Summative Persuasive Essay Rubric
1. PROMPT: Most states allow people to get a driver’s license at the age of 16. Some people feel that 16 is much too young for the responsibility that comes with driving a car and that teenagers should not be allowed to drive until the age of 18. In your opinion, at what age should people be allowed to drive, and why? Write clearly and be confident in your writing.
2. Complete the Persuasion Map before writing your essay (graphic organizer). Write a rough draft. Write your final draft.
3. Your Introduction: (3 to 5 sentences)
a. Begin your introduction with a strong attention grabber.
b. Include your concession and refutation.
c. Include a thesis statement with the subject, your opinion and position on the topic, and introduce your two reasons that you wish to argue.
4. Body Paragraph 1:
a. Your first body paragraph should start with a good topic sentence about your first reason.
b. Give a supporting detail that will convince your reader that this is an important reason
c. Give an example that relates to the reason.
5. Body Paragraph 2:
a. Your second body paragraph should start with a good topic sentence about your second reason.
b. This should be your strongest reason.
c. Give a supporting detail that will convince your reader that this is the most important reason.
d. Give an example that relates to the reason.
6. Conclusion: (2 to 3 sentences)
a. Begin your conclusion by restating your thesis in a different way.
b. Give your reader a call to action: What should they do with the information now?
c. DO NOT INTRODUCE ANYTHING NEW IN THE CONCLUSION. JUST WRAP IT UP!
7. In Your essay:
a. Use ethos, logos, pathos, or a combination of them.
b. Use transition words.
c. Do not be repetitive.
d. Use more complex sentences, less passive voice and a more active voice.
e. Check for spelling, grammar, and mechanics.
f. Use a dictionary and/or thesaurus for help.
8. This counts as 2 summative grades:
a. Be neat: no scratch outs. It should not look like a rough draft. Write it over, if it looks messy.
9. DO NOT: announce any part of your essay by using the words like “I am going to talk about…” My essay is about…” You can see how…” “This is how…” etc.
10. DO NOT: tell a story