Ms.

Sauls English 11
October 2015

Quarter 1 Final Essay Assessment

Directions: Write an argumentative essay using evidence from two texts read this quarter to argue what is an
American identity.
You have read texts from a variety of authors this quarter, both historical (Crevecoeur, Bradford, etc.) and
contemporary (Susan-Lori Parks, Langston Hughes, Richard Rodriguez)--writers who each have their own beliefs
about American identity. However, their writings suggest that each of them understood this term differently.
Task: Select a minimum of two texts read during Quarter 1. Write an essay that explains their contrasting
views on this concept. In your essay, make a claim about the idea of American identity using two texts. Analyze
how these texts add to the understanding and/or misunderstanding of American identity.
Support your response with textual evidence and inferences drawn from each of the texts used.

*** This is not a simple compare and contrast essay assignment. You are asked to1). State your opinion of the
American identity (What does it mean to be American?). 2). Use the texts read this quarter to support your idea--please DO NOT just ramble about your own opinion. Using the texts is the most important part of this assignment.
(This is not to say that you cannot compare and contrast. You could argue why one text is correct with their
description of what it means to be American, while the other is incorrect).
Texts

What is an American? by Michel-Guillaume de Crevecoeur

Let America Be America by Langston Hughes
Religion of the White Man by Seneca Chief Red Jacket
A Soldier for the Crown by Charles Johnson (Collectionsp. 159)
In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks
Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford (Collections- p. 8)
What is your own big plan? by Barack Obama
Blaxicans by Richard Rodriguez (Collections p. 87)

Video
Off and Running (Averys Story--PBS)
http://www.pbs.org/pov/offandrunning/additional-video.php

What Kind of Asian are You? (YouTube video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ

This assignment is worth

50 points (Assessment
Grade).
40 points from the rubric
10 points for the
completed outline

Please attach your essay rough draft outline to your final draft. The essay outline counts as
10 points of your final grade.

Argument Essay Rubric

Description

9-10 Exceptional

7-8 Skilled

5-6 Proficient

3-4 Developing

1-2 Inadequate

Claim:

The essay introduces

a compelling claim
that is clearly
arguable and takes a
purposeful position
on an issue. The
text has a structure
and organization
that is carefully
crafted to support
the claim.

The essay introduces

a precise claim
that is clearly
arguable and takes an
obvious position on
an issue. The
essay has an effective
structure and
organization that is
aligned with the
claim.

The essay
introduces a claim
that
is arguable and
takes a position.
The essay has a
structure and
organization that is
aligned with
the claim.

The essay contains

an unclear or
emerging claim that
suggests a
vague position. The
essay attempts a
structure and
organization to
support
the position.

The essay contains

an unidentifiable
claim or vague
position. The essay
has
limited structure and
organization.

The essay provides

convincing and
relevant data and
evidence to back
up the claim and
effectively addresses
counterclaims. The
conclusion
strengthens the claim
and evidence.
Completely follows
essay
structure/paragraph
guidelines.

The essay provides

sufficient and
relevant data and
evidence to
back up the claim and
addresses
counterclaims fairly.
The conclusion
effectively reinforces
the claim and
evidence. Mostly
follows essay
structure/paragraph
guidelines.

The essay provides

sufficient data
and evidence to
back up the claim
and addresses
counterclaims. The
conclusion ties to
the claim and
evidence.
Somewhat follows
essay
structure/paragrap
h guidelines.

The essay provides

data and
evidence that
attempts to back up
the claim and
unclearly addresses
counterclaims or
lacks counterclaims.
The conclusion
merely restates the
position. Loosely
follows essay
structure/paragraph
guidelines.

The essay contains

limited data and
evidence related to
the claim and
counterclaims or
lacks counterclaims.
The essay may fail to
conclude the
argument or position.

The essay
strategically uses
words,
phrases, and clauses
to link the major
sections of the essay.
The essay explains
the relationships
between the claim
and reasons as well
as the evidence.
The essay
strategically links
the
counterclaims to the
claim.

The essay skillfully

uses words,
phrases, and clauses
to link the
major sections of the
essay. The essay
identifies the
relationship between
the claim and reasons
as well as the
evidence. The essay
effectively links
the counterclaims to
the claim.

The essay uses

words, phrases,
and
clauses to link the
major sections
of the essay. The
essay connects the
claim and reasons.
The essay links
the counterclaims
to the claim.

The essay contains

limited words,
phrases, and clauses
to link the
major sections of
the essay. The essay
attempts to connect
the claim and
reasons.

The essay contains

few, if any, words,
phrases and clauses
to link the major
sections of the essay.
The essay does not
connect the claims
and reasons.

The essay
introduces a clear,
arguable
claim that can be
supported by
reasons and
evidence.

Development:
The essay provides
sufficient data and
evidence to back up
the claim as well
as a conclusion that
supports the
argument.
Follows
structure/paragraph
guidelines

Cohesion:
The essay uses
words, phrases, and
clauses to link the
major sections
of the essay, creates
cohesion, and
clarifies the
relationships
between the
claim and reasons,
between reasons
and evidence, and
between claims
and counterclaims.

Does not follow

essay
structure/paragraph
guidelines.

Style and
The essay presents
The essay presents an The essay presents The essay illustrates The essay illustrates
Conventions:
an engaging, formal
appropriate and
a formal,
a limited
a limited
The essay presents
and objective tone.
formal, objective
objective tone. The awareness of formal awareness or
a formal, objective
The essay
tone. The essay
essay
tone. The essay
inconsistent tone.
tone that
intentionally
demonstrates standard demonstrates
demonstrates some
The essay illustrates
Please
attach
your
essay
rough
draft
outline
to
your
final
draft.
The essay
demonstrates
uses standard
English
standard English
accuracy in
inaccuracy
in
rough
counts
as 10 of
points
your final
standard
Englishdraft
conventions
conventions
usage of
conventions
of grade.
standard English
standard English
English
of usage and
and mechanics
usage and
conventions of
conventions of
conventions of
mechanics
mechanics
usage and
usage and
usage and
mechanics.
mechanics.
mechanics

Outline

Begin your paper with an opening

sentence or hook about your
topic that catches the readers
attention.
Include context: provide the
information the reader will need
to understand the topic.
(This is where you would include
a summary if you absolutely
needed toNOT throughout your
whole paper).
State your thesis/main claim, your
arguable position on the topic.
What side will you take? What
will you prove in your paper?
What are you going to explore?

Introduction Paragraph
Body Paragraph:
Write a claim that states the main idea of the paragraph for your first body paragraph.

What are you going to try and explain or prove in this paragraph (Claim)

Write down the specific textual evidence or evidence from other sources that you are using to
support your thesis.

Cited quotes or paraphrasing (NOT DIRECT COPYING) would be placed here. Include
page/paragraph/line numbers

Analyze your evidence: tell the reader what is significant or important about this evidence. How does
the piece of evidence support your thesis? Why did you choose to include it?

Dont assume your reader(s) will automatically understand why you chose the evidence you chose.
Explain how it proves your main claim or why its relevant to the topic.

Conclusion: Make connections for the reader in your conclusion. Use some of the following questions
to guide you: What questions still need to be answered? What is the larger significance of the topic
you chose to write about? What should the reader think after reading your paper?