Name:

Class:

WRITING

Grapes of Wrath Paragraph

Directions: Consider the prompt below. Write a full body paragraph (Thesis & blueprint in your topic sentence, textual evidence, analysis, and 1-2 concluding sentences) due Day 2, week of March 25. You do not need to use quotes unless you want to, but you do need to reference SPECIFIC EVENTS and/or ideas from the book and what weve watched of the Joad story in class. PROMPT: Along the highway from Oklahoma to California, the Joads encounter truck drivers, gas station attendants, junk yard workers, proprietors, other travelers, etc. Choose one encounter. Describe it briefly. How does this person/these people respond to the Joad family? What does this response say about people/human nature? What is Steinbeck trying to say in his book? Be sure to write a good SO WHAT? in your intro.
Excellent! Good Paragraph chooses adequate thesis related to class material and discussions; chooses adequate events and/or ideas from book and/or movie, demonstrates depth of thought, originality, and significance of thesis to class ideas and themes in some places. Paragraph includes thesis with adequate so what?, adequate commentary that builds an overall argument to support the thesis & connect to so what?, and 1-2 concluding sentences. Some errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or capitalization. Errors are not distracting to the reader. Room for Improvement Paragraph chooses thesis, but may make loose connection to class material and discussions; chooses inadequate events and/or ideas from book and/or movie, may not demonstrate enough depth of thought, originality, and significance of thesis to class ideas and themes in some places. Paragraph includes thesis with inadequate so what?, commentary that may need to make stronger connection to the thesis & so what?, and 1 concluding sentence. A number of errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or capitalization. Errors may be distracting to the reader at times. Yikes! Come see Ms. Peterson ASAP Paragraph shows little connection to class material and discussions; chooses no specific events and/or ideas from book and/or movie, may not be rational and does not demonstrate enough depth of thought, originality, and significance of thesis to class ideas and themes in some places. Paragraph may be missing one or more of the following: thesis, so what?, commentary that may need to make stronger connection to the thesis & so what?, and concluding sentences. A number of errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or capitalization. Errors are typically distracting to the reader.

Clarity & Originality of Thought

Paragraph chooses significant thesis related to class material and discussions; chooses compelling events and/or ideas from book and/or movie, demonstrates depth of thought, originality, and significance of thesis to class ideas and themes. Paragraph includes compelling thesis with compelling so what?, ample commentary that builds an overall argument to support the thesis & connect to so what?, and 1-2 concluding sentences. Few to no errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

Components of the Mini-Essay

Mechanics

Score: _________ / 12 points