Finishing Strong Assessment

Step 1. Write the rough draft of your literary argument. Revise and edit your draft.

Step 2. Paste the completed final draft of your literary argument in the space below. Remember to use proper MLA
formatting throughout your document and include your Works Cited page at the end.

Literary Argument Final Draft

Death is the basis of the creation of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar because of the anxiety of
the death of Elizabethan England, and the stress that this would bring. Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar to show the
possible consequences and changes that would happen when Caesar dies, a reflection of the same way the response
would be if Elizabethan England passed away. Shakespeare utilizes the literary elements, plot, suspense and character,
to use Julius Caesar as a warning about what would happen if Elizabethan England were to engage in a civil war.
Shakespeare uses plot, when warning us what would happen if Elizabethan England were to engage in a civil
war and the civil unrest that would occur if she passed and who would be the successor of the crown. As we can see in
the play it states “And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf But that he sees
the Romans are but sheep. He were no lion were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome, What rubbish and what offal, when it serves For the base matter to
illuminate So vile a thing as Caesar!” From this quote we can see that the plot of killing Caesar is building up, by
Cassius already making him appear as a bad ruler for Rome. Slowly building up the plot of Caesar’s death.
Shakespeare also uses suspense to show what would happen if Elizabethan England were to engage in a civil
war. In the play we can see that Caesar’s wife predicts his death, this brings suspense and is what starts to create the
anxiety that we feel, towards Caesar’s death. This is what starts to bring us with the realization that Caesar will pass
and the crown will fall into the hands of someone else, we begin what to think will happen once Caesar will pass. The
civil unrest that will happen and the chaos that will occur.
Lastly, we can see how Shakespeare uses character to unfold this comparison. Shakespeare compares Caesar
with Elizabethan England, both roles being very similar. With civil unrest being awaited with the passing of
Elizabethan England and the same that would occur with the death of Caesar, the people were struggling with the idea
of who to trust therefore creating a sense of stress and anxiety within the population which ultimately lead to civil
unrest.
As we can see the creation of the play of Julius Caesar was a comparison to the succession of Elizabethan
England and what would occur after here rule. This concludes that Shakespeare uses plot, suspense and character to use
Julius Caesar as a warning about what would happen if Elizabethan England were to engage in a civil war.

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Step 3. Reflect on your writing process using the chart below. Respond in complete sentences.

Reflection Questions My Response

1. Think about your revision self-evaluation. I was able to correct small mistakes such as grammar and I
What was your score? How did the practice of removed unnecessary statements. Keeping only useful information
evaluating your own writing strengthen your kept my literary argumentative short and to the point.
final draft? Explain in 2-3 sentences.
2. Consider the first and final drafts of your I didn’t really see any specific weaknesses; my strengths were
essay. What areas of strength and weakness that I was able to identify examples of each of the literary
did you notice in your writing? Explain in 2-3 elements and how they were used.
sentences.
3. What is something content- or writing- I learned that it is very important to have examples to back up
related you learned throughout the literary your points. Without examples any and all of your points are
argument writing process? Explain in 2-3 useless unless backed up.
sentences.
Finishing Strong Rubric
On Target Almost There Needs Improvement
Organization 20-16 points 15-12 points 11-0 points
 The essay has an  The essay has an  The essay may be missing
introduction, body introduction, body an introduction, body
paragraphs, and a paragraphs, and a paragraphs, and/or a
conclusion that are conclusion that are mostly conclusion.
organized and easily organized.  The introduction may be

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 discernible.
 The introduction contains a
hook, a bridging statement,
and a claim that clearly
relates to the literary
argument prompt.
 The body paragraphs
thoughtfully develop,
support, and defend the
ideas introduced in the
claim.
 Ideas in the essay flow
logically through the skilled
use of transitions.
 The conclusion rephrases
the claim, summarizes the
essay's ideas, and provides
closure for the reader.
Content 30-24 points
 The incorporation of short
story evidence
demonstrates that the
student thoroughly
understands each literary
element's contribution to
the development of the
allegory.
 The body paragraphs reflect
outside-the-box thinking
and interesting insight into
each reason presented.
Evidence and 30-24 points
Elaboration  Evidence is incorporated in
a logical manner with a
balanced mixture of direct
quotes, paraphrases, and
summary.
 Evidence is elaborated on
by the student in a
thoughtful and insightful
manner.
 Appropriate signal words
and phrases are used to
incorporate evidence.
Formatting 15-12 points
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 The introduction contains a
hook, a bridging statement,
and a claim.
 The body paragraphs
develop and support the
ideas introduced in the
claim.
 Ideas in the essay mostly
flow through the use of
transitions.
 The conclusion attempts to
rephrase the claim,
summarize the essay's
ideas, and provide closure
for the reader.
23-18 points
 The incorporation of short
story evidence
demonstrates that the
student attempted explain
each literary element's
contribution to the
development of the
allegory.
 The body paragraphs reflect
typical thinking and insight,
but may be underdeveloped
and lack elaboration and
connections.
23-18 points
 Evidence is incorporated in
a logical manner, but an
excessive use of direct
quotes may distract the
reader.
 There is an attempt to
elaborate on evidence, but
the connection may be
unclear or underdeveloped.
 There is an attempt at the
use of signal words and
phrases to incorporate
evidence.
11-9 points
missing a hook, a bridging
statement, and/or a claim.
 The body paragraphs only
loosely relate to ideas
introduced in the claim.
 Ideas in the essay may not
flow due to a lack of
transitions.
 The conclusion
unsuccessfully rephrases
the claim, summarizes the
essay's ideas, and/or
provides closure for the
reader.
17-0 points
 The incorporation of short
story evidence may not
demonstrate the student's
understanding of the text or
prompt.
 The body paragraphs may
not fully reflect insight or
may not develop the reason
to the extent necessary.
17-0 points
 The essay lacks elaboration
and connections; instead
the essay follows a pattern
of presenting and
paraphrasing evidence.
 There is no attempt to use
signal words to incorporate
evidence.
8-0 points
  MLA formatting is present
and correct throughout the
entire essay.
 A properly formatted Works
Cited page appears at the
end of the essay.
 MLA formatting is mostly
present and correct
throughout the entire
essay.
 An attempt at a Works Cited
page appears at the end of
the essay.
 MLA formatting may be
missing throughout the
essay.
 The essay may be missing a
Works Cited page.

Grammar 10-8 points 7-6 points 5-0 points

 There are virtually no
spelling, punctuation, or
grammatical errors.  errors.   grammatical errors.
 The tone and diction are
appropriate to the writing
purpose.
Reflection 10-8 points
 I thoroughly and insightfully
reflected on my writing
process and included
examples from my essay as
needed.
 There are a few spelling,
punctuation, or grammatical
 The tone and diction are
mostly appropriate to the
writing purpose.
7-6 points
 I attempted to reflect on my
writing process but may be
missing insight or examples
from my essay.
 There are several spelling,
punctuation, or
 The tone and diction are
inappropriate to the writing
purpose.
5-0 points
 I may be missing parts or all
of the reflection component
of this assessment.

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