206 ❯ STEP 5. Build Your Test-Taking Confidence
Rating Student Sample A
This is a high-range essay for the following reasons:- An immediate and clear indication of Seattle’s purpose and attitude
- Understanding and discussion of Seattle’s attitude and purpose (paragraph 2)
- Demonstration of a mature voice
- Thorough and effective connection between texts and insights (last two sentences of
paragraph 2) - Superior use of connective tissue—transitions and echo words (“in addition,” “despite
his calm,” “acting respectfully,” “winning favor”) - Refers to a variety of rhetorical strategies and devices to support the writer’s asser-
tion (paragraph 3: rhetorical questions), (paragraph 3: cause and effect), (paragraph 4:
details), (paragraph 4: figurative language) - Mature perceptions and insights (paragraph 2, sentence 2), (paragraph 4, sentence 2),
(paragraph 5, next to last sentence) - Mature writing style (last sentence)
This high-range essay indicates the clear voice of a mature writer and reader. Once the
writer has committed to Seattle’s purpose and attitude, the writer develops in each succes-
sive paragraph a supporting aspect of the stated purpose and/or attitude.
Rating Student Sample B
This is a mid-range essay for the following reasons:- Concise, on-target development of prompt
- Indicates an understanding of the oration
- Makes intelligent points, but does not always develop them or defend them (paragraph
3, last sentence) - Each paragraph deals with a different strategy (paragraph 2: emotional details), (para-
graph 3: rhetorical questions), (paragraph 4: simile), (paragraph 5: antithesis) - Good connective tissue
- A few lapses in syntax and diction (paragraph 3, next to last sentence)
This essay is indicative of a writer who understands both the passage and the prompt.
There is an adequate analysis of the rhetorical strategies and devices present in the text, and
the student reaches for unique insights (paragraph 4, last sentence). The lack of develop-
ment of a couple of the cited points places this essay squarely in the mid-range.
Rubrics for the Stegner Essay
High-Range Essay- Correctly identifies Stegner’s position and attitude regarding the environment and
wilderness - Effectively presents a position about Stegner’s position and attitude
- Clear writer’s voice
- Successfully defends his or her position
- Presents carefully reasoned arguments making reference to specific examples from per-
sonal experience, knowledge, reading - Effectively manipulates language
- Few, if any, syntactical errors
KEY IDEA