AP M.C. 1991

1. D
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. A
6. E
7. D
8. C
9. E
10. E
11. A
12. A
13. A
14. C
15. D
16. B
17. C
18. B
19. B
20. A
21. A
22. C
23. B
24. D
25. E
26. D
27. A
28. E
29. B
30. D
31. C
32. E
33. C
34. A
35. C
36. D
37. D
38. C
39. B
40. C
41. C
42. C
43. B
44. A
45. D
46. A
47. B
48. E
49. B
50. A
51. C
52. A
53. E

"Wake Me Up" by AVICII

From A-Z Lyrics

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
Well that's fine by me

[2x]
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize

[2x]
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

Didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know (didn't know, didn't know)

SAT Essay Rubric

6    100–97%
6-   96–93

5+  92–89
5    88–85
5-   84–81

4+  80–77
4    76–73
4-   72–71
______________

3+  70–68
3    67–65
3-   64–62

2+  61–59
2    58–56
2-  55–51

1   50


The following information was excerpted from the College Board.  Please go there for more information:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/scores/sat-essay-scoring-guide

1. Score of 6

   An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay:
   
   • Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
   • Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas
   • Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate and apt vocabulary
   • Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
   • Is free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 6 (Example 1)
   Score = 6 (Example 2)

2. Score of 5

   An essay in this category demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery, although it has occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay:
   
   • Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
   • Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas
   • Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary
   • Demonstrates variety in sentence structure
   • Is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 5 (Example 1)
   Score = 5 (Example 2)

3. Score of 4

   An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it has lapses in quality. A typical essay:
   
   • Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons and other evidence to support its position
   • Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas
   • Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary
   • Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
   • Has some errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 4 (Example 1)
   Score = 4 (Example 2)

4. Score of 3

   An essay in this category demonstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
   
   • Develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons or other evidence to support its position
   • Is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas
   • Displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice
   • Lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure
   • Contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
   Score = 3 (Example 1)
   

5. Score of 2

   An essay in this category demonstrates little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
   
   • Develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, and demonstrates weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons or other evidence to support its position
   • Is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas
   • Displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice
   • Demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure
   • Contains errors in grammar, usage and mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured
   Score = 2 (Example 1)
   

6. Score of 1

   An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
   
   • Develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position
   • Is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay
   • Displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
   • Demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
   • Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning
   Score = 1 (Example 1)
   

7. Score of 0

   Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero

Take-Home Essay Rubric

Every student should understand how his teacher grades.

First, this post will tell you the general parameters that apply to the formal writing you will complete in this course (take home essays, in class essays, and creative writing portfolios).  Specific qualifiers concerning style, length, and format will be given with each particular assignment.  Think of what you read here as larger context for all formal writing assignments.  

Second, you'll notice that I circle your errors.  Generally, I expect that you will know whether it is a spelling or punctuation error.  I will often suggest a punctuator in its stead.  I will generally mark where your piece stands out (for good reasons...or otherwise).  Perhaps your imagery is particularly good in a given paragraph or your word choice in a given sentence...or perhaps your thesis is too weak.  You will see short notes in the left margin. If you repeat a word or phrase in an unhelpful way, I will circle them and draw lines that connect them.  Please read those comments.  Do you understand what I'm noting?  Visit me during advisory so that I can go over your essay, explain my marks in more detail, and give you strategies to improve your writing.  Please visit. 

I do my best to adhere to the traditional grade scores: A is excellent, B is good, C is satisfactory, D is poor, and F is a failure.  That means that an essay that is complete and on time begins at the C level and proves itself otherwise by its merits or deficiencies.  Most lower scoring essays have a mix of persistent punctuation errors (5 or more per page), weak ideas (simple thoughts and a lack of sentence variety), and misused or misspelled vocabulary.  The most common mechanics error is comma misuse.  Comma misuse will transform otherwise reasonable thoughts into fragments and run-ons in the blink of an evil eye. I count vague thoughts, needless repetition, structural mistakes (such as having no clear thesis), and simplistic diction as essay errors. 

Points are generally divided in half between content (your ideas) and grammar.  So, a 100 point assignment would receive up to 50 points for addressing the prompt clearly, fully, insightfully, and imaginatively....and up to 50 for grammar, usage, and mechanics. 

Each MLA-formatted page of your writing has 23 lines of writing (this counts the heading but not the header).  While not absolute, if an essay follows the assignment prompt and guidelines and has evidence of good thought, then

• 1-2 errors per page will get an A
• 3-4 errors per page will get a B
• 5 errors per page will get a C
• 6-7 or more will get a D
• Papers that are challenging to read due to persistent errors will fail.  Papers that do not address the prompt will fail.

FAQ's

May I handwrite my essay?  Yes, you may always handwrite your essay unless the guidelines require a typed essay.

May I type my essay? Yes, you may type your essay unless guidelines require a handwritten essay.

What font should I use? Any standard font (like Times New Roman).

What if I have poor handwriting?  May I type an essay that you require to be handwritten?  No, you have to handwrite it.  You may have to handwrite a number of copies in order to arrive a legible version, but it must be handwritten and it must be legible (unless you are missing hands, etc.).  If your handwriting is poor, it's time to tackle it!

What if I fail due to formatting, such as MLA? In Q1, I will return the essay to you to reformat; no point loss.  In Q2 and following, you will lose 10% on the assignment if it must be returned for formatting.

Henry Beers American and English Literature

American Literature






English Literature