Success Essay
Comp 1301 Lamar University.
Definition/Description Essay
General Instructions
Write a unified composition of at least 500 words on the assigned topic*. Your writing will be judged on focus, organization, mechanics, standard conventions, word choice, insight, usage, and sentence structure. You must submit your essay as a Word document (.doc, .docx, or .rtf). Essays submitted as any other file type will not be accepted.
Please note that your paper must be in MLA format as is explained in section 46C of your Little, Brown Handbook on pages 714-71. See also pages 717-751 for further for guidance. Essays that are not submitted as directed and are not in MLA format (including heading, header, use of correct font style and size, spacing, etc.) will not be graded . In addition, do not use 2nd person in your essays. (if you don’t know what this is, just ask!
*Assigned Topic
In simplified terms, your essay assignment is this: pick a word from the list, explore the common definition, offer a deeper definition, use real world experiences to prove your deeper definition. Explain how your definition is truer than the common one.
In expanded terms, your assignment is this: Words are powerful tools that we use to communicate; however, they are also relative in many ways due to the widely ranging connotation of some words, such as home or family. In other words, family may mean unconditional love and acceptance to some, while it may mean unwavering judgement and disdain to others. Your assignment is to choose a word from the list below and offer an analysis of its meaning. You will explore the common definition of the word and will show that the word has meaning that goes beyond the common definition. You must also state the significance of the difference between the common definition and your definition (in other words, why do we need to know your definition?). Your evidence that you will use to prove your assertions will come from a description (or descriptions) of how the word exists in the world and can come from your own experiences or can come from others’ experiences. In your development, focus of using vivid, concrete language and on utilizing generative development. Finally, keep in mind Paul Roberts’ advice: Take the less usual side.
Words to choose from:
1. Power 4. Success
2. Truth 5. Common Sense
3. Acceptance 6. Failure
Suggestions for Getting Started
Use reference books to assist you:
• Course books
• Dictionaries
• Thesauruses
Use one or more of the following prewriting techniques:
• Freewriting
• Brainstorming
• Mapping
• Diagramming
• Outlining
Rubric
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Use this rubric with your essay (continues on next page). Tasks |
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5 |
4 |
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Essay (100 points) |
A 6 essay demonstrates a high degree of competence and sustained control, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay in this category • addresses all elements of the writing task effectively and insightfully • develops ideas thoroughly, supporting them with well-chosen reasons, examples, or details • is well focused and well organized • demonstrates superior facility with language, using effective vocabulary and sentence variety • demonstrates general mastery of the standard conventions of grammar, usage, and mechanics but may have minor errors • reveals exemplary insight, critical thinking, or analysis -MLA guidelines are exactly followed and implemented with no errors (100 – 90 points) |
A 5 essay demonstrates a high degree of competence, although it will have occasional lapses in quality. A typical essay in this category • addresses the writing task effectively • is well developed, using appropriate reasons, examples, or details to support ideas • is generally well focused and well organized • demonstrates facility with language, using effective vocabulary and sentence variety • demonstrates strong control of the standard conventions of grammar, usage, and mechanics but may have minor errors • reveals insight, critical thinking, or analysis -MLA guidelines are followed and implemented with minor errors (89 – 80 points) |
A 4 essay demonstrates clear competence, with some errors and lapses in quality. A typical essay in this category • addresses the writing task competently • is adequately developed, using reasons, examples, or details to support ideas • is adequately focused and well organized • demonstrates superior facility with language, using adequate vocabulary and minimal sentence variety • generally demonstrates control of the standard conventions of grammar, usage, and mechanics but may have minor errors. • relies on insight, critical thinking, or analysis, not just personal experience, for support. Avoids stating the obvious and using clichés -MLA guidelines are followed and implemented with some errors (79 – 70 points) |
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ENGL 1301 Composition I Lamar University Page 3 of 3 Tasks |
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2 |
1 |
0 |
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Essay (continued) (100 points) |
A 3 essay demonstrates limited competence. A typical essay in this category exhibits ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses: • addresses only some parts of the writing task • is unevenly developed and often provides assertions but few relevant reasons, examples, or details • is poorly focused and/or poorly organized • displays frequent problems in the use of language • demonstrates inconsistent control of grammar, usage, and mechanics -MLA guidelines are mostly followed and implemented, but with several errors (69 – 60 points) |
A 2 essay is seriously flawed. A typical essay in this category exhibits ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses: • is unclear or seriously limited in addressing the writing task • is seriously underdeveloped, providing few reasons, examples or details • is unfocused and/or disorganized • displays frequent serious errors in the use of language that may interfere with meaning • contains frequent serious errors in grammar, usage and mechanics that may interfere with meaning -MLA guidelines not followed, nor implemented (59 – 50 points) |
A 1 essay is fundamentally deficient. A typical essay in this category exhibits ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses: • provides little or no evidence of the ability to develop an organized response to the writing task • is undeveloped • contains severe writing errors that persistently interfere with meaning -No discernible format is used (49 – 1 points) |
Off topic (i.e. provides no evidence of an attempt to respond to the assigned topic), in a language other than English, merely copies the topic, consists of only keystroke characters, or is illegible, or nonverbal. (No grade) |