Beowulf Essay Prompt/Rubric
Write an essay (preferably typed) for the following prompt in which you do all of the following:
- Start with a title that mentions the novel and gives insight to the prompt.
- The first paragraph should have a clever opening and a clear central idea
and thesis that outlines the major proofs.
- Each subsequent paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence.
- Use ample quotes, embedding them in statements whenever possible.
- Identify quotes by page and line number (22: 1066)
PROMPT: In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, the central character, Beowulf, reflects the values and ideals of his society through his actions. Write an essay in which you consider the following points: what ideals are cherished by the Viking culture and how does Beowulf’s actions epitomize these values.
Essay Rubric
9-8 9 is the top score, but there is very little difference between
a 9 and 8, both being scores for excellent papers which combine adherence to
the topic with excellent organization, content, and insight, facile use of language,
and mastery of mechanics. 9 essays demonstrate uncommon skill and sometimes
put a cultural/historical frame around the subject. Descriptors that come to
mind while reading include masterly, sophisticated, complex, specific, consistent,
well-supported. This essay on Beowulf will clearly demonstrate an
understanding of Viking values and ideals as exemplified by Beowulf and offer
ample support.
7 7 is a thinner version of the excellent paper, still impressive,
cogent, convincing, but less well handled in terms of organization, insight,
or vocabulary. Descriptors that come to mind while reading include clear
understanding, less precise, less well-supported, maturing, this writer has
potential, but hasn't quite got it all.
6 6 is an above average paper, but it may be deficient in one
of the essentials mentioned above. It may be less mature in thought or less
well handled in terms of organization, syntax, or mechanics. Descriptors might
include less mature, some difficulties, but just above average.
5 The 5 paper is a thinner version of the 6. Readers prefer to separated essays into
top half or bottom half. The five defies that process. Descriptors would include
superficial, vague, and mechanical.
4-3 4 is an average to below-average paper which maintains the
general idea of the assignment, shows some sense of organization, but is weak
in content, maturity of thought, language facility, and/or mechanics. It man
distort the topic or fail to deal adequately with one important aspect of the
topic. The 3 essay compounds the weaknesses of the 4. Some descriptors that
come to mind include incomplete, oversimplified, meager, irrelevant, and
insufficient.
2 2 is the score assigned to a paper that makes an attempt
to deal with the topic but demonstrates serious weaknesses in content and coherence
and/or syntax and mechanics. Descriptors include serious misreading, unacceptably
brief, and/or poorly written.
1 1 is the score given to an on-topic response that has very
little redeeming quality. It is usually very brief and scarcely coherent, full
of mechanical errors, and completely misses the focus of the prompt. Descriptors
include vacuous, inexact, and mechanically unsound.
0 0 is given to a response with no more than a reference to
the task.
-- -- indicates a blank response or one with no reference to the task
To the Reader:
- Give the writer credit for what they do well
- Try to determine if the paper is top half or bottom half as you read it,
then break it down further.
- Rate the paper from an overall impression; be sure the writer has dealt
with the whole prompt.
- Rate the essay on its organization, content, style, and mechanics.