Name: ______

Period: ______

Does Not Meet / Meets
0=no evidence / 1 = limited / 2= emerging / 3 = meets / 4 = exceeds
State Scored Traits / Ideas and Content / Incomplete or Intelligible / Unclear main idea, essay is missing one or more paragraphs
Lacking details, off topic, conclusions are inconsistent or contradictory / Main ideas can be found, but evidence from the text may be too general. Support is inconsistent or inaccurate. / Clear main ideas and content. Adequate support from the text. Author includes an analysis of examples from the text. / Main ideas and content is very clear, focused, well suited to the audience and purpose. Excellent support from the text.
Author elaborates on the analysis of examples from the text.
Organization / Difficult to follow, reader is confused, beginning, ending, or transitions are missing, details don’t make sense / Parts may be unclear; details misplaced; too short or too obvious intro. or conclusion; overuse of same transition words, or numbered; lacking paragraph breaks / Parts may be a little unclear; some details misplaced; too short or too obvious intro. or conclusion; same transitions used often, or numbered; issues in paragraph breaks / Writing can be followed; an order that makes sense; at least one paragraph intro. and conclusion; enough transitions; paragraph breaks; writing may follow a formula / Easy to follow;
inviting beginning
satisfying ending; smooth, effective transitions; paragraph breaks; writing may follow a formula but it is graceful and subtle
Sentence Fluency / Extremely difficult to read out loud; most sentence structures are the same; order of words is confusing / Difficult to read out loud; the reader has to slow down or re-read because of the way sentences are formed; order of words is confusing / Some parts (not all) are easy to read out loud; reader may have to slow down or re-read; may not be enough variety in sentences; dialogue may not sound natural / Easy to read out loud; sounds natural; variety of sentence beginnings, lengths, and patterns; if used, dialogue mostly sounds natural / Very easy to read out loud; a fluent, natural sound; great variety in sentence beginnings, lengths, and patterns; if used, dialogue sounds natural
Conventions / Punctuation is left out, or random; spelling, capitalization, and grammatical errors impede readability / Many run-ons, comma splices, fragments; misspells common words; capitalization may have many errors; many basic errors that obscure meaning / Some run-ons, comma splices, fragments; misspells some common words; may capitalize and punctuate incorrectly; includes basic errors; may not be long enough, or too simple / Few run-ons, comma splices, fragments; spells words, capitalizes, and punctuates correctly; may have minor errors but important rules mostly followed; variety of conventions; long and complex enough / No run-ons, comma splices, fragments; spells difficult words, capitalizes, and punctuates correctly; errors few and minor; variety of conventions (colons, semi-colons, parentheses, different comma uses, dialogue)

Write at least a five paragraphs essay on The Outsiders. You have three options to choose from. No matter which option you choose, your essay must have an introduction paragraph, at least three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.

Your options are on the back.

Option 1

Are the main characters of The Outsiders heroes or not?

Write at least a five paragraph essay explaining why you believe each of the Greasers - Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally - could be considered a hero. You can also include the example of Darry’s character in your essay. Remember to support your ideas with specific examples from the text.

Option 2

Compare and contrast the Greasers and the Socs.

Option 3

Create your own topic. If you choose this option, be sure to discuss your chosen topic with your teacher.