Essay Topics & Rubrics

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.”     Albert Einstein

NOTE:    * Sites to Avoid for Finding Quotes *  

                     

   1101   

Narrative: Topics Rubric 

Lost Worms in a Golden Apple (Does this focus on one event? Where is the thesis? How can it remove the "you"?)

Standing on the Sidelines (The thesis is at end of 2nd paragraph.)

Don't Pen This On Me (Look at last 3 sentences of paragraph 2: How can the thesis be stronger?)

Hot Dog Stand (look at the underlined thesis and decide if it fits the essay topic?)

Musical Spotlight  (Can we change the 2 "got" and how about the "you"? Is the thesis a road map to the rest of the essay?)

web essay #1: “El Chapereke” (Is this narrative essay or descriptive? Where is the thesis?)

web essay #2: “8 Cow bracelet” (Notice it is in several other places and in slightly different forms? "8 Cow Bracelet" (Cinderella) and "8 Cow Bracelet" (Mohana) and "8 Cow Bracelet" (costs $5 per month to read --and by read, I mean steal) and Youtube Video of essay being explained (10 min)

 

A to Z Small Essays: Requirement -- 4 Types of Description & Sentence Variation List & Rubric

A Ritual (Look closely at the errors. it is a sweet essay but are the sentences too long? Where is thesis?)

Another Day in the Life of an Assassin (Good details. Simple story. But where can the essay be improved? Where is thesis?)

Harvest Moon Delirium (Strong essay. What parts can be improved upon? Where is thesis?)

Babies Do Come Back (Sweet ending for a sad situation. Good use of dialogue. Where is thesis?)

 

Descriptive Essay                     Topics                         Rubric

These are from published essays:

(describing a person) "Unforgettable Miss Bessie" by Carl T Rowan

(describing a place) "The Corner Store" by Eudora Welty

Example #1: And the Orchestra Played On (by Joanne Lipman)

Hesitantly, I opened the decrepit violin case like I was looking for lost treasure. The hinges creaked and one of the case’s tarnished buckles fell off. I was greeted by a cascade of loose horsehair — my bow a victim of mites, the repairman later explained. It was pure agony to twist my fingers into position. But to my astonishment and that of my teenage children, who had never heard me play, I could still manage a sound. I was overwrought with emotion, playing and crying like a child who won the state championship. Although it was embarrassing, I was able to show the joy of playing the violin to my daughters who were unsure what electives to sign up for in the upcoming school year.

Example #2: Where the Danger Is

The weather was cold and gray as expected near the end of December. While the trees were all leafless, with fall now just a memory, every child except me was excited to be leaving school and returning home for the winter break.  All the kids were looking forward to staying home from school for a few weeks and to experience their joyous “big payoff” on Christmas morning: the crinkling of unwrapped presents, the smell of luscious chocolates, and the fresh feel of unplayed toys. Not having to go to school was good, but usually by the time vacation was over, going to school was a big relief. Most children enjoyed this wondrous holiday full of presents and joy, and going back to their friends to compare “loot” from Christmas; most children eagerly anticipated the chance to reestablish those fragile ties that hold kids together. 

At school, students were praised for doing good work, not belittled for each and every mistake. No one there was fighting because being too loud was against the rules.  Right now, the world outside of home was more safe and structured, not chaotic, scary and loud.  Even when bad things did happen, it was always far away and nothing to be too concerned about. But my home knew none of these experiences because my Dad often had too much to drink, passing out and leaving my Mom to act out her stress on the only other living punching bag around: me.

 

 

Illustration Essay                     Topics                     Rubric

No Samples will be provided for this essay. See SSC or my office for additional help.

 

 

1102

Reader Response 1-4 (1-2 pages) and Rubric Checklist

#2: Broken Vietnamese Blossom

#3: Noi Fan Club

#3: Newton's Dirty Secret (Work Cited Missing)

#4: Sonny and Jane (Work Cited Missing - this is from the text and not the best essay - why?)

 

Definition:     

Samples from Western TC  

French Fried: The Fried Potato Bombs - good example (negation in red, thesis underlined but where def.?)

The Bar of Sugary Death - ok example (negation in red, thesis underlined and def. is in green) but what about quotes from quote source? These support nothing.

Twinkies: Yellow Death - good example (negation in red, thesis underlined but where def.?)

Human Flourishing (Happiness -- can you find the 4 parts of the INTRO?)

 

 

Lit Analysis (900-1350 words) and Rubric   
Guide to Before Beginning to Write Literary Analysis & Guide to Writing Literary Analysis

- not a book report!!!

Absolute Truth in Life {Bierce & Orwell} (A) 

Lethal Housewives {Glaspell & Dahl} (A-)

 Cost of Death {Obrien & Tan} (B/B+)

Rude Awakening {Carver & Updike} (C+ only because missing summary paragraph, secondary sources, and required length; otherwise would be 'A')

The Different Views of Home {Capote & Didion} (B+/A- because of thesis and sources)

Death Reveals a Beauty in Life {Tan & O'Brien} (B+/A-)

Carpe Diem {Didion & White} (A-)

 

 

Research paper and Rubric Checklist

 Sample Annotated Bibliography (more formal)

Scaffold for Topic Proposal & for Annotated Bibliography

Example 1 on conscription: (hook?)

Example 2 on cell phones (found online)

Example 3 on wolves (found online)

Example 4 on UN Sanctions (missing hook)

 

 

2122 Reader Response (Rubric)

Student Sample 1: "To his Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell (go down a few pages to find it)

Student Sample 2: "We are Seven" by Wordsworth

 

Disclaimer: This web page and its associated web pages are not an official publication of Gordon College. Unofficial web pages pertain to online material created for educational purposes that reflect individual conception and do not necessarily convey the college’s vision. The author of these pages is solely responsible for content. Everything here is copyrighted, either by me or another individual, and all of it is used solely for educational purposes. Nothing on these pages is to be duplicated, sold, stolen, or used for any illegal purposes.