Honors Big Question Essay Prompt
Look back over your big question, the artifacts you have collected to help you answer the question,
and your reflections on these artifacts from throughout the year. Write an essay explaining the
following:

Your question, why you selected it, and how it may have evolved over the course of the year

Your initial ideas about the question

The artifacts you collected (use at least 4) and how each helped to deepen, challenge, or expand
your understanding of the question

Your current understanding of the answer(s) to the question, potential counter-arguments to
this thesis, and any remaining, related questions your inquiry has sparked in you
Your essay can be structured as a narrative, a persuasive essay, an expository essay, or in any way
that conveys the four main elements above clearly and coherently. Use quotes if you are taking
specific wording from any of your older works (e.g. initial response to the big question, journal
entries, artifact reflections). Attach all the documents you are citing to your paper, name them
“Source A,” “Source B,” “Source C,” etc. and cite them in that way in your paper. The essay should be
at least 400 words, completed in class, and typed. Essays will be graded according to the attached
rubric and will count as 25% of your final exam grade.
Big Question Essay
Writer’s Checklist
Before turning in your Big Question essay, use the checklist below to determine if you have addressed
all the necessary requirements of the assignment.
_____My essay is organized in a logical manner. I included an introduction to the topic of my essay,
sufficient evidence to support my thesis, and a conclusion that performs at least one of the purposes
of that portion of an essay (restatement of thesis and review of support topics, synthesizing of the
content of the essay, “selling” the reader on the essays claims, etc.).
_____My introduction makes clear the question I selected and my answer to the question.
_____I stayed on topic as I related my response to the question.
_____I have developed effective transitions between each set of ideas.
_____My essay includes references to three to four artifacts that will serve as evidence in the body
paragraphs of my essay. I have been careful to distinguish between major and minor works in my
references by italicizing or placing quotes around the titles of my artifacts.
_____My essay is documented appropriately in keeping with the type of essay I have written and
according the instructions I was given.
_____My references to my artifacts are sufficiently specific. I have provided quotes where
appropriate and introduced and explained each source.
_____The tone of my essay is appropriate for the intended audience, my instructor.
_____The voice in my essay distinguishes my writing from that of my peers. I recognize that
elements such as the vocabulary I have chosen, the formality or lack of formality of my writing, and
the stance I have decided to take in my essay all help to determine my voice.
_____I have proofread my essay for spelling, punctuation, grammar, usage and mechanics errors.
Ms. Sacco
2013-2014
10 Honors Assessment: Procedures and Expectations
Breakdown of Grading for Final Exam:
25%: Big Question Essay: Due the LAST day of CLASS (6/9)
25%: Reflection Essay: Completed on exam day
50%: Exam on second semester materials: Completed on exam day
You now have all of the materials you will need for your Big Question essays. You should have five
outside artifacts, and an idea of what text or element of the tenth grade curriculum you could incorporate into
your Big Question essay. Utilize the rubric and anchor papers to help your answer your Big Question.
Organizing Your Big Question Essay
Big Question: ____________________________________________________________
Thesis statement (remember, you are answering your question in this essay):
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________.
Below, write 1-2 sentences outlining the ideas you will present in each of the sources you use:
*1 source should be from our 10th grade curriculum
*1 source should support a COUNTERCLAIM so that you can make a counterargument in your
essay
Source A:
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________.
Source B:
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________.
Source C:
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________.
Source D:
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________.
*Any lingering questions for Ms. Sacco once you have completed the above “outline”?