1. Title & opening scenes (10pts)
• The student includes a creative title relevant to the theme of the narrative
• There is an opening scene that is immersive and written low on the ladder of abstraction; the writer “shows” rather than tells;
• the opening scenes foreshadow the significant moment to come
2. Settings and Character development—contrary before the event (15pts)
• The student describes a place where events are taking place using details that contribute to the mood and theme of the story
• The student writer develops a character that the reader can “see” and “understand.” Enough details are given about the person to make the reader care about what happens to the character.
• There is a demonstration of how the person used to be/think/see before the “significant literacy event”
3. The significant literacy moment or event (15pts)
• The student describes a significant moment related to an encounter with Language, writing, reading or education
• The student uses elements of open-form prose (dialogue, “showing” and not telling, description of setting and tension/conflict) that lead to the significant moment
• The significant moment is the singular moment that changes the main character in a significant way
4. Resolution (15pts)
• Writer demonstrates how the main character changed as a result of the event. Writer shows the NEW view of “self”, NEW view of person “X” OR NEW values /beliefs in opposition to the OLD view presented before the event
• Writer resolves the tension by demonstrating the larger implications of the lesson, and wrapping up the theme of the essay nicely;
• The writer ends strongly through the use of creative imitation
5. Figurative language, concrete, revelatory and memory-soaked words (10pts)
• Writer uses the power of figurative language in effective places to add another level of description and meaning to the narrative. Writer does not use cliché’s, inappropriate, or irrelevant figurative language
• Student writes low on the ladder of abstraction by using concrete words as well as words that evoke memories and reveal something about the writer
6. Connectedness and style (10pts)
• There is a theme that connects scenes and unifies the story
• The writer avoids “and then chronology” The writer follows a purposeful order of ideas that allows the reader to easily understand connections between sections, ideas, and sentences
• The narrative has varied sentence length, structure, and word choice as well as a dynamic rhythm
7. Grammar (10pts)
• The writer has few grammatical errors
• Each sentence can be easily understood the first time read
• Appropriate word choice and varying sentence structure allow for a good reading experience
8. Word Count and MLA style (10pts)
• The narrative is at least 700 words, but no longer than 1100 words
• Student follows proper MLA style

Your essay must meet the word count. Underdeveloped essays will not get a passing grade. If your essay is 600 words or less you will not pass.