Guide to Responding for "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" Reflective Essay Assessment

Use the rubric below to assess your essay. Remember, your essay should:

  • Begin with an introductory paragraph (5-8 sentences in length) containing a short summary of the story and a thesis statement that states your position on the issue;
  • Contain 2-3 body paragraphs (6-9 sentences in length) that begin with a topic sentence and provide supporting details (major and minor);
  • Contain a minimum of 3 appropriate quotations from the story, correctly formatted;
  • Use paraphrase effectively to summarize the story and explain your position;
  • End with a concluding paragraph (at least 4 sentences in length) that summarizes the main ideas from your essay.

In addition, your essay must demonstrate the following skills we have been practicing in the course:

  • Pre-writing (complete at least one prewriting activity)
  • Outlining
  • Sentence variety
  • Transitions
  • Appropriate grammar and punctuation

Rubric:

Grade

A

B

C-D

F

Category

Above Standards

Meets Standards

Approaches Standards

Below Standards

Pre-writing & Outlining

The pre-writing activity shows effort to gain insight toward the topic and follows one of the models used in class. The outline is developed enough to support 2-3 body paragraphs, and there i a clear relationship between the body paragraphs and the thesis.

The pre-writing activity follows one of the models used in class but may not demonstrate significant insight into the topic. The outline attempts to link thesis to body paragraphs but may need further development.

Student has completed only pre-writing OR outlining, but not both. Pre-writing does not follow models learned in the course, or the outline is not sufficiently developed and contains no clear thesis.

Student has not completed any pre-writing or outlining activities.

Introduction Paragraph

The paragraph presents a clear and accurate summary of the story. The paragraph presents the writer’s stance on the assigned topic in a clear thesis statement.

The paragraph presents a summary that may contain slight lapses or inaccuracies. The paragraph contains a thesis statement, but it may not be sufficiently narrow to be supported in 2-3 body paragraphs; or the thesis may not fully address the prompt.

The paragraph presents a summary of the story that contains significant lapses or inaccuracies. The paragraph may not contain a thesis statement; or the paragraph may contain a thesis statement that does not address the prompt in a meaningful way.

The paragraph does not present an accurate summary of the story. The paragraph does not contain a clear thesis statement.

Body Paragraphs

There are at least two supporting paragraphs that contain topic sentences that tie back to the thesis, and the supporting sentences add new information or examples to support the topic sentence without being repetitive.

There are at least two supporting paragraphs that contain topic sentences, although topic sentences may not clearly tie back to thesis. Paragraphs include major and minor details but may not provide sufficient support. 

There are one or two supporting paragraphs, but supporting paragraphs may not contain clear topic sentences. Paragraphs do not contain sufficient support.

There are fewer than two supporting paragraphs. Supporting paragraphs contain no clear topic sentences. Paragraphs contain few or no supporting details or examples.

Concluding Paragraph

There is a concluding paragraph that summarizes the thesis and main ideas of the essay.

There is a concluding paragraph that summarizes some of the main points of the essay. The paragraph may be repetitive, or the paragraph may not clearly summarize the essay’s thesis.

There is a concluding paragraph, but it does not effectively wrap up the essay by summarizing its thesis.

The essay contains no conclusion.

Quotation & Paraphrase

The essay contains a minimum of three quotations from the story; quoted text is appropriate for the context, and quotations are formatted correctly. The essay paraphrases the story to support the thesis and avoids plagiarism.

The essay contains a minimum of three quotations from the story, although quotations may be overlong or may not clearly support the essay’s main ideas. The essay attempts to use quotation and paraphrase appropriately to avoid plagiarism.

The essay contains fewer than three quotations from the story. Quotations are overlong or are not obviously connected to the point the author is trying to make. The essay attempts to paraphrase the story, but paraphrase may be insufficient to avoid plagiarism.

The essay does not quote or paraphrase from the story. The essay plagiarizes from the story.

Grammar & Style

The essay contains no errors in grammar and spelling. It uses a variety of sentence length and styles. It uses transitions to effectively link sentences and paragraphs.

The essay contains few errors that distract the reader from the content. The essay varies sentence lengths and styles occasionally. It uses some transitional expressions to link sentences and/or paragraphs.

The essay contains errors that distract the reader from the content. It varies sentence lengths and styles only infrequently. It does not effectively transition between sentences or between paragraphs.

The essay contains many errors in grammar or spelling that confuse the reader. Sentence formats are repetitive, with no variation in lengths and styles. The essay does not use transitional words or expressions.
Last modified: Monday, October 21, 2019, 7:12 PM