This I Believe

AP Lang

Frick

Please write a This I Believe essay of 300-500 words.

A (100–90%)	B (89–80%)	C (79–70%)	D/F (69%↓)
Engagement/Interest 10 points	Includes a thought-provoking statement of belief (thesis) supported by substantive, meaningful, detailed personal anecdotes	Includes an interesting statement of belief (thesis) supported by relevant, detailed personal anecdotes	Includes a statement of belief (thesis) partially supported by limited, somewhat vague personal anecdotes	Includes a statement of belief (thesis) poorly supported by limited, very vague personal anecdotes (or none at all)
Sentence Fluency/ Rhythm 10 points	Use of Claim-Data- Commentary is very successful; essay weaves smoothly between anecdotes and repetition/explanation of belief	Use of Claim-Data- Commentary is successful; essay moves clearly between anecdotes and repetition/explanation of belief	Claim-Data- Commentary is attempted and at least partly unsuccessful; essay moves clumsily between anecdotes/explanation of belief	Claim-Data- Commentary is largely unsucessful or missing; transitions between anecdotes/explantion of belief are largely unsucessful or missing
Rhetorical Devices 10 points	Audience and purpose are very clear and well supported by 5 or more rhetorical devices; essay is very effective (rhetorical triangle)	Audience and purpose are clear and supported by at least 4 rhetorical devices/strategies; essay is effective (rhetorical triangle)	Audience and purpose are relatively clear and supported by at least 3 rhetorical devices/strategies; essay is somewhat effective (rhetorical triangle)	Audience and purpose are not always clear and are suppored by 2 or fewer rhetorical devices/strategies; essay is not terribly effective (rhetorical triangle)
Recording/ Presentation 10 points	Recording is smooth with few to no technical problems. Presentation is polished.	Recording has decent pacing and only some technical problems. Presentation meets expectations.	Recording is understandable and matches written essay. Presentation partially meets expectations.	Essay recorded and shared. Presentation given.

Essay over Independent Novel #1

AP Lang

Frick

Please write an essay in which you explain the message (theme) your author is trying to communicate regarding this topic

The American Dream

You must use quoted and formally cited examples from your novel. You may optionally use examples from Of Mice and Men as well as outside examples. Outside examples are not a guarantee of a higher grade; using only your novel is not a guarantee of a lower grade. Your essay must be typed and submitted before midnight on Monday, 11/18. It may be turned in before midnight on Wednesday, 11/20 for a reduction of 10%. You have the option of either turning in a hard copy or shared with Mr. Frick on Google drive. Double Space, 12 pt. font, One inch margins.

A (100–90%)	B (89–80%)	C (79–70%)	D/F (69%↓)
Clear Introduction and Thesis 10 points	Use of Rhetorical Prices or Rhetorical Triangle is very successful. Thesis regarding American Dream is exceptionally strong and is clearly referenced throughout the essay.	Use of Rhetorical Prices or Rhetorical Triangle is mostly successful. Thesis regarding author’s message is clearly stated in intro and conclusion; relates to American Dream.	Use of Rhetorical Prices or Rhetorical Triangle is somewhat successful. Thesis regarding author’s message may not be clearly stated in intro and conclusion; relates to American Dream.	Use of Rhetorical Prices or Rhetorical Triangle is not successful Thesis regarding the American Dream is difficult or impossible to find.
Organization 10 points	Use of and Claim/Data/Commentary is very successful; essay moves along smoothly from beginning to end	Use of Claim/Data/Commentary is successful; essay is easy to follow and understand.	Claim/Data/Commentary attempted and at least partly unsuccessful; essay is sometimes difficult to follow but eventually gets where it’s going	Claim/Data/Commentary largely unsucessful or missing; essay is difficult to follow more often than not
Use of Evidence 10 points	Many quality examples are specifically chosen from the novel to successfully support the claim of the paragraph in which they’re placed; all examples are directly quoted and parenthetically cited; data/commentary is very convincing	Several examples are carefully chosen from the novel and directly quoted and parenthetically cited; examples clearly support the claim of the paragraph in which they’re placed (and by extension, the thesis); data/commentary is convincing	Some examples from the novel are included; most are directly quoted, all are parenthetically cited; examples connect to claim of the paragraph in which they’re placed; data/commentary is somewhat convincing	Few to no examples from the novel, quoted or otherwise; examples are not correctly cited; examples seem chosen at random and have little connection to claim of the paragraph in which they’re placed; data/commentary is unconvincing