Name:_________________________________

Date:__________________________________

English 9

Essay #1 – Personal Expository Essay

Write an essay about an event, areas of interest, hobbies, clubs, travel, or experiences in your life that you feel are important to you. Besides describing the event or area of interest, include thoughts and/or reflections about the impact this event had (or has) on you as a developing individual.

The essay should be in three parts: the introduction, the body of the essay, and the conclusion.

The introduction should have: a good lead sentence, a sentence explaining the lead, a short personal summary of yourself, and end with a thesis statement. A typical thesis sentence for this essay might be: “These three areas are important to me.”

The body of the essay should have three paragraphs in the present tense which focuses on three events or areas of your life. Explain each topic, elaborate with specific examples about these topics, and end with a commentary on how this impacts your life, making you who you are today.

The conclusion ends this personal expository essay. It should restate the thesis and the three basic areas discussed. The focus should then shift from present tense to future, stating goals and ambitions in the years to come. Discuss if you intend to graduate from high school, if further education is in your plans, what you might want to study, and what career you intend to pursue. A text-to-world (or text-to-text) connection makes for a stronger conclusion. The final sentence in the essay hooks back to the lead.

_____ Ideas and Development

20

___ minimum of 300 words.

___ abundant details describing the event being shared.

___ good judgment in choice of details.

___ includes thoughts and/or reflections about the impact the event had or has on you.

_____ Organization

20

___ appropriate title

___ introduction: use engaging lead, explains the lead, summarizes self, include the thesis (underline the thesis).

___ paragraphing helped the reader.

___ describe each topic’s point.

___ explain in detail the topic.

___ elaborate with a specific example.

___ commentary on each topic.

___ effective transitions both within and between paragraphs.

___ clear conclusion that restates the thesis and main points.

___ states future goals.

___ connects this story/event/ experience to world or to a text, hooks back to the lead.

_____ Sentence Fluency, Voice, and Word Choice

5

___ sentences flow and read smoothly.

___ variety in sentence length, structure, and first words.

___2A: include a three-word sentence. (highlight this)

___2B: include a twenty-word sentence. (highlight this)

___ vivid word choice that helps show the reader ideas. (Underline at least five vivid words or phrases)

_____ Conventions

5

___ typed essay, double-spaced, one inch margins, 12pt standard font.

___ proper spelling, punctuation, and usage.

___ complete, proper sentences. (No fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.)

_____ Total

50