College Application Essay Assignment
Chapman-Roach—AP English IV—2015
*300-600 word count
Basic Requirements:
*MLA format
*submitted to turnitin.com
Assignment Description:
In The College Application Essay, Sarah Myers McGinty argues that the college application essay “is important both for how it’s
written and for what it’s written about. Can you write? Can you think? What do you care about?”
After reading The College Application Essay, students will compose a college application essay based on a prompt of choice. DO
NOT WRITE THE PROMPT EXPLICITLY IN THE ESSAY. If the essay is well done, I will be able to glean from it what
question/prompt is addressed.
Students will submit this essay to turnitin.com.
Scoring Rubric:
(93-100)=Rises Above the Pack!
Content:
Form:
Style:
rich, specific, well-argued and fully-developed ideas, makes the reader feel as if she has gotten to know the
author
carefully organized—topic sentences, supporting illustrations, smooth transitions, strong opening and closing
paragraphs, flawless MLA format, NO ERRORS IN GRAMMAR AND USAGE
accurate, vivid diction; varied syntax to enhance the essay’s purpose; imparts a feeling of unity and clarity
(80-92)= Confident Essay
Content:
Form:
Style:
is significantly more than competent and delivers substantial information; development of ideas is less specific
than the “Rises Above the Pack!” paper
reasonably organized—topic sentences, supporting illustrations and transitions may occasionally be less effective
than “Rises Above the Pack!” paper; reasonably effective, but less compelling than “Rises Above the Pack!”
paper opening and closing paragraphs; flawless MLA format; VERY FEW ERRORS IN GRAMMAR AND
USAGE
has an authentic voice in places, but that voice isn’t consistently developed; fairly concise and precise diction,
but not very vivid; reasonably varied syntax
(70-79)= Needs Revision, But the Scaffolding is There
Content:
Form:
Style:
Generally competent, but meets the minimum requirements of the assignment; content is often presented in
vague generalities (“telling not showing”); reliance on cliché
a clear organizational structure isn’t fully realized—questionable topic sentences and ineffective supporting
illustrations; weak opening and closing paragraphs (opening isn’t compelling and/or closing is a perfunctory
wrap-up); an awareness of transitions, though often transitions are choppy or cliché; occasional minor flaws in
MLA; CONSISTENT MINOR ERRORS IN GRAMMAR AND USAGE
lacks an authentic voice; diction is imprecise at times and/or redundant; syntax is repetitive
(60-69)= Essay Displays Need for Writing Remediation
Content:
indicates an attempt to respond to the assignment, but the development is unclear
Form:
confusing, unclear, or ineffective organization; often rambling
Style:
vague, imprecise and/or inappropriate diction; incorrect and/or awkward sentence structure often interfering with
clarity of meaning; many flaws in MLA format; MANY GRAMMAR AND USAGE MISTAKES.
0-50= Completely misunderstands assignment and/or Grammar and Usage so flawed as to significantly impede
understanding and/or Didn’t meet minimum requirements of the assignment