Expository Essay: How to Achieve the American Dream
Objective: Many families have immigrated to America in hopes to obtain the American
Dream for themselves and their children. Write an expository essay defining what
exactly the American Dream entails. Also, include three traits one must have in order to
achieve the American Dream.
Requirement:
 Essay may be hand written, but it must follow MLA and must be legible.
Illegible essays will not be graded
 Essay must definite the American Dream.
 Essay must contain three traits necessary to achieve the American Dream.
 Grammar Check:
o All sentences must end with the proper end punctuation.
o Essay contains no slang words or phrases.
o Use one example of an appositive.
Grading Rubric:
5
4
3
2
1
Defining
Essay
Essay defines
Essay defines
Attempt to
There was
the
clearly
the American
the American
define the
no attempt
American defines the Dream with
Dream with
American
to define
Dream
American
some minimal some
Dream is
the
Dream.
confusion.
confusion.
present, but American
not clear.
Dream.
Three
Three traits Three traits
Two traits
One trait
No traits
traits to
are
were
were
was
were
achieve
mentions
mentioned,
mentioned,
mentioned,
mentioned
the
and clearly
but was not
and were
and
in the essay.
American presented.
completely
presented.
presented.
Dream.
thought out.
MLA
Essay
One or two
Three or four
Five or six
Essay does
Format
follows all
errors that
errors that
errors that
not follow
MLA format does not
does not
does not
MLA format
requiremen follow MLA
follow MLA
follow MLA
requirement
ts.
format
format
format
.
requirements. requirement.
requirement
s.
Grammar No spelling Minimal
Few spelling
Excessive
Spelling and
or grammar spelling and
and grammar
spelling and grammar
mistakes.
grammar
mistakes.
grammar
errors make
mistakes.
mistakes.
grading too
difficult.
Score: +
/20
Expository Essay: How to Achieve the American Dream
Objective: Many families have immigrated to America in hopes to obtain the American
Dream for themselves and their children. Write an expository essay defining what
exactly the American Dream entails. Also, include three traits one must have in order to
achieve the American Dream.
Requirement:
 Essay may be hand written, but it must follow MLA and must be legible.
Illegible essays will not be graded
 Essay must definite the American Dream.
 Essay must contain three traits necessary to achieve the American Dream.
 Grammar Check:
o All sentences must end with the proper end punctuation.
o Essay contains no slang words or phrases.
o Use one example of an appositive.
Grading Rubric:
5
4
3
2
1
Defining
Essay
Essay defines
Essay defines
Attempt to
There was
the
clearly
the American
the American
define the
no attempt
American defines the Dream with
Dream with
American
to define
Dream
American
some minimal some
Dream is
the
Dream.
confusion.
confusion.
present, but American
not clear.
Dream.
Three
Three traits Three traits
Two traits
One trait
No traits
traits to
are
were
were
was
were
achieve
mentions
mentioned,
mentioned,
mentioned,
mentioned
the
and clearly
but was not
and were
and
in the essay.
American presented.
completely
presented.
presented.
Dream.
thought out.
MLA
Essay
One or two
Three or four
Five or six
Essay does
Format
follows all
errors that
errors that
errors that
not follow
MLA format does not
does not
does not
MLA format
requiremen follow MLA
follow MLA
follow MLA
requirement
ts.
format
format
format
.
requirements. requirement.
requirement
s.
Grammar No spelling Minimal
Few spelling
Excessive
Spelling and
or grammar spelling and
and grammar
spelling and grammar
mistakes.
grammar
mistakes.
grammar
errors make
mistakes.
mistakes.
grading too
difficult.
Score: +
/20