ENG3U PERSONAL ESSAY

Your Task: Write a personal essay that addresses at least one of the following prompts:

Is it appropriate / necessary for students in Canadian schools to learn about the stories of genocide and persecution in other parts of the world? Why or why not?   

What responsibility do individuals have to improve the world around them in both small and large ways? 

Is it a cop-out to say that the world is a terrible place and therefore do nothing to try to make it better?

What have you learned about how seemingly small actions really matter in terms of making a positive difference in the face of adversity? 

How important is it to feel gratitude for the safety and security that we have in Canada?

What is a personal essay? 

It is an essay that expresses your own values and attitudes. It is often emotional and opinionated. It is meant to persuade others to adopt your viewpoint. 

Style and voice are very important in a personal essay. The reader should get a feel for your personality, so it is important to play with word choice, syntax, and sentence structure. Remember, a personal essay is informal, so write the way you would speak to a friend.  Also, to be forceful and persuasive, use rhetorical/persuasive devices.

You need specific proof for your points. Proof should come from the presentations that you have recently seen and it can also come your personal experiences, a story of a friend of a friend, an interview with your uncle, a book that you have read, a current news story, etc. 

What is the format of a personal essay?  Well...it varies but for this one …

Introduction:
•	Make it interesting and “catchy”.  Make me want to read your essay. HOOK.
•	Clearly identify your thesis (what will this essay be proving)

Body Paragraphs:
•	Explain and support your viewpoints.
•	Pay attention to the order in which you present your points. Make sure that you have a clear underlying organization. 
•	Clear organization will allow for smooth and sophisticated transions (beyond ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’)
•	Strong general points, specific / descriptive proofs, explanations that tell me how and why your proofs support your point and connect to the thesis. 
Conclusion:
•	Make it forceful
•	Restate your opinion & synthesize your main ideas
•	Include a call for action - what should the reader do now that you’ve convinced them?

CATEGORY	< 50%	LEVEL 1
50 – 59%	LEVEL 2
60 – 69%	LEVEL 3
70 – 79%	LEVEL 4
80 – 100%	
THINKING
Accuracy and relevancy of arguments (points)

Use of presentations to support the arguments (proofs)

Critical analysis of ideas (explanations)		

limited accuracy and relevance of arguments 

limited use of relevant proofs

analyses ideas with limited effectiveness	

some accuracy and relevance of arguments

some use of relevant proofs

analyses ideas with some effectiveness	

considerable accuracy and relevance of arguments 

considerable use of relevant proofs

analyses ideas with considerable effectiveness	

thorough accuracy and relevance of arguments 

thorough use of relevant proofs

analyses ideas with a high degree of effectiveness
	
COMMUNICATION

Organization and transition of ideas (intro, body, transitions, concl.)

Personal voice engages the reader 

Use of rhetorical devices

Accurate use of conventions (grammar, spelling, etc. )		

organizes and transitions ideas with limited effectiveness

limited engagement with the reader because a personal voice was used with limited effectiveness

limited use of rhetorical devices

limited use of accurate conventions	

organizes and transitions ideas with some effectiveness

some engagement with the reader because a personal voice was used with some effectiveness

some use of rhetorical devices

some use of accurate conventions	

organizes and transitions ideas with considerable effectiveness

considerable engagement with the reader because a personal voice was used with considerable effectiveness

considerable use of rhetorical devices

considerable use of accurate conventions	

highly effective organization and transition of  ideas

reader is highly engaged reader because a personal voice was used with a high degree of effectiveness

highly effective use of rhetorical devices

highly effective use of accurate conventions	
APPLICATION

Ideas show originality and thorough use of critical thinking skills

Correct use of format conventions

limited originality and depth of ideas

applies conventions with limited effectiveness	

some originality and depth of ideas

applies conventions with some effectiveness	

considerable originality and depth of ideas

applies conventions with considerable effectiveness	

high degree of originality and depth of ideas

applies conventions with a high degree of effectiveness	

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