Developmental Studies
Final Exam Essay Assignment
Objective: To produce a polished essay in a time-limited and controlled writing environment (during
the final exam period).
The final exam essay is to be written entirely in class without assistance from the instructor. You will
have the entire scheduled exam time to plan, draft, revise, edit and proofread your essay. Your essay
will be graded according to the English 100 Rubric for Written Assignments. Remember, this essay is
designed to demonstrate your readiness for English 101 or English 165.
You may bring a final exam essay outline (only) on a 3 X 5 card. Please note that all writing
must occur inside of class and rough drafts may not be brought to the final exam.
Mode: Illustration/Exemplification
Topic List: Choose only one topic for your final exam essay from those listed below. Use the topic and
guidance/questions provided to develop your thesis, and write a focused, complete essay, with a clear
purpose that remains the same from beginning to end:
1. Improving essay writing throughout college - Write an essay describing how you will improve
your writing as you continue in college. Give examples of your strengths as an essay writer and
areas you need to improve to write effective essays. Talk about ways that you can take
advantage of your strengths and ways that you can improve your writing.
2. Favorite Essay - Think back to one of the essays that you read this term for the reader response
assignments. Which essay did you like the most, and why? Give examples from the essay and
your personal experience to support your preference. Consider the style and the topic of the
essay as well.
3. Examples of Propaganda - Write an essay giving examples of propaganda that you see every
day. Give examples in advertising, political campaigns, and fund raising efforts.
4. Community and Culture - Write an essay about the community and culture where you have
lived most of your life. Give examples of values, beliefs, and customs that make your community
unique. Reflect on examples of stereotypes about your community and discuss how these
stereotypes are true or false.
Format: You may bring a final exam essay outline on a 3 X 5 card. Use one of the
topics listed above to develop your outline. Complete the following steps during the final exam:
1. Handwrite a rough draft
2. Grade your essay using the attached rubric.
3. Rewrite the essay, skipping lines and adding a title, along with your information—class,
section, and date—in the upper left corner of the essay.
4. Use the Order of Pages below to submit your work.
Length: Between 400-600 words. You MUST have
 An appropriate title (see Real Writing pages 91-92)
 An introductory paragraph (see Real Writing pages 95-96) with
a thesis statement that states your topic and your main point (see Real Writing chapter 5);
 Body paragraphs (at least 3): Use clear topic sentences for each body paragraph, along with
primary and secondary supporting details (see Real Writing chapter 6) arranged in logical
order (see Real Writing chapter 7)
 Appropriate transitions (this will change, depending on the focus of the essay)
 A concluding paragraph that contains your restated thesis and ends your essay (see Real
Writing pages 97-99)
Grading: English 100 Essay Rubric (under “Course Content” in Blackboard)
Order of pages: Staple your assignment in the following order:
(1) Final Essay (on top, labeled clearly)
(2) Rough draft(s)
(3) Assignment Sheet (this sheet)
(4) Rubric (with your entries for grades for rough draft)
(5) Outline card
English 100 Essay Rubric:
Grade your rough draft, using the rubric below. Write a score between 1-4 for each row, based on your reading of your
own work. After you grade your rough draft, rewrite your essay (skipping lines).
Turn in this marked rubric with your final essay, rough draft, assignment sheet, rubric and outline card (name on all)
Criteria
Beginning 0-1
Developing 2
Competent 3
Exemplary 4
Organization and
Mode
Organization is lacking
or illogical; transitional
words/phrases not
present; assigned
mode has not been
used or is used
inconsistently.
Organizes ideas into a limited
essay structure with weak
introduction, body and
concluding paragraphs;
transitional words/phrases
present, but inconsistently/
ineffectively used; assigned
mode has been used.
Organizes ideas into an
adequate essay structure
with introduction, body
and concluding
paragraphs; some
transitional words/phrases
used; assigned mode has
been used.
Thesis Statement
and
Topic Sentences
Essay lacks a thesis
statement and topic
sentences are not
provided for the
majority of the
paragraphs or are
weak, off-topic or
inappropriate for the
assignment.
Content lacks specific
details and/or
appropriate support
for the thesis and
topic sentences or
mode.
Thesis statement is adequate.
Topic sentences are provided
for the majority of the
paragraphs.
Thesis statement is
developed and
appropriate for the
assignment. Topic
sentences are adequate
and provided for all of the
paragraphs.
Organizes ideas into an
effective essay structure with
well-developed introduction,
body, and concluding
paragraphs; transitional
words/phrases used
consistently and effectively;
assigned mode has been
used.
Thesis statement is welldeveloped and appropriate
for the assignment. All
paragraphs have strong topic
sentences.
Some specific details and
support are given for the
thesis and topic sentences or
mode.
Adequate specific details
and support are given for
the thesis and topic
sentences or mode.
Plenty of specific details and
appropriate support given for
the thesis and topic
sentences or mode.
Writing exhibits
poor/undeveloped
grammar skills and
contains 4 or more
major errors.
Writing exhibits developing
grammar skills and contains 3
major errors.
Writing employs good
grammar skills and
contains no more than 2
major errors.
Writing employs excellent
grammar skills and contains
no more than 1 major
grammar error.
Writing contains 7 or
more errors.
Writing contains 5-6 errors.
Writing contains 3-4
errors.
Writing contains 1-2 errors.
Supporting Details
Grammar (fragments,
comma splices, run-on
sentences, verb form or
agreement or pronoun
reference or agreement
or word form covered
up to due date)
Spelling,
Punctuation
And Mechanics
(spelling, punctuation,
capitalization,
paragraphing, missing
words)
Audience,
Vocabulary and
Diction
Submission
Requirements
Addresses the reader
in second person;
inappropriate word
choice and /or use for
academic writing
Fails to follow
instructor’s
submission
requirements
5-10 D (60-69%)
4 - below F (50-59%)
Addresses the reader in
second person; ineffective
word choice and / or use for
academic writing
Addresses the reader in
appropriate person;
appropriate word choice
and use for academic
writing
Addresses the reader in
appropriate person; excellent
word choice and use for
academic writing
Follows some instructor’s
submission requirements
Follows most instructor’s
submission requirements
Correctly follows instructor’s
submission requirements
11-16
17-22
23-28
C
(70-79%)
B
(80-89%)
A
(90-100%)
* Note: Plagiarized writing is unacceptable and is subject to additional penalties---late and/or incomplete papers are subject to additional penalties.
Score