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