GRASPS

 Lesson  Plan:  Performance  Task  

Goal:    To  write  a  persuasive  piece  

Role:  Activist  on  the  Board  member  of  the  PAC  

Audience:  Library  of  Congress  

Situation:  Imagine  you  are  on  the  board  of  P.A.C  (Protect  Ancient  
Civilizations).    You  have  just  been  informed  that  the  Library  of  Congress  
has  decided  to  shred  The  Odyssey  by  Homer.    Prepare  an  explanation  of  
why  The  Odyssey  should  be  saved.    Remember  to  highlight  the  
prominent  qualities  of  the  piece  in  your  essay.    Use  specific  examples  
from  the  text  for  support.      

Product  Performance  and  Purpose:  You  will  write  an  article,  letter,  or  
essay  in  order  to  show  your  understanding  of  this  famous  epic.  Make  
sure  you  use  examples  from  the  text/time  period/or  any  other  
knowledge  you  have  to  make  your  argument  persuasive.      

Standards  and  Criteria  for  Success:  

Your  work  will  be  judged  according  the  attached  rubric(s).  

 Saving
                           
Homer
                                       
 

Imagine   you   are   an   activist   on   the   board   of   P.A.C   (Protect   Ancient  

Civilizations).     You   have   just   been   informed   that   the   Library   of   Congress  
has  decided  to  shred  The  Odyssey  by  Homer.    Prepare  an  explanation  
of  why  The  Odyssey  should  be  saved.      

You   will   write   an   article,   letter,   or   essay   to   members   of   the   Library   of  

Congress   in   order   to   show   your   understanding   of   this   famous   epic.  
Make   sure   you   use   examples   from   the   text/time   period/or   any   other  
knowledge  you  have  to  make  your  argument  persuasive.    Remember  to  
highlight   the   prominent   qualities   of   the   piece   in   your   essay.     Use  
specific  examples  from  the  text  for  support.      

   
  
Persuasive Essay : P.A.C. Essay

Teacher Name:

Student Name: ________________________________________

4- 3- 2- 1-
CATEGORY Above Standards Meets Standards Approaching Standards Below Standards
Attention The introductory The introductory The author has an The introductory
Grabber paragraph has a paragraph has a interesting introductory paragraph is not
strong hook or hook or attention paragraph but the interesting AND is
attention grabber grabber, but it is connection to the topic is not relevant to the
that is appropriate weak, rambling or not clear. topic.
for the audience. inappropriate for
This could be a the audience.
strong statement, a
relevant quotation,
statistic, or question
addressed to the
reader.
Focus or The thesis statement The thesis The thesis statement The thesis
Thesis names the topic of statement names outlines some or all of the statement does not
Statement the essay and the topic of the main points to be discussed name the topic
outlines the main essay. but does not name the AND does not
points to be topic. preview what will
discussed. be discussed.

Evidence and All of the evidence Most of the At least one of the pieces of Evidence and
Examples and examples are evidence and evidence and examples is examples are NOT
specific, relevant examples are relevant and has an relevant AND/OR
and explanations are specific, relevant explanation that shows how are not explained.
given that show and explanations that piece of evidence
how each piece of are given that show supports the author's
evidence supports how each piece of position.
the author's evidence supports
position. the author's
position.
Audience Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Demonstrates some It is not clear who
clear understanding general understanding of the the author is writing
of the potential understanding of potential reader and uses for.
reader and uses the potential reader arguments appropriate for
appropriate and uses that audience.
vocabulary and vocabulary and
arguments. arguments
Anticipates reader's appropriate for that
questions and audience.
provides thorough
answers appropriate
for that audience.
Grammar & Author makes no Author makes 1-2 Author makes 3-4 errors in Author makes more
Spelling errors in grammar errors in grammar grammar or spelling that than 4 errors in
or spelling that or spelling that distract the reader from the grammar or spelling
distract the reader distract the reader content. that distract the
from the content. from the content. reader from the
content.

Capitalization Author makes no Author makes 1-2 Author makes a few errors Author makes
& errors in errors in in capitalization and/or several errors in
Punctuation capitalization or capitalization or punctuation that catch the capitalization
punctuation, so the punctuation, but the reader's attention and and/or punctuation
essay is essay is still easy to interrupt the flow. that catch the
exceptionally easy read. reader's attention
to read. and interrupt the
flow.