English 9
JFK HS
McCarthy
2012
Essay Assignment: Symbols in “The Scarlet Ibis”
Prompt: Write a five-paragraph essay about the symbols used by the author in “The Scarlet Ibis”. Use the
required thesis (below) as your thesis statement. Your essay should support this thesis.
Required Thesis: In “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst uses __________, ___________ and ____________
as symbols to offer greater insight into abstract ideas that are difficult to understand on their own.
Notes:
 Please make sure you take note of the rubric. It will help you make sure you know how to score well
on this essay.
 Your introduction should include: a brief introduction to the story, a definition of “symbol” and the
required thesis statement.
 Each body paragraph should support the thesis by: introducing the symbol, quoting a passage from
the story that illustrates the symbol, explains what the symbol stands for and how it helps us to
understand that difficult
 Your conclusion should: restate the thesis in a new way, briefly recap the symbols and discuss why
authors use symbols in their stories
Rubric for scoring:
Criteria
Introduction Paragraph: includes a brief introduction to the story, a definition of
“symbol” and the required thesis statement. Strong grammar, spelling and punctuation
are used.
Each Body Paragraph supports the thesis by:
introducing the symbol and the element it gives more insight about
quoting a passage from the story that illustrates the symbol
explaining what abstract idea the symbol stands for
explaining what new insight we gain (about that abstract idea) from the use of the
symbol
using strong grammar, spelling and punctuation
Conclusion Paragraph should: restate the thesis in a new way, briefly recap the
symbols and discuss why authors use symbols in their stories. Strong grammar, spelling
and punctuation are used.
Total
Score (1-20)
/30
/50
/20
/100
“Trap-Door” Items1
 proper format is used (name/date/per# in top left corner, title is centered, essay is double spaced)
 quotations of story text are punctuated and cited properly
 title of the story is punctuated properly (in quotes)
 title of the essay cannot be “The Scarlet Ibis”
 This rubric is stapled to the top of your essay
1
If any of these items are not met, the essay will be returned to the student, unscored, so that he/she may fix
these mistakes.