1. Summer Choice Novel Timed Essay
Strengths. Weaknesses. Goals.

2. Scoring
Based on student performance, the following conversion will be used for this essay:
4 = 20
3 = 17
2 = 15
1 = 13
0 = 0 (only if you did not complete the essay)
Remember that the conversion is subject to change with each essay

3. Strengths Overall understanding of the novels
You read them! You really read them!
Understanding of the prompt
In general, essays were a clear response to the prompt; a select few veered off topic.
Grammar and Sentence Structure
Very few mistakes
Check your own essay; if there are mistakes you made repeatedly, set a goal to work on it.

4. Weaknesses Thesis statements Your thesis should be phrased this way:
Many essays were missing the thesis statement entirely.
Some essays contained a thesis, but it was misplaced or vague in nature.
What should a thesis look like and where does it go?
Your thesis should be phrased this way:
(first literary technique/element), (second literary technique/ element), and (optional third literary technique/element) are used to (verb + article + noun), which (adverb + verb) a/the central idea of/that (theme).
Your thesis should be located at the end of your introduction paragraph.

5. Weaknesses Organization and Structure
Each essay you write needs to include a CLEAR introduction, body, and conclusion.
The body of your essay will vary in its composition; some prompts will require multiple paragraphs, others will require only 2.
Essays need to have a unifying concept or idea to tie all paragraphs together. Prove something!
Some essays turned into lists or individual paragraphs that were not connected to each other in any way.

6. Weaknesses Fully developing and supporting ideas.
Without development and support, essays become merely plot summary.
Challenge yourself to always include an answer to the questions, “why?” and “so what?”.
For example:
Instead of this:
Throughout Amir’s journey he encountered many obstacles such as the Taliban and Assef.
Try this:
Throughout Amir’s journey, he was challenged by encounters with the Taliban and Assef. In each of these situations, Amir demonstrated his strong and determined character. When he was forced to come face-to-face with Assef, he was also forced to come to terms with the reality of his journey and the lengths to which he had to go in order to reach his goal of redeeming himself.