Personal Essay Prompt-Final Draft

Personal Essay Prompt
Final Draft
Dear Class,

You are going to use all the techniques or methods introduced in class to revise and edit your sentences and paragraphs of the first draft. Please refer to your classmates’ responses, the instructor’s comments, your textbook, The Little Brown Compact Handbook, and the handouts for the careful and detailed revision of your essay.
In writing your first draft, you were not required to compose perfect sentences which have no grammatical errors, whereas ideas, content development and essay structure were paid great attention to. However, now, you will need to proofread every sentence you wrote, check for any spelling mistake and correct grammar, punctuation and capitalization errors as well.
Please be aware that the Introduction, Main body and the Conclusion are still going to be shown in your essay, with a clear thesis statement presented at the end of Introduction and a well-developed body supporting your thesis before Conclusion. Certainly, please do not forget transitional sentences between the supporting paragraphs and transitional words in your body paragraphs. If you are still not sure how to do paragraph transitions, please go back to your handout, the diagram on Page 81 to get the relevant information.
Simultaneously, all kinds of connecting devices which are listed in both your textbook and the handout will need to be used for you to show a logical order with respect to time, place, space, emphasis, etc in your essay.
Furthermore, please place your title in the center of the first line above the Introduction with all the nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns and the first word of the title capitalized.
Last of all, please hand in your essay on time! *Failure to do so will result in a 10-point deduction from your total points for this assignment.*

Also, *please follow all the instructions in this prompt. Otherwise, your essays will not be accepted.*

Final Draft-Two copies, due at the beginning of class, on Monday, 02/18/08
Ø Length: 3-4 pages
Ø Focusing on grammar checking, organization and transition
Ø Having the supporting paragraphs fully developed with concrete or specific examples provided to prove your supporting points and the thesis
*General, vague and repetitive statement of your own opinions on some issue with no examples or proof given will result in low grades in the main body.*
Ø Drawing a sound and concise conclusion in the end which truly restates or reinforces your thesis
Essay Format
Your final draft must:
1. be typed, double–spaced and numbered
*Please put the page number at the right upper corner of each page.*
2. have one-inch margins on all sides
3. be stapled at the left upper corner of the pages
4. use 12-point font size and “Times New Roman” font style
5. include your name, course number, instructor’s name, the date, and the assignment type on the left upper corner of the first page.

Example: Mike Lee
Ling 101
Instructor: Qian Zhou (Jane)
February 18th, 2008
Personal Essay, Final Draft
-These five lines are not double-spaced.-

Essay Rubric


Poor
Adequate
Fair
Very Good
Excellent
Total

Logical development and connection of ideas-40% ( 24 points)
Lack of development and connection of ideas(1-11p)
Minimally developed ideas; no apparent connection(12-14p)
Some ideas are developed but still lacks further development and connection (15-17p)
Ideas are well developed and connected (18-20p)
Excellent and thorough development and connection of ideas (21-24p)


Organization(Introduction, Main-Body and Conclusion)-20% ( 12 points)
Absence of introduction or conclusion; no apparent organization of main body (1-2p)
Minimally recognized introduction; organization can be barely seen; severe problems with organization of ideas(3-4p)
Average introduction or conclusion; problems with the organization of ideas in the main body (5-7p)
Introduction and conclusion meet the criteria; main body but still lacks development(8-9p)
Excellent introduction and conclusion; ideas are clear, have a good transition and are well developed (10-12p)






Grammar-15% (9 points)
Severe grammar problems interfere greatly with the writer’s ideas (1p)
Numerous serious grammar problems that interfere with the writer’s ideas (2-3p)
Ideas are getting through to the reader, but grammar problems are apparent and have a negative effect on the writer’s ideas(4-5p)
Advanced use of grammar, few grammatical problems but do not interfere with the writer’s ideas (6-7p)
Native-like use of grammar, no fragment or run-on sentences (8-9p)




Punctuation, spelling and mechanics-15% (9p)
Complete disregard for English writing convention; paper illegible(1p)
Serious problems with format of paper; parts of essay not legible (2-3p)
Uses general writing conventions but has errors; spelling problems and punctuation interfere with ideas (4-5p)
Few problems with writing conventions or punctuation but paper is still neat(6-7p)
Correct use of English writing conventions and punctuation (8-9p)



Style and quality expression-10% (6p)
Inappropriate use of vocabulary; no concept of register or sentence variety (1p)
Poor expression of ideas; problems in vocabulary; lacks variety of structures (2p)
Some vocabulary misused; lacks awareness of register; may be too wordy (3p)
Attempts variety; good vocabulary; style fairly concise(4p)

Precise vocabulary usage; use of parallel structures (5-6p)

Total







I am sure you can do a wonderful job in this assignment! Please just try your best!

Good luck!

Best regards,
Jane