Need ASAP -The phenomenon of “passing for white” as explored in James Weldon Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-colored Man

CRITICAL ANALYS ESSAY RUBRIC

YOUR NAME ________________________________________________________________

REVIEWER’S NAME ___________________________________________________________

CLASS: ________________________________________ DATE _______________________

Read your classmate’s draft thoroughly. Make comments in the draft and complete the chart below. Discuss your comments with your classmate and explain in detail your reasons for every response. Everyone starts off with 100 pts., that is, an A. You lose points when you do not cover each requirement given below. Therefore, use this worksheet during the revision process to ensure you have met all requirements.

ESSAY REQUIREMENTS YES NO

MLA Format & Paper Length

 Page numbers & last name in upper right margin

 Times New Roman 12 pt. font

 Correct heading (student’s name, instructor’s name, class, date)

 Double-spaced text

 Length—MINIMUM 4 pages with 1” margins (T/B/L/R)

Introduction Paragraph

 Presents an informative, suitable title

 Introduces focal author and title(s) of writings to be discussed in the essay

 Briefly states central themes/ideas of focal stories

 Establishes tone and credibility by quoting text or a secondary source

 Thesis appears at or near the end of the paragraph

Thesis Statement

 Presents a clearly stated thesis that establishes an argument

Summary Paragraph(s)

 States at the beginning of the summary the title and central theme(s) of focal writings

 Discusses major theme(s), meaning, plot development, and elements of the writing(s), e.g., what the writings are generally about

 Includes direct quotes that are important to the central theme or development of the writing

3 Analysis (min. 2-3 paragraphs)

Each paragraph

 Begins with a TOPIC SENTENCE conveying a main point to support the thesis

 Discusses in detail the literary, social &/or historical significance of the writing

 Provides evidence from primary text (Norton) & 3 secondary sources

 Uses appropriate transitions to bridge ideas from one paragraph to the next

Response Para.  Expresses a personal response the author & focal writing(s)

 Provides a personal opinion on the overall significance of the piece

Conclusion  States major conclusions drawn from the analysis

 Brings the essay to a satisfying close with new insights on the essay topic

MLA Documentation & Format

In-text Citations

 Uses signal phrases and attributive tags; smoothly integrates text from sources

 Uses correct parenthetical references for quoted/paraphrased text

Works Cited page

 Uses the correct format for the Works Cited page

 Includes correct information for focal writings from Norton and minimum 3 secondary sources

Writing, Grammar & Punctuation

 Sentence meanings are generally clear and correct & the writing is concise

 The essay is structured and cohesive

 The essay is free of major spelling, typing, and punctuation errors

TOTAL PTS. ____

Use this rubric to revise your essay after receiving comments from your peer partner(s) and instructor.

4 pts.

4 pts.

15 pts.

20 pts.

10 pts.

10 pts.

15 pts.

20 pts.

15 pts.

4 pts.

4 pts. 4 pts.

60 pts.

(20 pts. ea.)

15 pts.

1. What does the writer do well in this essay? Underline or highlight paragraphs, sentences and passages

that represent the writer’s best writing.

A.

B.

C.

2. What part(s) of the essay did you not understand?

3. What would you like to have known more about that can enhance the essay and support the thesis?

4. What detail(s) do not work with essay and do not support the thesis?

5. What details can be moved to another section in the essay?

6. In what way was this essay useful to you as a reader?

7. Overall, what is it that you feel the writer wanted you to understand or know most of all about his/her

topic?

8. How well does this major point come through in each paragraph?

9. How well is this point reiterated in the conclusion?