Persuasive Essay on Themes
Use of any AI tools is prohibited for this assignment.
This is an assessment opportunity. You will submit the outline for the essay by May 15th, and the final essay by May 24th. Review: Elements of a persuasive essay.
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Essay is 1000 words, in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and following MLA formatting.
Here is the outline you need to fill out and submit by May 15th: 3.4 Essay Outline (Google doc) click on “File” then “Make a Copy”. OR 3.4 Essay Outline (PDF file) you can copy and paste into a Word document.
Choose a robust theme statement that identifies a theme in Death of a Salesman, its significance, and evidence for it. This theme statement will form the thesis of a persuasive essay. You may use one of the themes discussed in this learning activity or pick one of your own. Then, in a persuasive essay, explain the importance of your chosen theme.
After you have put your ideas in writing, read through your piece and ask yourself these questions:
Am I using grammar and spelling correctly?
Does the way I use punctuation help the expression of my ideas?
How can I rewrite this to make my ideas clearer to the reader?
Don’t be afraid to rewrite. Remember that nothing is “carved in stone” until you produce your final version and hand it in!
This is an assessment. Feedback and suggestions for improvement will be provided by your teacher using the following success criteria. Press on the tabs to understand the assessment expectations and success criteria.
Success criteria:
Introduction opens with an effective hook and finishes with an explicit thesis statement about a specific theme.
There are three clear “points” that work to prove your thesis. Each body paragraph develops one point.
The topic sentence of each body paragraph makes a clear statement (states your point clearly), and the paragraph remains focused on the specific point you are making.
Each body paragraph interweaves textual evidence and analysis. Every idea is backed up with textual evidence, followed by an explanation as to how that chosen evidence illustrates your idea. Quotes are embedded seamlessly into sentences and follow proper in-text citation formatting. Quotes must include page numbers.
Ideas are complex, compelling, and relevant to your chosen thesis statement.
Conclusion summarizes your arguments and makes a final comment on the subject.
Evidence of the revision process is clear. Student submitted their draft on time for feedback and incorporated the feedback into their editing process.
Essay demonstrates understanding of the play and includes symbols/motifs from the play in their analysis.
Essay demonstrates understanding of proper persuasive essay structure.
No errors in writing (includes grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure)
Proper MLA formatting (both in-text and Works Cited)
Writing is clear, structured, and contains clear transitions in order to organize sentences.
Uses formal, 3rd-person language with no contractions or colloquialisms. Uses present tense and uses active voice rather than passive voice. (Resource: Active vs. Passive Voice)
MLA Resources: MLA In-Text Citation Guide; MLA Citation Guide
Submit your outline for feedback here (due May 15th)
Please note that failure to hand in your outline on time means you lose out on valuable feedback, as well as lose marks on the final essay in the “revision process” category of the rubric.
Review the feedback you have received on your essay outline and consider the following questions:
Do you need to modify your thesis statement? How?
What do you need to add or modify in your outline?
Are your supporting examples sufficient?
Make any necessary changes to your essay outline.
Submit your final essay here (due May 24th)
Works Cited:
Gottfried, Martin. Arthur Miller: His Life and Work. Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA, 2003.ACLS Humanities E-Book, http://tinyurl.com/y69ynxlk
