadow; opposite
characters, innocence vs. maturity; conscious and guilt; change under crisis; and coming of age. The choice is
up to you.
Structure: (please look at the essay structure handout I gave you for LOF)
1. Make sure you include a hook, précis (short summary of literary work), and a clear thesis that sets up the
topics of your 3 (minimum) body paragraphs.
2. Body paragraphs must use primary source (text) quotations for some of the concrete details. Other
concrete details may be paraphrases of actual events in the literature.
3. Your conclusion should tie in back to your hook and introduction and summarize your analysis. No new
information or primary source quotes – all commentary.
Timeline:
1. Your rough draft is due on Monday, October 25, 2010 and is worth 20 points.
2. You must turn in your essay to turnitin.com no later than Thursday, October 28 11:59 p.m.
3. Your final essay (hard copy) is due on Thursday October 28 th whether you have my class or not.
The Essay is worth 100 points.

SMCHS ENGLISH DEPARTMENT WRITING RUBRIC
SMCHS Graduates will be: Spiritual - People of Faith, Intellectual - Skilled Lifelong Learners,
Physical - Healthy Individuals, Social & Moral - Involved Citizens of the World
Use the following rubric to assess the assignment:
SCORING 5 4.
5
Argument
Application: Does the writing have an argumentative thesis that responds to the prompt?
Analysis: Is the argument divided into logical parts? Are provoking questions addressed and terms defined?
Synthesis: Are the parts related to the whole with an understanding of the big picture evident?
Evaluation: Are opinions presented in arguable fashion? Are judgments made? Is a thrust proposed?
Development
Evidence: Are specific, concrete details presented? Are the concrete details accurate and true?
Accuracy: Are the concrete details introduced/blended accurately?
Relevance: Is the evidence relevant to the argument and the relevance explained? Does it validate the thrust
of the argument?
Substance: Is enough evidence presented to validate the thrust of the argument?
Organization
Unity & Coherence: Does all of the writing center on the argument?
Order: Are the argument and evidence arranged in the most convincing/appropriate order?
Structure: Are introduction, thesis, body paragraphs, and conclusion constructed appropriately? Are
paragraphs introduced, maintained, and concluded?
Presentation: Are symmetry, parallel structure, transitions, and variation employed effectively? Is
the word count/length of the writing appropriate to the argument and the prompt?
Expression
Style: Is the style appropriate to the assignment – formal, informal, scholarly, personal, or creative?
Voice: Is a recognizable identity present? Is the audience understood? Is the tone appropriate?
Diction & Language: Are the most effective words chosen? Is rhetorical or figurative language
employed appropriately?
Clarity: Is the writing clear, active, readable, and appropriately concise?
Conventions
Diction & Spelling: Are words spelled correctly?
Grammar & Usage: Are person, tense, subject/verb agreement, and subordination used
appropriately? Are words and phrases used according to custom?
Mechanics & Punctuation: Is sentence construction sound? Is punctuation correctly applied?
MLA: Is the proper formatting applied to font, margins, spacing, citations, etc.?
4
3.
5
3 2 1
Rationale for numeric values:
5 Skill or element applied subtly, sophisticatedly, and with superior insight and complexity.
4.5 Skill or element applied with greater competence and with greater insight and complexity but lacking the distinction of a 5.
4 Skill or element applied with greater competence and with greater insight and complexity but lacking the distinction of a 5.
3.5 Skill or element applied competently.
3 Skill or element applied approaching competence.
2 Little evidence of skill or element applied.
1 Lacking evidence of skill or element applied; too brief to evaluate.