What does it mean to be American?

Writers like Julia Alvarez, Langston Hughes, and Amy Tan have used their literature to explore what it means to be an American. Consider your own thoughts about this topic.

Write a multi-paragraph essay that explains what you believe it means to be an American. Include examples from your own life to support your personal definition.

As you write, remember your essay will be scored based on how well you:

• develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your controlling idea to the audience.
• support your controlling idea with meaningful examples, reasons, and information based upon your research or readings.
• organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
• edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
•  Ideas
  • My topic is clear and focused
  • I provide accurate, important details to support my main ideas
  • I anticipate the readers’ questions and provide answers in my work

  Organization

  • I have an inviting introduction, well-constructed paragraphs, and a satisfying conclusion
  • My work is organized sequentially, logically, and effectively
  • I use effective transitions throughout my work that make my meaning clear and help readers move through the text

  Voice

  • My content and ideas–and the way I express them–match the purpose and audience
  • I use natural, engaging language
  • When someone reads this text, it will be clear to them that I care about and understand the topic

  Word Choice

  • My words are specific and correctly used so my readers will know exactly what I mean
  • All of my words and phrases are natural, effective, and appropriate; some of them are also memorable and powerful

  Sentence Fluency

  • My sentences are put together well and in a way that enhances the meaning
  • I use a variety of sentence lengths and structures in my work
  • When I read my work out loud, it flows well and has rhythm

  Conventions

  • I have reviewed my spelling, capitalization, and punctuation for correctness
  • My grammar, paragraphing, and usage are correct and help me define my style while also communicating clearly

  Presentation

  • The formatting suits the purpose of the work
  • I use the appropriate amount of white space on the page
  • I use appropriate fonts, font size, titles, and heading