Sample Writing Assignment and Rubric

Valerie Walker – Teaching Portfolio

Standards/Objectives:
1. STANDARD: Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external

conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.

(Standard 3, Alabama, ELA, Grade 8, 2021)

a. OBJECTIVE: I can use textual evidence to analyze how authors use themes to contribute to the meaning and purpose

of a text.

2. STANDARD: Analyze the use of literary devices, including simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, hyperbole,

imagery, tone, symbolism, irony, mood, and allusion, to support interpretations of literary texts, using textual evidence to

support the analysis. (Standard 4, Alabama, ELA, Grade 8, 2021)

a. OBJECTIVE: I can use textual evidence to support my analysis of an author’s use of literary devices in a text.

3. STANDARD: Produce writing that shows a command of standard English grammar, usage, and mechanics. (Standard 20,

Alabama, ELA, Grade 8, 2021)

a. OBJECTIVE: I can produce writing that shows my command of standard English grammar, usage, and mechanics.
 Literary Analysis Essay (The Outsiders)
Write a clear, cohesive literary analysis essay to answer the following question: How does S. E. Hinton use themes and literary
devices in The Outsiders to create meaning for readers? You will choose 1-2 literary elements to analyze in your essay. Your essay
should…

 Be typed and submitted online

 Be formatted in MLA9 style (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, double-spaced lines, 1” margins on all sides)
o Include a four-line header (Your name, teacher’s name, class title, date), left-aligned
o Include a title line (centered)
o Include a running header with your last name and the page number, right-aligned (EX: Walker 4)
o Include a Works Cited page with the proper citation for your copy of S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders
 Include 2 pieces of textual evidence
o Use in-text citations to document the author/page number for textual evidence
 Four paragraphs (400 words) MINIMUM in length (Introduction, 2 body paragraphs, conclusion)
 Use proper spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.

The literary elements available for discussion in your essays are:

 THEMES: violence, choices, love, loyalty, social class

 LITERARY DEVICES:
o Tone (how the author feels about the characters/subject matter)
o Mood (how the reader feels when reading the story)
o Symbolism (sunrise, sunset, Gone With the Wind)
o Imagery (details, descriptions)
o Characterization (the characters’ personalities, actions, motives, development)
 Literary Analysis Essay (The Outsiders) Rubric
100 POINTS POSSIBLE
Exemplary (100 pts) Achieved (Target: 90 pts) Developing (Target: 50-80 pts) Not Achieved (0-40 pts)
20 POINTS 20 pts 18 pts: The student’s writing includes The student’s writing includes a
MLA9 Format: The student’s writing includes The student’s writing includes SOME elements of MLA9 style FEW elements of MLA9 style
 4-Line Header ALL elements of MLA9 style ALL elements of MLA9 style document formatting, with: document formatting, with:
 Title Line document formatting, with NO document formatting with no 16 pts: 2 errors 8 pts: 6 errors
 Running Header errors. more than 1 error.
 Times New Roman 14 pts: 3 errors 6 pts: 7 errors
 12-pt. font
 Double-spaced lines 12 pts: 4 errors 4 pts: 8 errors
 1” margins
10 pts: 5 errors 2 pts: 9 errors

0 pts
The student’s writing does not
include any elements of MLA9
style document formatting, OR
includes 10+ errors in formatting.
20 POINTS 20 pts 18 pts The student’s document includes a The student’s document includes
MLA9 Format: The student’s document The student’s document partial Works Cited page in the a minimal Works Cited page
Works Cited Page includes a complete Works includes a complete Works correct citation style (MLA9) with:
Cited page in the correct Cited page in the correct with/or: 8 pts: 6 errors
citation style (MLA9) with citation style (MLA9) with no
NO errors. more than 1 error. 16 pts: 2 errors 6 pts: 7 errors

14 pts: 3 errors 4 pts: 8 errors

12 pts: 4 errors 2 pts: 9 errors

10 pts: 5 errors 0 pts

The student’s document does
NOT include a Works Cited page
OR uses the incorrect style of
citation OR includes 10+ errors.
20 POINTS 20 pts 18 pts The student’s writing includes: The student’s writing includes:
MLA9 Format: In-text The student’s writing includes The student’s writing includes
citations/Textual Evidence 2+ pieces of textual evidence 2 pieces of textual evidence 16 pts: 2 pieces of textual evidence 8 pts: 1 piece of textual evidence
Requirement with correct in-text citations with in-text citations for each. with in-text citations, 2 errors with in-text citation, 2 errors
for each. There are NO errors There is no more than 1 error in
in textual evidence or in-text textual evidence or in-text 14 pts: 2 pieces of textual evidence 6 pts: 1 piece of textual evidence
citations. citations. with in-text citations, 3 errors with in-text citation, 3 errors

12 pts: 2 pieces of textual evidence 4 pts: 1 piece of textual evidence

with in-text citation, 4+ errors with in-text citation, 4+ errors OR
only 2 quotes without citations (or
10 pts: 1 piece of textual evidence 2 citations without quote) used in
with in-text citation, 1 error essay.

2 pts: Essay uses only one piece

of textual evidence, for which
either the quote is there without
an in-text citation, or there is a
citation with no quote.

0 pts: The essay does not include

any quotes with citations in any
way.
20 POINTS 20 pts 18 pts 16 pts 8 pts
Paper Length: The student’s essay exceeds The student’s essay meets the The student’s essay does not exceed The student’s essay does not
4 paragraphs /400 words the 400 word / 4 paragraph 400 word / 4 paragraph 375 words / 3-4 paragraphs in exceed 275 words / 2-3
requirement. minimum length. length. paragraphs in length.
6 pts
14 pts The student’s essay does not
The student’s essay does not exceed exceed 250 words/ 2-3 paragraphs
350 words / 3-4 paragraphs in in length.
length. 4 pts
The student’s essay does not
12 pts exceed 200 words / 2 paragraphs
The student’s essay does not exceed in length.
325 words / 3-4 paragraphs in 2 pts
length. The student’s essay does not
exceed 150 words/1-2 paragraphs
10 pts in length.
The student’s essay does not exceed 0 pts
300 words / 3 paragraphs in length. The student’s essay does not
exceed 100 words / 1 paragraph
in length or is not submitted.
 20 POINTS 20 pts 18 pts In spelling, grammar, capitalization, In spelling, grammar,
Grammar / Mechanics: The student’s writing contains The student’s writing contains and/or punctuation, the student’s capitalization, and/or punctuation,
 Spelling NO errors in spelling, contains 1 total error in writing contains: the student’s writing contains:
 Capitalization capitalization, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, 16 pts: 2 errors total 8 pts: 5 errors total
 Punctuation grammar. punctuation, and/or grammar.
 Grammar 14 pts: 3 errors total 6 pts: 6 errors total

12 pts: 4 errors total 4 pts: 7 errors total

10 pts: 5 errors total 2 pts: 8 errors total

0 pts: 9+ errors total