huckleberry finn essay

Mrs. Krause

English 10 CP

Literary Research Paper

ASSIGNMENT: In a thoughtful and carefully-written essay which uses a

minimum of three quotations from the novel and three quotations from

outside sources as evidence, answer the following question:

Does the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ultimately promote or

denounce racism?

TEN-STEP PROCESS

1. THINK: As you read the novel and participate in class activities about

the controversy surrounding it, think carefully about this question.

2. TAKE NOTES: As you read the novel, copy down quotes from the book on the evidence sheets provided. These will be checked in class!!

3. TAKE A POSITION: When you finish the book, take a position and decide WHY you feel this way. Looking back at the notes you have taken while reading will help you to decide upon a position. Your position is, essentially, your thesis.

4. SELECT EVIDENCE: Go back through your evidence and choose the quotes from the novel that will best support your thesis.

5. OUTLINE: Consider how to organize your paper so that your thesis is supported in an effective and logical way. Compose a formal outline to plan your paper.

6. RESEARCH: Read the literary criticism that Mrs. Krause and Mrs. Bergh provide. In these articles, you will see other people who have read Huck Finn expressing their ideas about whether it promotes or condemns racist attitudes.

7. ADD EVIDENCE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES: Choose at least three quotes from these articles that you can work into your outline.

8. DRAFT: Use your outline to write your rough draft and create your Works Cited page.

9. EDIT: Bring in a hard copy of your rough draft for self-editing and peer editing.

10. PROOFREAD AND REVISE: Make revisions and compose your final draft to hand in.

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REQUIREMENTS: Papers that do not meet the following requirements will not receive a passing score.

·

· 4 FULL pages (minimum)

· Typed in MLA format

· At least 3 relevant quotes from novel

· At least 3 relevant quotes from outside sources

· Works Cited page properly formatted according to MLA guidelines

Grading

Evidence Checks: 23 points DUE: Multiple due dates

· Criteria for Success: You will be given FIVE evidence sheets on which to copy down quotes as we read the novel. Each sheet will be checked and graded. In order to receive full credit, you must fill in each sheet completely with relevant evidence according to the directions given at the top.

Draft of Introduction/Thesis Statement: 16 points DUE: ___________________________

· Criteria for Success: After you finish the book, you will decide on your position and explain why you feel this way. You should type your introduction and thesis statement on a piece of paper and bring it to class on the due date. In order to receive full credit, be sure to carefully and thoughtfully follow the directions on the sheet.

Outline: 40 points DUE: ___________________________

· Criteria for Success: You should compose a full and detailed outline of your paper based on the template and guidelines given in class.

Notes on Literary Criticism: 20 points DUE: ___________________________

· Criteria for Success: After composing your outline, you will be given articles of literary criticism related to racism in Huck Finn. You must read these and take notes on the templates provided. Bring in your notes to be checked/graded.

Rough Draft (20 points) and Works Cited Page (10 points): DUE: ___________________________

· Criteria for Success: You should bring in a complete rough draft. It must meet all minimum requirements (page length, quotes, etc.), and it must be carefully proofread. Your rough draft should include a works cited page.

Final Draft: 100 points DUE: ___________________________

· Criteria for Success: Your paper will be graded based on the attached guidelines. Please be sure that you use these, as well as your editing checklists, to compose a fabulous paper!

General Scoring Guideline for English Essays grades 10-12 2014-2015

The score reflects the quality of the essay as a whole—its content, style, mechanics, and adherence to MLA format. It is possible to earn a score above 95, just as it is possible to earn a score below 50.

While essays will be graded holistically and mechanics will count in the overall paper grade, papers will receive an additional, separate score out of 10 possible points for the writer’s control of the following aspects of grammar: agreement, run-ons and fragments, comma usage, semi-colon usage, and pronouns. This will count as a separate homework grade.

90-95+: These exemplary essays offer a well-focused and persuasive response to the requirements of the prompt. Using apt and specific evidence, these essays fully explore the resources of their examples. These essays make a strong case for their interpretation and discuss the literary work with insight and understanding. Generally, essays scored a 95 reveal more sophisticated analysis and more effective control of language and composition than do essays scored a 90. In general, these essays adhere to correct MLA format.

80-85+: These strong/proficient essays offer a reasonable response to the requirements of the prompt. While these essays use appropriate evidence and the responses show insight and understanding, their analysis is less thorough, less perceptive, and/or less specific in supporting detail than that of the essays in the 95-90 range, and they may demonstrate less control of language and composition. Generally, essays scored an 80 offer a less convincing analysis and less command of the elements of effective composition than do essays scored an 85, but the prose is generally clear enough to communicate its ideas. These essays generally adhere to MLA guidelines but may demonstrate small oversights in format.

75+: These essays demonstrate developing skills and respond to the assigned task with a plausible reading, but they tend to be superficial, uneven, or underdeveloped in analysis. They may rely upon plot summary that contains some analysis, implicit or explicit and may demonstrate a limited understanding of the work and/or the requirements of the assignment. While the writing may contain lapses in diction, syntax, or mechanics, and may lack effective organization, it usually communicates ideas adequately enough for the reader to understand. These essays may demonstrate some lack of adherence to MLA format.

65-70+: These essays offer a less than thorough understanding of the task and/or a less than adequate treatment of it. They reflect an incomplete or oversimplified understanding of the work, or they may fail to respond to the requirements of the prompt. These essays may rely on plot summary alone, or their assertions may be irrelevant or unsupported by specific, relevant evidence. Sometimes wordy or repetitious and marred by surface errors, these essays may lack control over the elements of effective composition and may be difficult to read and understand. Essays scored a 65 may reflect serious misreading and demonstrate especially weak control over language, mechanics, and composition. Essays in this range may demonstrate lack of adherence to MLA format.

0-60+: Although these essays make some attempt to respond to the prompt, they compound the weaknesses of essays in the 70-65 range and demonstrate little success addressing and fulfilling the requirements of the assigned topic. Often, they are unacceptably brief or are incoherent in presenting their ideas. Remarks are presented with little clarity, organization, or supporting evidence. They may contain distracting errors in grammar and mechanics that make the text difficult to read and understand. These essays may demonstrate lack of adherence to MLA format. Particularly weak, underdeveloped and/or incoherent essays are scored a 50 or below.

Agreement = AGR