Name:________________________________________________ Period: __________
Grade 8 Unit 2, Embedded Assessment 1: Writing an Expository Essay
Hero’s Journey Character Development OR Compare & Contrast Essay
Directions. Think about how writers organize and develop ideas in expository writing. Use an expository
organizational structure to communicate your understanding of the concept of dystopia or the concept of the
Hero's Journey in The Giver. Select one of the prompts below:
A. Write an essay that explains how the protagonist (hero) changes as a result of conflict with his
dystopian society (Road of Trials), and explain how this change connects to the novel's theme (the
Crossing, or Return Threshold).
B. Write an essay that compares and contrasts life in the dystopian society of the novel you read with our
modern-day society.** For more of a challenge, extend your essay to include the selection of a society
you would prefer to live in, and support your decision (explaining why) with relevant information and
facts.
To help with goal setting, organization and time management we are going to track our essay progress
throughout in-class work time and at what you do at home. *Use the table below for help with tracking your
progress:
Time Management Table
DATE: 4/21
IN CLASS GOAL:
Planning: REVIEW
PAGE 127 AND
CREATE AN Outline
Thesis
Date: 4/22
IN CLASS GOAL:
Evidence ______
#1 __________
#2 __________
#3 __________
Date: 4/23 &4/24
AT HOME GOAL:
Weekend
Body Paragraph 3 and
Conclusion
Catch up on anything
you are behind on
Date: 4/25
IN CLASS GOAL:
Out Loud Peer Revise
and Edit in Assigned
Groups
FINAL DRAFT due
online in
GOOGLEDOCS:
th
Monday April 25 by
11:59 pm
Body Paragraphs 1 & 2:
Transition
Topic Sentence
Evidence
Commentary
Peer Initial:
__________
Peer Initial:
__________
Peer Initial:
__________
Peer Initial:
__________
AT HOME HW:
Introduction:
Hook _____
Bridge _____
Thesis _____
AT HOME HW:
AT HOME HW:
Weekend
AT HOME HW:
Finalize rough draft
Final edits and
revisions to essay.
*anything not done in
class
Body Paragraphs 1 & 2:
Transition
Topic Sentence
Evidence
Commentary
*anything not done in
class
Parent Initial _____
Parent Initial_____
DUE DATES
Outline, printed rough
draft, rubric, reflection
due in class on
th
Tuesday, April 26
*anything not done in
class
Parent Initial_____
Parent Initial_____
*Student pace on this assignment will vary but they need to have a peer check off of progress (not completion) of each daily
goal on their essay. Homework is required on this essay.
Steps for Writing (see page 127 for specific details for each step of the writing process below)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Planning and Prewriting: Take time to plan your essay
Drafting: Write a multi-paragraph essay that effectively organizes your ideas.
Evaluating and Revising your Draft: Create opportunities to review and revise your work.
Checking and Editing for Publication: Confirm your final draft is ready for publication
Expository Essay Outline
I. Introduction
Hook: (Scenario, quote, bold statement)
Bridge: (background information and connection to thesis)
Thesis: (answer to the essential question)
Example (option 1): Jonas experienced many conflicts leading to some startling realizations
such as _________, ___________, __________ which caused him to change from ordinary citizen to
hero
Example (option 2): Jonas’ community shares features with modern day society, but the
reasoning behind them differ. (now select 3 features they both have and explain how these
societies differ) .
II. Body Paragraph 1, CONFLICT #1 or CHARACTER/FEATURE OF SOCIETY #1 FOCUS
Topic Sentence: (connect/reword thesis)
Supporting Detail (list source)
Paraphrase, analyze, quotations examples with commentary.
Supporting Detail/Evidence
Transition sentence to Body Paragraph #2
III. Body Paragraph 2, CONFLICT #2 or CHARACTER/FEATURE OF SOCIETY #2 FOCUS
Topic Sentence: (connect/reword thesis)
Supporting Detail (list source)
Paraphrase, analyze, quotations examples with commentary.
Supporting Detail/Evidence (list source)
Transition sentence to Body Paragraph #3.
IV. Body Paragraph 3, CONFLICT #3 or CHARACTER/FEATURE OF SOCIETY
COMPARISON/CONTRAST
Topic Sentence: (connect/reword thesis and include the focus of this paragraph))
Supporting Detail (list source)
Paraphrase, analyze, quotations, examples with commentary.
Supporting Detail (list source)
Transition sentence to Conclusion Paragraph.
V. Conclusion
Restate the answer to the PROMPT using a re-wording of your thesis and your reasons. Also call your
audience to action.
STAY AWAY FROM:
●
●
●
●
●
●
1st person language- communicating directly to your reader (You should….I……we…..etc.)
Questions as hooks
Not using transitions.
Using the same type of sentence over and over again.
Using words like: very, good, so, like, got, it, (BE SPECIFIC, use a thesaurus)
Using contractions (don’t, shouldn’t, they’re instead use do not, should not, they are)
Name: Period: Date: Unit 2: The Challenge of Utopia-­‐ Embedded Assessment #3 Turn-­‐In Directions 1. Upload your Final Draft to Google Docs, English 8 (Title: Last Name, EA #3-­‐Giver, Example: Merculief, EA#3 Giver) 2. Complete the Reflection on the back of this paper. 3. Staple the following, in order: o This Rubric/Reflection (10 pts formative) o Timeline initialed (5 pts formative) o Expository Essay Outline & peer edited Rough Draft (20 pts formative) Expository Essay Scoring Guide Scoring Criteria Exemplary 4.0 Ideas Proficient 3.0 The essay maintains a focused thesis •
responds to one of the in response to one of the prompts with a clear thesis prompts •
develops ideas adequately develops ideas thoroughly with supporting details, with relevant supporting facts, and evidence details, facts, and evidence •
provides sufficient commentary to provides insightful demonstrate commentary and deep understanding analysis. The essay •
•
•
Emerging 2.0 Incomplete 1.0 The essay The essay •
has an unclear or •
Has no obvious thesis unrelated thesis •
Provides minimal •
develops ideas unevenly supporting details, facts or with inadequate or evidence supporting details, facts, or evidence •
Contains little to no commentary •
provides insufficient commentary to demonstrate understanding. Structure The essay •
has a hook, bridge and thesis as introduction •
uses an effective organizational structure for a multi-­‐paragraph essay •
uses a 3 transitions to create cohesion and unity among ideas •
provides an insightful conclusion. The essay The essay • has a thesis and hook in •
has a one-­‐part introduction introduction •
uses an inconsistent • uses an appropriate organizational structure for organizational structure for a multi-­‐paragraph essay a multi-­‐paragraph essay •
uses transitional strategies • uses 2 transitions to link, ineffectively or compare, and contrast ideas inconsistently • provides a conclusion that •
provides a weak or supports the thesis. unrelated conclusion. The essay • has no introduction • has little or no obvious organizational structure • uses few or no transitional strategies • provides no conclusion. Use of Language The essay • conveys a consistent academic voice by using a variety of literary terms and precise language • embeds 3 quotations effectively The essay • conveys an academic voice by using some literary terms and precise language • embeds 1 quotation correctly The essay • uses limited or vague language • lacks quotations Conventions The essay The essay • demonstrates use of proper • demonstrates use of proper English capitalization, English capitalization, punctuation, spelling, punctuation, spelling, grammar, and usage grammar, and usage (including a variety of (including a variety of syntax). syntax). The essay •
uses informal and slang language and vocabulary to convey an academic voice •
embeds quotations incorrectly or unevenly •
The essay The essay struggles to demonstrate • does not meet standard use of grammar and proper English capitalization, English capitalization, punctuation, spelling, punctuation, spelling, grammar, and usage; grammar, and usage. frequent errors obscure meaning. Hero’s Journey Narrative Grade: _______/40 (Summative) Assess yourself on the 4-­‐point scale. Use the rubric to highlight your writing strengths and weaknesses. (4.0 = A, 3.0 = B, 2.0 = C, 1.0 = D, anything in between 2.3, 3.7 etc. is acceptable) Explain and provide specific reasons for your grade below. This is a formal reflection and should be a solid paragraph of 6-­‐11 sentences plus. I think I deserve a because Scoring Criteria Credit Reflection The reflection uses specific details, is complete and connects the assignment to their learning. No Credit The reflection is incomplete, vague and does not connect to the purposes of the assignment. Reflection Grade: Credit (+) /No Credit (-­‐) (Formative, 10 points)