Name:
Date:
English 10
Essay #8 – Personal
Reflections Essay
Write an essay about an event
or experience in your life that you felt had a significant impact upon you.
Besides describing the event, include thoughts and/or reflections about the
impact this event had on you as a developing individual.
A typical thesis sentence for
this essay might be: “This event had a tremendous impact on me at the time and
changed me profoundly.
_____ Ideas and Development
20
___1. minimum of 500-600 words.
___2. clear discussion of one thesis statement.
___3. abundant details describing
the event being shared.
___4. good judgment in choice of details.
___5. includes thoughts and/or reflections about the impact the
event had.
_____ Organization
20
___1. appropriate title
___2. introduction: use engaging lead, summarize the
experience/event/story, include the thesis (underline the thesis).
___3. paragraphing helped the reader follow the story. Describe
events leading up to the story.
___4. describe the event’s point.
___5. describe how the event turns out.
___6. effective transitions both within and between paragraphs.
___7. clear conclusion that discusses the importance of this event
to you, possibly describes how this event changed you as a developing
individual.
___8. connect this story/event/ experience to world or to a text,
hook back to the lead.
_____ Sentence Fluency, Voice, and Word Choice
5
___1. sentences flow and read smoothly.
___1A:
3pts Extra Credit if parallel structure is used correctly in the essay. It must be yellow highlighted.
___2. variety in sentence length, structure, and first words.
___2A: include a
three-word sentence.
___2B: include a
twenty-word sentence.
___3. vivid word choice that helps
show the reader ideas. (Underline at least five vivid words or
phrases)
_____ Conventions
5
___1. typed essay, double-spaced, one inch margins, 12pt standard
font.
___2. proper spelling, punctuation, and usage.
___3. complete, proper sentences. (No fragments, run-ons, and
comma splices.)
_____ Total
50
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