Advanced | Exemplar Essay
Using Exemplars in Your Lessons
Exemplar essays are tools to take abstract descriptions and make them more concrete for students.
One way to use them is to print the clean copies of the essays and allow students to use the rubric
to make notes or even find examples of important elements of an essay - thesis statements,
introductions, evidence, conclusions, transitions, etc. Teachers can also use exemplars to illustrate
what each score point within a trait ‘looks like’ in an authentic student essay. For additional ideas,
please see “25 Ways to Use Exemplar Essays” by visiting the Curriculum Resources page in Help.
Dulce et Decorum Est
The Honor, Horror, and Sacrifice of War
Claim and Focus
The essay makes a clear, arguable claim
about the purpose and message of the
poems (“Each poet tries to influence
the reader's perspective on war by
developing a persuasive point of view
through their language and imagery”)
that thoroughly addresses the demands
of the prompt.
Analysis and Evidence
Several pieces of relevant and valid
evidence from each poem are provided
to support the claim. Explanations of
examples are thoughtful and clearly
tied to the purpose of each poem. The
analysis is balanced and thorough.
Organization
Effective transitions are regularly
used to show how ideas relate and
progress throughout the essay (‘to begin
with,” “as a result,” and “on the other
hand”). Purposeful and well-developed
paragraphs for the introduction, body,
and conclusion are arranged within a
structure that enhances the analysis.
Language and Style
The essay establishes a formal style
and objective tone that are maintained
throughout. Varied sentence structure
and precise language address the
complexity of the topic (“imagery,”
“stanza,” “tone,” “elevates”). Few errors
are present, and they do not interfere
with meaning.
