Research Report: "What is a Hero?" Essay
Your assignment is to write a multi-paragraph essay that defines your concept of heroism. Use various strategies
of definition (how does a hero function, examples, and negation) to explain your opinion.
Student Name:
CATEGORY
Quality of
Information
Mechanics
Paragraph
Construction
& Hook
Sources
& Works
Cited Page
Amount of
Information
________________________________________
Date_____________________
4
Information expertly
relates to the main
topic. It includes
several supporting
details and three or
more examples of
heroes from
mythology and
modern texts
No grammatical,
spelling or
punctuation errors.
3
Information clearly
relates to the main topic.
It provides 1-2
supporting details and
three examples of
heroes.
Almost no grammatical,
spelling or punctuation
errors
2
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. No details
and/or only two
examples are given.
Heroes from
mythology or
modern times are
omitted.
A few grammatical
spelling or
punctuation errors.
All paragraphs
include introductory
sentence,
explanations or
details, and
concluding
sentence. Essay
expertly begins with
a “hook” to engage
reader.
All sources are
accurately
documented in the
desired format.
Three+ sources are
correctly used to
support topic.
Parenthetical
citation is expertly
used in the essay.
Source list is
alphabetized.
Student expertly
defines heroism and
uses the strategy of
negation during
writing. Student
explores how
heroism functions in
modern-day society.
Most paragraphs include
introductory sentence,
explanations or details,
and concluding
sentence.
Paragraphs
included related
information but were
typically not
constructed well.
Total Points ___________________
Essay begins with a
“hook” to engage the
reader.
All sources are
accurately documented,
but a few are not in the
desired format. Three
sources are correctly
used to support topic.
Parenthetical citation is
adequately used in the
essay.
Source list is not
alphabetized.
Student defines heroism
and uses the strategy of
negation during writing.
Student somewhat
explores how heroism
functions in modern-day
society.
All sources are
accurately
documented, but
many are not in the
desired format.
1
Information has
little or nothing
to do with the
main topic. Only
one or two
examples of a
hero are used.
Many
grammatical,
spelling, or
punctuation
errors.
Paragraphing
structure was
not clear and
sentences were
not typically
related within
the paragraphs.
Sources are
not used or
accurately
documented.
Parenthetical
citation is incorrectly
used in the essay.
Many errors are
present.
The topic of heroism
is addressed, but
the strategy of
negation isn’t used.
Heroes in modernday society aren't
explored.
Score____________________
Need help citing your book or video sources? Use www.easybib.com or citationmachine.net
One or more
topics were not
addressed.
Reason
Reason ## 11
What
What isis aa hero?
hero?
Reason # 1
What is a hero?
Examples:
Reason # 2
What is a hero?
Examples:
Reason # 3
What is a hero?
Examples:
Thesis and road map:
_
_______________________________________
Reason # 4
What is a hero?
Examples:
Essay Outline:
Name_________________________________
Working title: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #1
Grabber:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Background info on DOI
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stating the question with key terms defined
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thesis and road map
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #2
Thesis for bucket 1 _________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: supporting detail from text with document in parenthesis ex. (Doc. A)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Argument: connecting evidence to thesis:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #3
Thesis for bucket 2 _________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: supporting detail from text with document citation
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Argument : connecting evidence to thesis:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #4
Thesis for bucket 3 _________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: supporting detail from text with document citation
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Argument: connecting evidence to thesis:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #5 (STRONGEST BUCKET!!)
Thesis for bucket 4 _________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: supporting detail from text with document citation
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Argument: connecting evidence to thesis:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph #6
Conclusion: restatement of thesis along with possible wrinkle.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Essay Reminders
 1. Avoid FIRST and SECOND person in formal essays.
 2. Make your HOOK engage the reader.
 3. Be sure your conclusion restates your thesis and adds interesting information. It
should be almost the same length as your introduction.
The five transitions I will use one this paper are:
1.________________________
2. ___________________________
3. _______________________
4. ___________________________
5. _______________________