098 Paper #1: Exploring the Danger of a Single Story

Mangini, Fall 2016

Prompt: Write a 500-word essay about misperception. You may either write a narrative about being
stereotyped or on stereotyping someone else.
Discussion of the prompt: We all struggle with perceptions daily. There have been times when others
have stereotyped us based only on the clothes we wore or the way we talked, our ethnicity, sexuality,
gender, or race. There have been situations when we have stereotyped or misperceived others for the
same reasons. Now write a narrative essay describing one of those situations. In writing your essay,
consider the following questions:
On being stereotyped
What was the persons initial perception of
you?
What caused that perception?
How did their perception of you change over
time?
How did their perception affect your
relationship?
Why did being misperceived matter?

On stereotyping others
What was your initial perception of that
person?
What caused that perception?
How did your perception of that person change
over time?
How did your perception affect your
relationship?
Why did misperceiving that person matter?

Format:

Introduction
o
o
o

Body Paragraphs
o
o
o
o

Begin with an attention getter (quote, novelty, humor, question, etc.).

Summarize the issue you are examining
Funnel to a specific thesis statement that directly discusses the main focus of your essay

Paragraphs should have opening topic sentences

Provide a description of the main point the paragraph is examining
Provide specific examples / details for support
Transition into the next paragraph

Conclusion
o Summarize your main points but do not regurgitate your introduction. Your conclusion
should be a reflection of what can be learned from reading your paper.

Submission Guidelines: Papers must meet all of the criteria below to be accepted for assessment:

Typed
Double spaced
Times New Roman, 12 point font
One-inch margins
At least 500 words (thats about 2 double-spaced typed pages)

098 Paper #1: Exploring the Danger of a Single Story

Mangini, Fall 2016

Rubric for Assessment

(please print this page and put it on top of your final essay):

Attention
Getter

Well worded,
related to topic,
appropriate.

Related to topic,
appropriate.

Present, but not

entirely related
or appropriate.

No AG present,
inappropriate,
not related.

Intro

Succinct
summary with
natural transition
into thesis.

Wordy summary,
weak transition
into thesis.

Underdeveloped
summary, no
transition into
thesis.

Little to no
summary
present, no
transition into
thesis.

Thesis

Well worded,
precise, to the
point.

Present and
states main
points. Some
attempt made at
wording.

Declaration Im
going to write
about. Points
stated are not
wholly
discussed w/in
paper

Weak,
underdeveloped
thesis
statement.

Body

Clear topic
sentences at the
beginning of
paragraphs,
logical order of
ideas, no
tangents, stays on
topic, clear
explanation of
ideas.

Topic sentences
present,
understandable
arguments,
attempt at
organization, few
tangents.

Weak or unclear
topic sentences,
unclear or
awkward
arguments,
tangents,
unclear order of
ideas.

No topic
sentences, no
support or
explanation of
arguments,
weak or no
organization.

Support

Thorough and
clear
explanations of
examples.
Examples
provided for each
main point.

Explanations for
most examples,
connection to
main point not
always apparent.

Inappropriate or
unclear
explanations of
examples and
their relevance
to main point.

Examples stand
alone without
explanation,
examples
missing for
some points.

Conclusion

Thorough
understanding
and summary of

Summary of
argument, final
statement

Weak or
opinionated
summary. Final

No summary of
argument.
Weak final

098 Paper #1: Exploring the Danger of a Single Story

Grammar

Mangini, Fall 2016

argument. Strong
final statement
for reader.

reiterates thesis.

statement
repeats thesis.

statement, not
connected to
thesis.

No spelling
errors. Clear
paragraphs, no
awkward
wording. or run
on, proper
punctuation

Few spelling or
sentence errors

Multiple
spelling errors,
multiple
sentence errors.

Spelling and
sentence errors
interfere with
understanding.