​Eng.

9 Literary Analysis Rubric

Category A-Exemplary B-Proficient C- Basic D- Needs Work
Body Paragraph Well crafted topic Generic, but adequate topic Inadequate topic No apparent
Organization sentences. Paragraphs sentences. Paragraphs are sentences and/or organization or
TIQEP are unified and focused. ​TIQEP paragraphs are poorly missing topic
organized. ​TIQEP paragraph structure structured. ​TIQEP sentences. ​TIQEP
paragraph structure followed for paragraphs, paragraph structure paragraph structure
followed for but Explanation or is not followed for is not followed for
paragraphs. Introduction/context paragraphs, and/or paragraphs.
section is weak. sections are missing
or weak.

Introduction & Intro and conclusion Intro and conclusion are Intro and/or Intro and/or
Conclusion: are compelling, and general, and provide conclusion is basic, conclusion is missing
requirements of ​ANT provide adequate necessary information may be missing or consists of one
(attention information and (requirements of ANT & information, and sentence that
getter/Necessary substance ​(all RSC format met). makes no attempt to announces
info/Thesis) & ​RSC requirements of draw reader in or assignment.
(Restate thesis/ ANT & RSC format provide closure. (Requirements of
Summary/Connect ) met fully). (Requirements of ANT & RSC format
format ANT & RSC format NOT met).
NOT met).
Fluency/ The paper flows off The paper has moments of Awkward phrases Significant sentence
Sentence structure the tongue easily. an easy rhythm, but they consume the paper. problems (run ons
(syntax) Could be read aloud are inconsistent. There are Contains several run and fragments).
without a hitch. The several awkward phrases ons​ or fragment Sentence structure is
transitions​ ​help the that slow the reading eye sentences. Little to no really, really, hard to
new ideas along and and a speaker would have variety of sentence follow.
the sentences are to re-phrase if reading it out structure is present.
never awkward. loud. The variety of
Sentence variety is sentence structure is not
effective. bad, but could be better.
Grammar, Few errors. Minor errors that do not Several errors that Significant errors that
Punctuation distract. detract from meaning. detract from meaning.

GRADE​: STRUCTURE AND GPS: _44_B+_/50 Essay is clear overall, but there are sentence
issues and editing errors.

Category A-Exemplary B-Proficient C- Basic D- Needs Work

Idea Development Development of ideas is
and obvious and in sync with
Effectiveness the thesis. All arguments
and points are fully
developed and explained.
Essay is highly effective.
Ideas are
semi-developed, but
several gaps are left to be
filled by reader.
Essay is effective.
Ideas are merely stated Lack of idea
and not adequately development.
explained (or explanation Essay is not effective.
is overly general). Essay
is minimally effective.

Quote and Example Relevant, telling, quality
Evidence & Support details and quotes used to
prove points.
Supporting details and
quotes are relevant, but
one key issue or portion
of the argument is
unsupported.
Supporting details and Supporting details are
quotes are relevant, but typically unclear or
several key issues are vague
unsupported. OR no support/quotes.

Elements of Literary Writing reflects a critical
Analysis/Interpretation understanding of the text;
writer draws
sophisticated inferences
from the concrete details.
The writing offers some
new insight into the
work or adequately
analyses the general
meaning,
The writing does little to Essentially the piece is a
deepen the reader’s summary or a book
understanding report and offers no
of the work. analysis.
Summary
 Claims are well work. may be substituted
supported (commentary), for analysis.
thereby deepening the
reader’s understanding of
the work. Analysis is
fresh, original, and
insightful.

Thesis Sentence Thesis perfectly directs Thesis directs essay with Thesis is overly general Thesis is missing OR
essay with a a comprehensive and or problematic. essay does not match
comprehensive and accurate theme OR thesis.
accurate theme and specific elements
specific elements identified.--not both.
identified.

GRADE​: CONTENT SUPPORT EFFECTIVENESS: __45_A-_/50 Analysis is accurate, but

convoluted is a few areas.

​ ​Is their hope for the weak in an unforgiving and inhumane world?​John Steinbeck, a

nobel prize winner for literature, wrote ​ofMice and Men​,in 1938. In the novel two men

are traveling together and one of them is mentally handicapped. They have dreams of

owning land some day but their story doesn't end happily ever after due to the evil

beast of society. Steinbeck unmasks the theme, that inevitable the innocent must pay

for man's cruelty. Steinbeck exposes this through the death of the pups, Lennie, and

Crooks.

The vital association between innocence and the book can be examined through

Slims pups. These stainless, elegant, harmless creatures are demolished by the evil of

Slim. Slim's dog has puppies, he hastily killed some of them for the sake of not having

to take care of the entire liter. "She slang her pups last night. Nine of em. I drowned four

of 'em right off" ( Steinbeck 35 ). Pups are at the adolescent stage of life where they

depend solely on others for survival. They didn't engage any violence, didn't encourage
wickedness, but are only pure animals that are a beauty of life. Just being newborns

they couldn't even defend themselves against harm. Therefore the death of the puppies

was the stain of man's ruthlessness on the incapable.

Crooks known as the stable buck is a sample of marginalization, due to the

inheritance of his race. Not only is he confined to live at the farm, but imprisoned in his

own skin. He is treated like dirt; isolated in the barn having nobody to interact with.

“Crooks, the negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that

leaned off the wall of the barn” (66). Being confined all alone, he shuts the world out

due
to the fact that he was cut from humanity. This division is unnecessary but presents the

others as superior, and him as a lesser worth. He's more than just a stable buck but

also a toy to the other workers. When Christmas rolls around the boss’s gift is a gallon

of whiskey. Just for their amusement, they beat up crooks. “They let the nigger come in

that night. Little skinner name of Smitty took after the nigger. Done pretty good, too. The

guys wouldn't let him use his feet, so the nigger got him. If he coulda used his feet,

Smitty says he would have killed the nigger ” (20). Harming another human for

enjoyment is heinous. Crooks is powerless because of his appearance, unable to

defend himself, and didn't do anything to deserve harm. Mentally, physically, and

emotionally Crooks was beaten down because his skin is different.

It's uncommon for a person to have a body of a healthy 25 year old, but the

intelligence of a toddler. Lennie is this way, and he doesn't know what to do in

questionable situations. Instantly, when they arrive Curley targets Lennie because he

feels intimidated by his structure. “He backed until he was against the wall, and Curley

followed, slugging him at his face. Lennie’s hands remained at his sides; he was too

frightened to defend himself” (63). This is important because it reveals that Lennie

doesn't respond to violence with violence. As he's cornered and and being attacked he

stands there helplessly as he protects his face. Lennie didn't contribute to the fight

because he didn't want any trouble and he was confused on what to do. Lennie is

attracted to soft things and has a habit of grasping on and doesn't know when to let go.
Towards the end of the book curlers wife and lennie at having a conversation and she

insisted he pets her hair. When Lennie does it's soft, she tells him to let go but he
panics and clutches her hair tightly in his hand. She struggled for a while and then the

room fell silent, she had died. Lennie said that he didn't want to hurt her, just didn't want

to get in trouble. In terror of what he had done he runs to the bushes. “And George

raised the gun and steadied it, and brought the muzzle to the back of of Lennie's head.

The hand shook violently, but his face set and head steadied. He pulled the trigger”

(106). If George didn't shoot Lennie then he would have lots of suffering to come.

Lennie's clueless actions made him a mean man in others eyes. In both of the

situations Lennie's unknown knowledge of what to do, lead to him to harm.

This world is filled with cruel humans that don't care who they hurt, as long as

they fulfill their needs. The helpless must pay for the small heartedness of mankind.

Slim slaughters the pups because of selfish needs. Lennie meant no harm to

anyone, but paid the ultimate price of death. Crooks is treated as a lesser due to his

looks. Thus According to John steinbeck, ​ofMice and Men​,hope is lost.