Essay Time!! In a 5-paragraph essay, describe the similarities between The Odyssey by Homer and O Brother, Where Art Thou? You will use www. turnitin.

com to submit these and to do your peer edits. Your essay should follow the following format: Paragraph 1 – Introduction Paragraphs 2 – 4 - Body Paragraphs Paragraph 5 – Conclusion 12 point font Double-spaced It should be at least 500 words. It will be graded using the rubric on the back of this page. You must stick to the following due dates: March 23rd – First draft due March 24 – Peer editing due March 26th – Final draft dueIf you do not have a turnitin account, you need to sign up for one at www. turnitin.

com. The registration information you may need is on your Edmodo page. AISE| English Department Writing Rubric| Name: ________________________| Teacher: | | Date Submitted: ____________| Title of Work: ___________________| | | Criteria| Points| | | 0-1| 2-3| 4-5|  | Ideas| The paper has no clear sense of purpose or central theme. To extract meaning from the text, the reader must make inferences based on sketchy or missing details.

| The writer is beginning to define the topic, even though development is still basic or general.Support is attempted but doesn’t go far enough. Ideas may not be detailed or accurate. | This paper is clear and focused. It holds the reader’s attention. Relevant details enrich the central theme.

The topic is narrow and manageable. Details support the main ideas. | ______| Organization| The writing lacks a clear sense of direction. Ideas, details, or events seem strung together in a loose or random fashion; there is no identifiable internal structure.

| The organizational structure is strong enough to move the reader through the text without too much confusion. The paper has a recognizable introduction and conclusion.Transitions are used but not effectively. | The organization enhances and showcases the central idea or theme.

The order, structure, or presentation of information is compelling and moves the reader through the text. | ______| Voice| The writer seems indifferent to the topic and the content. The writing lacks purpose and audience engagement. | The writer seems sincere but not fully engaged or involved. The result is pleasant or even personable, but not compelling. | The writer connects strongly with the audience in a way that is individual, compelling, and engaging.

The writer crafts the writing with an awareness and respect for the audience and the purpose of the writing. | ______| Word Choice| The writer demonstrates a limited vocabulary or has not searched for words to convey specific meaning. | The language is functional, even if it lacks much energy. It is easy to figure out the writer’s meaning on a general level. | Words convey the intended message in a precise, interesting, and natural way.

The words are powerful and engaging. | ______| Sentence Fluency| The reader has to practice quite a bit in order to give this paper a fair interpretive reading.Sentences are choppy, incomplete, rambling or awkward. Most sentences follow the same sentence pattern.

| Sentences get the job done in a routine fashion but tend to be more mechanical than fluid. Sentences are usually correct. Some sentence pattern variety is attempted. | The writing has an easy flow, rhythm, and cadence. Sentences are well built with strong and varied structure.

Creative and appropriate connectives are used between sentences. | ______|  Conventions|  Errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, usage, and grammar and/or paragraphing repeatedly distract the reader and make the text difficult to read. The writer shows reasonable control over a limited range of standard writing conventions. Conventions are sometimes handled well and enhance readability; at other times, errors are distracting and impair readability. | The writer demonstrates a good grasp of standard writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, paragraphing) and uses conventions effectively to enhance readability.

| ______| Presentation(format, spacing, font size or consistency, title, page numbers, bullets, etc. | The reader receives a garbled message due to problems relating to presentation of the text. Visuals do not support or illustrate the ideas in the text. | The writer’s message is understandable because presentation is effective.

An attempt is made to integrate visuals and the text although connections may be limited. | The form and presentation of the text enhances the ability for the reader to understand and connect with the message. It is pleasing to the eye. There is effective integration of text and visuals. | _______| | | Teacher Comments|