Level-UP! A guide to writing Stronger Theses KSJC Pre – AP English 11 Ms. Do

The Rubric

The Prompt Analyze how Twain creates tension to promote social commentary.

Level Up THESIS

Deconstructing the prompt… Highlight important words. What is the verb? Based on the verb, what is the prompt asking us to do? What do we need to know before we can make an argument?

Clear level 0! Level 0 Level 1 In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain talks about commentary made in a social setting. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain creates tension to promote social commentary. Level 0: Notice that although the author writes about Huckleberry Finn and social commentary, it is off topic because it does not answer the prompt. Level 1: In level 1, the author technically IS mentioning the prompt; however, he/she is simply RESTATING it, not addressing it. (A 1 would also be summary)

Clear level 1! Level 1 Level 2 In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain creates tension to promote social commentary. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses literary devices to create tension to promote social commentary. Level 1: In level 1, the author technically IS mentioning the prompt; however, he/she is simply RESTATING it, not addressing it. (A 1 would also be summary) Level 2: In level 2, the author does answer the prompt by adding “uses literary devices”; they are giving us the “how” part of the question. NOW they are addressing the prompt, but it is not defensible because it is indeed a FACT that Twain uses literary devices to create tension because it is TOO VAGUE (he’s writing, what else would be use?). You gotta be specific!

Clear level 2! Level 2 Level 3 In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses literary devices to create tension to promote social commentary. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses allusive symbolism and diction to emanate tension around the idea of civilization. Level 2: In level 2, the author does answer the prompt by adding “uses literary devices”; now they are giving us the “how” part of the question. NOW they are addressing the prompt, but it is not defensible because it is indeed a FACT that Twain uses literary devices to create tension because it is TOO VAGUE (he’s writing, what else would be use?). Also, what IS the social commentary? You gotta be specific! Level 3: In level 3, the author is making a specific AND DEFENSIBLE statement by saying that

Clear Level 3! Level 3 Level 4 In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses allusive symbolism and diction to emanate tension around the idea of civilization. In the beginning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain creates tension between Huck and Miss Watson by interconnecting allusive symbolism and diction; in doing so, he challenges the idea of civilization by demonstrating its abasing effect on an individual. Level 3: Clear language, defensible (makes an argument about a topic)  could improve the clarity of “will do anything” to make a stronger argument Level 4: Is clear & defensible, but also clarifies the scope (no unclear statements: answers specifically, who/what/when/where/why)  “will do anything” has been clarified to specific actions

Level UP Level 4 Level 5 In the beginning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain creates tension between Huck and Miss Watson by interconnecting allusive symbolism and diction; in doing so, he challenges the idea of civilization by demonstrating its abasing effect on an individual. Early in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain interconnects Huck’s naïve point of view with allusive symbolism and diction to present a challenge to the basic principles of the American Dream; by forming the novel this way, Twain creates a sardonic space to analyze the tension behind civilization’s unrealistic expectations. Level 4: Is clear & defensible, but also clarifies the scope (no unclear statements: answers specifically, who/what/when/where/why)  “will do anything” has been clarified to specific actions Level 5: Clear, defensible, clarified in scope, AND is nuanced (demonstrates awareness of of the other perspectives/significance (nuance) of its position)

BONUS LEVEL! Level 5 Level 6 Early in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain interconnects Huck’s naïve point of view with allusive symbolism and diction to present a challenge to the basic principles of the American Dream; by forming the novel this way, Twain creates a sardonic space to analyze the tension behind civilization’s unrealistic expectations. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain highlights the absurdity of civilization by contrasting Huck’s naïve point of view to Miss Watson’s proprieties of being “sivilized”; Huck reveals his constant struggle with civilization’s—and ultimately the American Dream’s— unrealistic requirements through unfiltered vernacular, irony, and allusive symbolism. Level 5: Clear, defensible, clarified in scope, encompasses all assertions, AND is nuanced (demonstrates awareness of of the other perspectives/significance (nuance) of its position) because of the “even at the expense of sacrificing other values such as truth and compassion” Level 6: Clear, defensible, clarified in scope, encompasses all assertions INCLUDING DEPTH of assertions (“ruthlessness” clarifies the degree of secrecy/manipulation/lies)