Pop Culture Essay
English 10
Mr. Ames
A Closer Look at Nintendo, Full House, and Britney Spears:
Pop Culture… Do We Influence it or Does it Influence Us?
What is pop culture?
Bumper stickers, toys, collectibles, clothes, music, movies, etc… items, sayings, and
ideas that are well known and generally accepted
Assignment Instructions and Format:

Write a minimum five- paragraph essay on the effects of three different
aspects of pop culture on your life. Consider the following question: How did the
three aspects make you look at the world, look at life, look at yourself, or look at those
immediately around you differently? Think about why these pieces of pop culture are
important to you.
“Reasonable Best Effort”
I must do these things for Mr. Ames to even grade my essay!
 Essay is typed and double spaced
 Essay is at least five paragraphs with an introduction, body, and conclusion
 Essay has been spellchecked and proofread
Checklist for Type 4 Essay:
Brainstorm pop culture from your life
Complete pre-writing chart on three specific aspects of pop culture and their effect on
you
Write first draft of essay, focusing on organization. Be sure to include all the necessary
components of a good introduction, body, and conclusion.
Peer revision of first draft for elaboration of ideas and organization
Peer revision of second draft for word choice
Submit final draft- typed and double spaced with a unique title
Due Thursday, September 15th!!
Advanced
Ideas and Development
40-38 pts
-Piles on many clear,
specific, and accurate details
describing each pop culture
item.
-Develop the significance
of each pop culture item by
giving many details about
the effect of the item in
current life.
Organization
30- 28 pts
-Introduction contains
creative attention-getter,
clear thesis statement, and
plan of development.
-Paragraphs include: topic
sentences, supporting
points, and clinchers.
-Paragraphs flow logically
with the use of mature
transitions.
-A reflective and insightful
conclusion restates the
thesis and POD using
different words and phrases,
and a clever last
line/clincher.
Word Choice
30- 28 pts
-Uses varied striking words
or colorful phrases to
enhance understanding of
the significance/impact of
the item and to encourage
the reader to be an
interested part of the essay.
Avoids overused words: a
lot, very, really, in my
opinion, I think, I feel,
ok, nice, great, good, bad,
big, thing.
- Avoids clichés
-Word choice is vivid, but
still sounds natural.
GRADING RUBRIC
Proficient
Developing
Ideas and Development
37- 34 pts
-Details describe each pop
culture item pretty well.
-Describes the effect of
each pop culture item, but
needs to explain more and
make more connections to
current life.
Ideas and Development
33- 18 pts
-Reader cannot really
picture the pop culture
items- needs more
description.
-Little connection is made
to the effect of the pop
culture item. Lacks detail.
Organization
26- 25 pts
-Attention-getter could be
more original; thesis
statement and/or plan of
development not 100%
clear.
-Paragraphs need stronger
topic sentences, supporting
points, and clinchers
-Transitions could be more
original or consistent.
-Conclusion needs to
restate POD and thesis in
different words than intro.
Clincher could be stronger.
Organization
24- 11 pts
-Missing attention getter,
thesis, or plan of
development,
-Topic sentences not
included or unclear.
-Needs more transitionsdoesn’t flow well.
-Missing an obvious
conclusion- needs thesis,
POD, and clincher.
Word Choice
26- 25 pts
-Uses some striking words
or colorful phrases.
Avoids most overused
words: a lot, very, really,
in my opinion, I think, I
feel, ok, nice, great,
good, bad, big, thing.
-Word choice is could be
more vivid, varied, or
sounds a bit unnatural.
- Avoids most clichés
Word Choice
24- 11 pts
-Word choice is plain, tired,
and not varied.
-Uses several overused
words: a lot, very, really,
in my opinion, I think, I
feel, ok, nice, great,
good, bad, big, thing.
-Word choice sounds
awkward.
-Writer repeats many of the
same words.
-Writer uses clichés
Total: _________/ 100 points