Guidelines for Essay

900-1000:  A score in this range is for an OUTSTANDING paper and reflects most or all of the following characteristics:

• Displays clear, logical organization and support of topic through reasons, examples, and/or illustrations.
• Develops topic fully, using specific language and concrete details.
• Exhibits coherence using clear transitions.
• Uses standard written English (grammar, usage, or mechanics) with few or no errors.
• Presents a neat and legible appearance.

750-900:  A score in this range is for an EXCELLENT paper and reflects most of the following qualities:

• May include characteristics shown above, but is a "thinner" version, lacking in insight, voice, and style.
• Develops topics with logical organization and support.
• Includes effective reasoning and clear, concise sentences.
• Demonstrates clarity of ideas, but with less imagination.
• Commits few errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
• Is a generally neat and legible paper.

600-750:  A score in this range is regarded as COMMENDABLE and reflects most of the following features:

• May include qualities listed above, but is written in a cursory manner with less specific detail.
• Organizes ideas logically, but clear transitions are not consistently provided.
• Contains some errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics, which do not interfere with understanding.
• Is reasonable neat and legible.

400-600:  A score in this range is considered LIMITED and reflects the following:

·        May contain some of the qualities listed above, but lacks precision of organization, creativity, and language facility.

·        Develops topic, but may be simplistic or repetitive.

·        Displays little or no progression of ideas and may supply irrelevant details.

·        Uses elementary vocabulary and sentence structure; word choice may be general rather than specific.

·        Contains errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics, which sometimes lead to misunderstanding.

·        Is legible in appearance.

200-400:  A score in this range is considered MINIMAL and may reflect the following:

·        Displays little organization and/or development.

·        May show inconsistency or lack of logic.

·        May distort the topic.

·        May use inappropriate vocabulary or tone.

·        Contains serious errors of grammar, usage, mechanics, or sentence structure, which impede understanding.

·        May be difficult to decipher.

Under 200:  This score is used for papers that allude to the topic but have no other redeeming qualities, or papers that do not address the topic, and papers where the writer has made almost no effort to perform the task.

Essay Notes:

The USAD generally offers one question from the literature selection and two from the super quiz. Two essay judges will read all essays. The essays will be graded using the USAD Scoring Rubric (see Essay Rubric). If the scores differ by 200 points or more, the essay will then be read by a third reader. The closest two scores will be averaged to determine the essay score.

All students will be required to write an essay. Fifty minutes will be allowed to write the essay. At the beginning of the 50-minute session each student is given the following instructions:

• Select one of the four prompts as the topic for your essay. Two are related to the Super Quiz theme, and the other two are related to the literary selections that you studied this year. 

·        Write the number of the prompt in the designated box on the cover sheet of your essay. It is not necessary to include the specific language of the prompt at the beginning or in the body of your essay.

• Write a well-developed and organized essay in which you clearly respond to the question or direction that is presented in the prompt.
• State your individual thesis or position and clearly indicate your purpose for writing.
• Follow the accepted rules of Standard English sentence structure, usage, spelling and punctuation; use appropriate diction and style.
• Maintain legible handwriting. Use a pen if you wish, but avoid messy cross-outs. Allow yourself time to proofread your essay.

For the essay topic you choose, state your individual thesis or position clearly. Use specific information and examples from your studies to support your position.

Provide a final paragraph to conclude or close your essay.

You have 50-minutes for the essay test. You will get a five-minute warning after 45 minutes has elapsed. You will write your essay on the notebook paper provided. Make sure your ID number is on the cover sheet. Write your ID number in the upper right hand corner of each page of your essay booklet. If you need additional paper, raise your hand and a proctor will provide it.