rubric gallery

Explain in a well-developed paragraph how Beowulf's pride ended up being his downfall against the dragon. Use textual evidence to support your claim.

Students will sequence the events of a story they have read.

Should we get rid of DST?

Vaping has increased in popularity in recent years. Many believe these products should be banned while others feel they are a good replacement for cigarettes. In a 700 word essay, explain if you believe vaping products should be banned.

Many high school, college, and professional sports teams have received criticism for using mascots/team names that reference Native American cultures. For example, there are teams that use the name "Savages" and "Redskins" to depict their Native American mascot. However, others argue that these names can be used to honor Native American cultures because they are warriors.

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) administers a school-based substance abuse, gang, and violence prevention program in 75% of US school districts (as of 2016). Proponents say that D.A.R.E. has helped prevent drug use in elementary, middle, and high school students. Opponents say that dozens of peer-reviewed studies conclude the D.A.R.E. program is ineffective at preventing kids from using drugs. Write an essay on if you believe the D.A.R.E. program should be continued in schools.

Topic 1: You just got a second chance to do something. What is it? Explain the changes. Topic 2: Sometimes a smile can hide something terrible. Explain such a time.

You will be writing a five paragraph essay on the health care system and if it should be left the same or if it should be changed. Research the article from the Columbus Dispatch and other resources online. http://healthcarereform.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=003725

You will be writing a 900-word essay on the latest refugee conflict. Many believe we should let the refugees in and protect them, but others feel letting refugees into the country could be a risk. You will be using textual evidence to support your claims.

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay, at least six paragraphs, over Frankenstein. Trace the similarities between Victor and the monster. Consider their respective relationships with nature, desires for family, and any other important parallels you find. Do Victor and the monster become more similar as the novel goes on? How does their relationship with each other develop?

Write a three-page paper (minimum) analyzing the changes in marital views over the past several centuries. In our society today, marriage is meant to be a representation of love. Has that always been the case? If not, what motivated marriages in the past? Your essay should focus on the 19th, 20th, and 21st century.

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay, at least six paragraphs, over One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Readers disagree about whether camp life has made Shukhov a more humane person or a more selfish and inconsiderate one. He is hardworking, faithful, and reliable. But he is remarkably uncharitable toward the old prisoner at dinner and unsympathetic toward Buynovsky when Buynovsky gets thrown in the hole. How would you characterize Shukhov’s moral state?

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay, at least six paragraphs, over The Great Gatsby. You have two possible topics. Topic 1: Discuss Gatsby’s character as Nick perceives him throughout the novel. What makes Gatsby “great”? Topic 2: How does Gatsby represent the American dream? What does the novel have to say about the condition of the American dream in the 1920s? In what ways do the themes of dreams, wealth, and time relate to each other in the novel's idea of America?

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay, at least six paragraphs, over To Kill a Mockingbird. How do Jem and Scout change during the course of the novel? How do they remain the same?

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay, at least six paragraphs, over The Legend of Sleepy Hallow. You have two possible topics you can choose. Topic 1: Is the narrator of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” reliable? Explain. Topic 2: What do the passages concerning Katrina show about how she (or women in general) are perceived and treated in the town?

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay, at least six paragraphs, over Catcher and the Rye. The novel is structured around Holden’s encounters and interactions with other people. Does any pattern seem to emerge, or does anything change in his interactions as the novel progresses? How do Holden’s encounters with adults, children, women, and his peers evolve as the novel progresses?

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay, at least six paragraphs, over 1984. How does technology affect the Party’s ability to control its citizens? In what ways does the Party employ technology throughout the book?

You will be writing a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay over Fahrenheit 451. Topic 1: How does Faber define the value of books? Does his definition of “quality” apply to media other than printed books? Do you think his definitions are accurate or not? Explain. Topic 2: Discuss Montag’s relationship with Mildred. Is this a typical marital relationship in their culture? Discuss the role of family in the characters’ lives, particularly in relation to the TV parlor “families” and their nature and function.

Proponents of more gun control laws state that the Second Amendment was intended for militias and that gun violence would be reduced. Opponents say that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to own guns and that guns are needed for self-defense. Explain your point of view on concealed carry laws. Should there be more restrictions, or do you think citizens have the right to bear arms and buy guns with minimal influence from the government?

You will be writing a 500-word essay on our education system and if it should be funded and directed at the federal level or the local level. You will be using textual evidence to support your claims.