Scoring Guide for Writing About Theme  

Essay Features 
Features 

Introduction -- 12 POINTS 

  Present?  Comments 

Hook -- An interesting and engaging

opening designed to “hook” your reader
3 POINTS

Lead/Background -- Enough background

to help orient your reader and lead
him/her to the thesis
3 POINTS

Thesis Statement -- The assertion you

are attempting to prove or explain
(Includes book title, author, theme
idea, and 3 ways the author develops
theme)
6 POINTS

Body -- 16 POINTS/PARAGRAPH 
POINTS/PARAGRAPH 

Total of ​3 paragraphs in the body​, one

for each way the author develops the
theme
3 POINTS/PARAGRAPH

Each paragraph begins with a ​topic

sentence ​that tells the reader what the
paragraph will be about
3 POINTS/PARAGRAPH

Each paragraph ​explains how the

theme is developed​ by the author AND
includes ​at least 2 examples of specific
textual evidence ​that supports the
writer’s theme-related ideas
6 POINTS/PARAGRAPH

Transitions words a ​ re used throughout

to help the reader follow your thinking
1 POINT

Text passages are ​cited

1 POINT
Text passages are ​correctly capitalized
and punctuated, including the correct
use of quotation marks
2 POINTS/PARAGRAPH

 
Conclusion -- 10 POINTS 
POINTS 

Conclusion is at least ​three

sentences long a ​ nd ​sums up of the
main points of the essay
5 POINTS

Ends with a ​“clincher”​ or

thought-provoking sentence that
​ me of the essay to the
relates the the
real-world
5 POINTS