Analytical
Essay on Myths
Site
Map | River
of Words | River
of Words/Watershed Trip
| 21
Club Rubric | One
True Sentence | Show,
Not Tell | On-Line
Resources | Glossary
| Quotes
| WordList
| Co-Teachers - Doug
and Melissa
| Gallery
E-Mail Doug at mrdoug@aznet.net
or Melissa at mjmckinstry@earthlink.net
Possible Thesis Ideas
(idea that we're analyzing and proving something
about):
Myths may act as a roadmap to the
divine.
Myths in the context of the culture. They cannot
be understood independently of culture.
Myths are among the most persistent, resilient,
lasting, and enduring artifacts of culture.
Water, and all of its forms, is central to myth in
many cultures. As sophisticated as we are, our culture remains hungry
for myth.
Your own topic
Process "The Trek":
- "Plan Your Trip": outline your territory and
where you'll stop along the way in order to get to your
destination successfully.
- "Marking the Trail": introduce your topic and
thesis by describing your territory.
- "Setting Up Camps": develop and construct your
camps (body paragraphs) to show your knowledge and understanding
of surviving the trip and the trail. Use all the materials you've
been given: quotes and details from text, notes, lectures, film,
background knowledge, life experience. SHOW, not tell.
- "Reaching Your Destination": conclude your
trip by stating where you've been and what impact this trip has
had on your life.
Analytical Essay Rubric
5 - Exceptional Achievement
Writer demonstrates all or most of the following
traits:
- Provides complete introductory context
skillfully leading to thesis
- Uses clearly defined evidence which includes
effective reasoning, paraphrased details, and quotations;
demonstrates insightful analysis of text and prompt
- Plans body of essay carefully with clear
connections (topic sentences) and smooth transitions (no
irrelevant digressions)
- Skillfully writes conclusion by providing
closure among major ideas in relation to thesis
- Skillfully uses clear, vivid language and a
variety in sentence structure
- Shows near mastery of mechanics, spelling, and
grammar
4 - Commendable Achievement
Writer demonstrates all or most of the following
traits:
- Provides introductory context leading to
thesis
- Uses relevant evidence to support thesis
including effective paraphrased details and quotations;
demonstrates clear comprehension of text and prompt
- Plans body of essay well with connections
(topic sentences) and transitions
- Provides complete conclusion; summarizes major
ideas and clearly connects to thesis
- Uses clear language and a variety in sentence
structure
- Shows clear control as a writer making
infrequent errors in mechanics, spelling, and grammar
3 - Proficient Achievement
Writer demonstrates all or most of the following
traits:
- Introduces most of the context and orients
reader to thesis
- Uses some relevant evidence, but may rely on
generalizations or summary to support thesis; shows adequate
understanding of text and prompt
- Plans body of essay with adequate connections
(topic sentences)
- Provides conclusion summarizing the major
points
- Uses clear language and some variety in
sentence structure
- Makes occasional errors in mechanics,
spelling, and grammar
2 - Some Evidence of Achievement
Writer demonstrates all or most of the following
traits:
- Introduces context minimally, omitting some
details, incomplete thesis
- Cites very little relevant evidence from text,
relies too much on summary; may show misunderstanding of text or
prompt
- Seems confused in overall plan for body of
essay; may lack clear connection between ideas
- Provides inadequate and/or minimal
conclusion
- Shows inconsistent use of clear language or
lack of variety in sentence structure
- Makes frequent errors in mechanics, spelling,
and grammar
1 - Limited Evidence of Achievement
Writer demonstrates all or most of the following
traits:
- Provides little or no introduction; thesis is
missing or unfocused
- Uses little if any relevant evidence; paper is
too brief; or misunderstands text or prompt
- Exhibits confusion in overall plan for body of
essay; no topic sentences
- Provides inadequate or no
conclusion
- Rarely shows variety in sentence
structure
- Displays frequent, distracting errors in
mechanics
Site
Map | River
of Words | River
of Words/Watershed Trip
| 21
Club Rubric | One
True Sentence | Show,
Not Tell | On-Line
Resources | Glossary
| Quotes
| WordList
| Co-Teachers - Doug
and Melissa
| Gallery
E-Mail Doug at mrdoug@aznet.net
or Melissa at mjmckinstry@earthlink.net