Instructions:
In Week Three, you wrote a personal essay draft in which you described a person, place, or object that has special meaning in your life or a particular moment or occurrence in your life that had special meaning to you.
This week, you will complete this draft and turn in your final Personal Essay. Please be sure to read and review the “Example Personal Essay” document before beginning your final draft for more guidance on writing a descriptive essay.Be sure to utilize one of the writing patterns described in Chapter 6. The Personal Essay must be at least 1000 words (excluding the title page). Review the Example Personal Essay.
Your essay must include
•	A clear thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.
•	Specific details about the person, place, object, or event so that readers can visualize the subject and/or feel present in the story (i.e., your essay should be specific and appeal to the five senses).
•	A concluding paragraph.
As you are writing this essay, please pay attention to the areas that you struggled with in the “Grammar Assessment” quiz and “Practice Essay” assignment. Please also incorporate your instructor’s feedback on your journal assignments, your Week Three draft, and other activities completed throughout this course.
When submitting your Personal Essay, make sure to
•	Proofread your work for errors in grammar, mechanics, and style.
•	Check that the essay is at least 1000 words.
•	Use the “APA Template” handout provided to format your essay.
•	Include a title page with the following:
o	Title of paper
o	Student’s name
o	Course name and number
o	Instructor’s name
o	Date submitted
•	Begin the essay with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
•	Address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
•	End with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
•	Format the essay according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
•	Save the document as a Microsoft Word or compatible .doc or .docx file.
•	Use a naming convention that includes your last name, week number, and the assignment number (e.g., smith_w5_a1.doc).

Grading Rubrics
Description:

Total Possible Score: 30.00
Structure
Total: 9.00
Distinguished - Essay contains a thesis or controlling idea, which appears in the introduction. The thesis is developed through a well-conceived paragraph structure; each paragraph contains a topic sentence that introduces the event or subject being explored and advances the thesis. A concluding paragraph refers back to the essay’s thesis and summarizes the main points.
Proficient - Essay contains a thesis or controlling idea, which appears in the introduction. The thesis is developed through a paragraph structure, although the overall structure needs focus or clarity. Each paragraph contains a topic sentence that introduces the event or subject being explored and advances the thesis; some detail lacks depth. A concluding paragraph refers back to the essay’s thesis and summarizes the main points.
Basic - Essay contains a thesis or controlling idea; however, it either does not appear in the introduction or it lacks sufficient focus. The thesis is developed through a basic paragraph structure, although not all paragraphs contain a topic sentence that introduces the event or subject being explored and advances the thesis. The conclusion either does not refer back to the essay’s thesis, or does not adequately summarize the main points.
Below Expectations - Essay is centered on a topic or theme, but it lacks a thesis or controlling idea that focuses the paper. A topic or theme is minimally developed through a paragraph structure; topic sentences are absent and some paragraphs do not advance the topic. The concluding paragraph is absent, or it does not refer back to the essay’s thesis or summarize the main points.
Non-Performance - An appropriate narrative/descriptive essay structure is either nonexistent or the assignment lacks the components described in the instructions.

Development
Total: 9.00
Distinguished - Essay’s thesis or controlling idea develops in the body of the paper through an appropriate sequence of ideas, and through the use of interesting examples and evidence that relate clearly to the main idea. Essay incorporates all feedback regarding development provided by the instructor on the rough draft, and it is meets the minimum word count.
Proficient - Essay’s thesis or controlling idea is developed in the body of the paper through an appropriate sequence of ideas, and through the use of examples and evidence that relate to the main idea. Some paragraphs lack sufficient examples or detail. Essay incorporates most feedback regarding development provided by the instructor on the rough draft, and it meets the minimum word count.
Basic - Essay’s thesis or controlling idea is developed in the body of the paper, although the sequence of ideas lacks logic or focus. Some paragraphs lack examples, detail, and/or relevance to the main idea. Essay incorporates some of the feedback regarding development provided by the instructor on the rough draft, and it meets the minimum word count of 1000.
Below Expectations - Essay’s thesis or controlling idea is minimally developed in the body of the paper; the sequence of ideas lacks logic and focus. Essay lacks relevant examples or evidence, does not incorporate the feedback regarding development provided by the instructor on the rough draft, and/or it does not meet the required minimum word count of 1000 words.
Non-Performance - An appropriate narrative/descriptive essay development is either nonexistent or the assignment lacks the components described in the instructions.

Style
Total: 6.00
Distinguished - Essay utilizes techniques of personal essay writing and describes a person, place, object, or event so that readers can visualize the subject and feel present in the story. Descriptions are specific and appeal to all five senses. Essay uses language appropriate to audience and purpose, illustrating careful attention to word choice, sentence construction, and clarity.
Proficient - Essay utilizes techniques personal essay writing and describes a person, place, object, or event so that readers can visualize the subject and feel present in the story. Descriptions appeal to at least three of the five senses, but they lack depth and detail. Essay uses language appropriate to audience and purpose, although one or two errors exist in word choice, sentence construction, and clarity.
Basic - Essay utilizes techniques of personal essay writing and describes a person, place, object, or event. Descriptions appeal at least one of the five senses, but they lack depth and detail. Essay uses language that is mostly appropriate to audience and purpose, although three to five errors exist in word choice, sentence construction, and clarity.
Below Expectations - Essay describes a person, place, object, or event, but it does not utilize the techniques of personal essay writing. Descriptions do not appeal to the five senses, and they lack depth and detail. Essay contains language inappropriate to audience and/or purpose, and more than five errors exist in word choice, sentence construction, and clarity.
Non-Performance - An appropriate personal essay style is either nonexistent or the assignment lacks the components described in the instructions.

Grammar
Total: 4.50
Distinguished - Essay uses the proper conventions of the English language, including correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Fewer than three errors in grammar or syntax are present in the essay, and they do not detract from the development of ideas. Essay illustrates careful proofreading and improvement in the problem areas highlighted by the instructor’s feedback and the Diagnostic Quiz.
Proficient - Essay uses the proper conventions of the English language. Three to five errors are present in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, but they do not detract from the development of ideas. Essay illustrates proofreading and improvement in problem areas highlighted by the instructor’s feedback and the Diagnostic Quiz.
Basic - Essay uses the proper conventions of the English language most of the time. Between five and ten errors are present in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Some errors detract from the development of ideas. Essay needs proofreading, or it does not show improvement in some problem areas highlighted by the instructor’s feedback and the Diagnostic Quiz.
Below Expectations - Essay does not utilize many of the proper conventions of the English language. More than 10 errors exist in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, and they detract from the development of ideas. Essay needs proofreading and it does not show any improvement in problem areas highlighted by the instructor’s feedback and the Diagnostic Quiz.
Non-Performance - An appropriate use of grammar is either nonexistent or the assignment lacks the components described in the instructions.

APA Formatting
Total: 1.50
Distinguished - Essay uses accurate APA formatting consistently throughout the paper. Essay contains a title page in APA format.
Proficient - Essay uses APA formatting throughout the paper, but contains one or two minor errors. Essay contains a title page in APA format.
Basic - Essay uses some APA formatting, but does not meet all APA requirements. Essay contains a title page.
Below Expectations - Essay minimally uses APA formatting, including numerous errors that may distract from the essay’s content. Essay may not contain a title page.
Non-Performance - Use of APA formatting is either nonexistent or the assignment lacks the components described in the instructions.