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Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English Composition I

© 2018 Sophia Learning, LLC.

Are you ready to write Touchstone 1?

The narrative below provides an example of an advanced level composition. As you read through the
narrative, notice the techniques that the author used to make the story more interesting and draw you, the
reader, into the experience. Although, as with most writing, there remains room for improvement, this sample
narrative is focused, organized, and engaging. The answers to the reflection questions that follow the
narrative show insight into the author’s intended audience and purpose.

Amanda Brown

English Composition

January 17, 2018

Why I Believe in Sharing Good Food

I believe in sharing meals with loved ones. Food is obviously an important

component in keeping us alive, but in America today we have lost the importance of food in

connecting with those around us. We’re all just grasping for the next Big Mac or soda and

moving on with our day. I used to think that food was just something delicious or filling, but

then I learned how good food can be at connecting people.

My mom has always been a great cook. When I was a kid, we had a home-cooked

dinner almost every night. She calls herself a “peasant cook” because what she makes is

not usually fancy. But still I remember crispy fried chicken alongside creamy mashed

potatoes smothered in rich gravy or pots of spaghetti sauce that filled the house with an

herby, tomato smell as they bubbled throughout the day. Our house was often full of my

Comment [CS1]: This opening paragraph does a great job
of communicating the overall significance behind the story
you’re about to tell.

Comment [CS2]: Good use of narrative language here.

Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English Composition I

© 2018 Sophia Learning, LLC.

parents’ friends, particularly after church on Sunday afternoon. “It’s a sin to not have

enough food for people,” my mother would say, only half joking, so peasant food or not,

there was always a lot of it. In hindsight, I see the importance in these meals and a house

full of friends and family, but at the time I just thought it was a part of normal life.

Everything changed when my grandfather died. I was only 20 years old. He had

always been very healthy but then cancer struck and he died far too soon, at the age of 67.

I drove with my mom, brother, and sister from Utah to Oregon where all my extended family

was gathering for his funeral.

“I can’t believe he’s actually gone,” said my brother, Samuel.

“Yeah, I can’t believe that when we get to this end of this trip we’re not going to hear

Grandpa telling a bunch of crazy stories or teasing jokes,” my mom replied.

Our drive seemed dotted with memories as much as with trees, hills, and semi-

trucks. All of us were quiet with our own memories of spending time with Grandpa. My

grandpa was only the second significant death in my life and it felt very strange to lose that

important link in my family chain. At his funeral, everyone talked about him with love and

laughed over his terrible puns, but I was too sad to laugh.

A couple of days later, most of the extended family had gone home and my

grandparents’ house, which had been crammed to capacity, started to have more breathing

room. We were down to just my immediate family, my uncle Joe and his son, Luke, and my

grandmother. During this period, our huge clan had not given much thought to eating, and

we had just been eating out or snacking as we were all so busy and stricken with grief. But

on this last night, my uncle offered to make a big, home-cooked dinner. As I sat down at my

Comment [CS3]: This is a good signaling phrase to show
the reader that there will now be a shift in the tone and
timeline of the story.

Comment [CS4]: I really like how you combine different
narrative techniques in this paragraph. You include
dialogue, explain your emotions, use concrete detail to
describe your surroundings, and figurative language to
enhance your descriptions. This really helps the reader
experience the action along with you!

Comment [CS5]: You do a great job of focusing on only the
relevant events, glossing over the “filler” so that your
narrative doesn’t get off track. This really helps with the
flow of your story.

Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English Composition I

© 2018 Sophia Learning, LLC.

grandparents’ family-sized table, I heard the ocean crashing softly outside the open

window. I then noticed the crisp green salad, loaded with fresh lettuce, carrots, cucumbers,

green onions, and olives. Then I saw the crusty bread with white butter and the fluffy

mashed potatoes, whipped with butter, salt, and pepper. I felt my mouth fill with saliva

almost immediately. And then there was the fish. We were on the coast, after all, so my

uncle baked halibut filets that were lightly crispy and perfectly flaky. They smelled of rich

butter and just a bit of the Pacific and almost melted in my mouth when I took a bite.

After my first bite of fish I couldn’t help groaning. “This is so, so good.”

“Mmm hmm,” said others, diving in from places around the table.

“You know your grandfather loved fresh fish,” my grandmother added. “It was one of

his favorite things about living here.”

Unlike the memories at the funeral, this comment felt like it was both true to my

grandfather’s memory and a recognition of the greatness we had lost.

But the thing I remember even more than the food was the connection I felt to my

family. I looked around the table and saw people that I loved, my uncle Joe, Luke, my mom,

my little brother and sister, and, most importantly, my grandmother, who had just lost the

love of her life. Even though we had just suffered a huge loss, the meal felt like it was

healing us and connecting us. I remember so strongly how the meal, the “breaking of

bread” as they say, seemed like the perfect ending to this hard experience. This is a lesson

that I have never forgotten and now I love to share meals with friends and family in times of

happiness and sadness. This is why I believe in sharing meals with loved ones.

Comment [CS6]: I can almost visualize this exchange. This
is great.

Comment [CS7]: This is a really strong conclusion to the
story, as it ties back to the purpose of the narrative.

Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English Composition I

© 2018 Sophia Learning, LLC.

Think About Your Writing:

1. What narrative techniques did you use to bring your story to life? (2-3 sentences)

Sophia says: Did you use vivid description, sensory details, and/or dialogue to pull the reader in? Provide two

examples from your essay in which you “show” the reader rather than “tell” the reader. EXAMPLE: I was

running late for the meeting vs. I glanced at the clock, grabbed my briefcase, and sprinted for the elevator.

I really enjoy the fact that narrative writing uses figurative language and sensory details to

make a point. It allows me to feel more creative in my writing and allows me to have fun

with the words and phrases I use to paint a picture for the reader. For example, I used

sensory details and vivid language in this passage to describe some of the food: “Then I

saw the crusty bread with white butter and the fluffy mashed potatoes, whipped with butter,

salt, and pepper. I felt my mouth fill with saliva almost immediately.” I also used figurative

language in the following sentence to bring it to life: “Our drive seemed dotted with

memories as much as with trees, hills, and semi-trucks.”

2. How did your purpose and audience shape the way in which you wrote your narrative? (3-

4 sentences) Sophia says: The hypothetical audience goes beyond the individuals evaluating your

composition. What groups or individuals did you have in mind when you wrote your narrative and how did

consideration of your audience and purpose influence the way you wrote?

Because of my purpose, which was to tell about how I learned to value sharing food with

loved ones, I tried to make sure I made the food sound delicious because that would draw

the audience in. I also wanted to tell a story that was meaningful to me, not only in that it

involved the loss of my grandfather, who I loved, but also an important realization for me

Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English Composition I

© 2018 Sophia Learning, LLC.

about the power of food. When I was writing this narrative, I imagined my audience as

young adults who have probably experienced the loss of a grandparent as well.

3. Provide a concrete example from your narrative that shows how you have directed your

writing towards this audience and purpose. (3-5 sentences) Sophia says: Consider including a

quotation from your essay and explaining how it

is intended to appeal to your audience and purpose.

Alternatively, you may want to describe a theme, tone, or narrative technique that you used and explain how it

is intended to appeal to your audience and purpose.

One concrete thing I did to appeal to this audience was to mention my age when this

happened, which was 20, which is probably close to the same age as my ideal audience. I

also included related details from when I was a child to show how I developed from my

experiences then with the events of the narrative up to now. I also appealed to my broader

audience by telling an experience that was important but also common so that probably a

lot of people can relate. “And then there was the fish. We were on the coast, after all, so my

uncle baked halibut fillets that were lightly crispy and perfectly flaky. They smelled of rich

butter and just a bit of the Pacific and almost melted in my mouth when I took a bite.” In this

example, I wanted my reader to experience the sensations of tasting freshly caught fish

served in a traditional way. It reinforces the idea that although we had suffered a major loss

that we could still find comfort in food and family.

SCORING APPEARS ON THE NEXT PAGE

Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English Composition I

© 2018 Sophia Learning, LLC.

SCORING for Sample Touchstone 1

The sample narrative was scored according to the Touchstone 2 Rubric, which includes Narrative Focus,

Narrative Structure, Narrative Language, Conventions, and responses to the “Think About your Writing”

questions. This Touchstone is worth a total of 100 possible points. The area scores are explained below.

Narrative Focus (5 possible points)

The narrative clearly sets the scene and relays the significance of the events described, which meets the

requirements of the prompt. The writer has made a connection between experiencing the death of a loved

one and the family gathering to share a meal together.

The details provided are relevant to the story line and support the writer’s purpose to create a link between a

loss and a greater understanding of the bonds that are formed at a dinner table.

Area Score: Advanced 5/5

Narrative Flow (5 possible points)

The narrative is arranged in a logical manner in which the sequence of ideas flows naturally and is easy to

follow.

Area Score: Advanced 5/5

Narrative Structure (15 possible points)

The narrative has a logical flow to the events described. The writer refers to her distant past and moves

smoothly toward events in her more recent past, and the reader can easily follow the action. The reader

moves with the writer through her childhood memories, to her young adult experience with loss, and then to

her eventual understanding of the importance of “breaking bread” together.

The beginning and ending paragraphs serve as effective bookends to the story because they reiterate the

importance of family and the connection of family to food.

Area Score: Advanced 15/15

Narrative Language (15 possible points)

Sophia Pathways for College Credit – English Composition I

© 2018 Sophia Learning, LLC.

The writer uses sensory language to effectively describe the food, which adds vitality to the narrative. Many

details provided are concrete and specific – “crispy fried chicken alongside creamy mashed potatoes

smothered in rich gravy” and “They smelled of rich butter and just a bit of the Pacific” – which draw the reader

into the story by appealing to the senses.

The reader feels a vague sense of loss at the grandfather’s death but doesn’t really “see” him, nor sense what

he meant to the narrator. Why was he such an important link in the family? Sharing a specific memory –

allowing readers to hear his voice or glimpse his personality – would have “shown” rather than “told.” Use of

dialogue was minimal though effective.

Area Score: Proficient 12/15

Conventions (5 possible points)

The writer made very few capitalization, usage, or punctuation errors and the errors did not impede the

reader’s understanding of the essay.

Area Score: Proficient 4/5

“Think About Your Writing” Responses (5 possible points)

The writer has reflected thoughtfully on the process of writing the narrative. The writer shows insight into her

purpose in writing and demonstrates an understanding of her intended audience as well. Response length

guidelines were met or exceeded.

Area Score: Advanced 5/5

TOTAL SCORE: ADVANCED 46/50

Overall, this narrative effectively tells a story that draws the reader in. The writer remains focused throughout

the narrative, including relevant details while using a logical progression to tell the story. The use of figurative

language, concrete description, and dialogue contribute to the sense that the story is being “shown” rather

than told, though the narrative would benefit from more of all of these elements. The reflection question

answers show that the writer has thoughtfully considered her audience and purpose. All assignment

requirements have been met, and the narrative contained very few errors.

Touchstones are projects that illustrate your comprehension of the course material, help you to refine skills, and demonstrate application of knowledge. You

can work on a Touchstone anytime, but you can’t submit it for grading until you have completed the unit’s Challenges. After you’ve submitted a Touchstone, it

will be graded and counted towards your final course score.

Touchstone 1: Narrative Essay

ASSIGNMENT: Write a narrative essay using the techniques and elements of narrative writing that you have learned in this unit. Your essay must be

approximately 500-800 words long.

 Sample Narrative Essay In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any recycled

work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one attempt to redo the Touchstone.

A. Instructions

Choose a topic that enables you to tell a short, interesting personal story. Your story can be funny, suspenseful, meaningful, or exciting, but it must focus on

one event. For example, if you decide to write about traveling to Denmark, you should not write about the entire trip. Choose one event (e.g., an afternoon

you spent bicycling on an island, or your first taste of smoked herring, or your visit to the childhood home of Hans Christian Anderson) and tell a detailed story

that focuses on that event.

The following are some ideas that can help you to select a topic for your story:

• Firsts: Think of a “first” in your life and describe that moment in detail.

• Proud Moment: Choose a moment when you felt proud about an accomplishment.

• Adversity: Describe a time when you had to think or act quickly to overcome a challenge.

• Travel: Recall a memorable experience you had while visiting an interesting place.

B. Think About Your Writing

Below your completed narrative, include answers to all of the following reflection questions:

1. Which narrative techniques did you use to bring your story to life? (2-3 sentences) Sophia says: Did you use vivid description, sensory details, and/or

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UNIT 1 — TOUCHSTONE 1: Narrative Essay
SCORE

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dialogue to engage readers? Provide two examples from your essay in which you “show” readers rather than “tell” them. EXAMPLE: A sentence such as “I

glanced at the clock, grabbed my briefcase, and sprinted for the elevator” uses more descriptive language than simply saying, “I was running late for the

meeting.”

2. How did your purpose and audience shape the way in which you wrote your narrative? (3-4 sentences) Sophia says: Your hypothetical audience extends

beyond the people who will evaluate your narrative. Which individuals or groups were you addressing when you wrote your narrative, and how did

consideration of your audience and your purpose influence the way in which you wrote it?

3. Provide a concrete example from your narrative that shows how you have written specifically for this audience and purpose. (3-5 sentences) Sophia

says: Consider including a quotation from your essay and explaining how it was written to appeal to your audience, and to accomplish

your purpose.

Alternatively, you might describe a theme, tone, or narrative technique that you used and explain how it was intended to appeal to your audience and achieve

your purpose.

C. Narrative Guidelines

DIRECTIONS: Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until your essay meets all of the guidelines.

Narrative Focus and Flow

❒ Are all of the details in your story relevant to your purpose?

❒ Are the events presented in a logical order that is easy to follow?

❒ Is your story 500-800 words in length? If not, which details do you need to add or subtract?

Narrative Structure

❒ Is there an opening paragraph that introduces the setting, characters, and situation?

❒ Are there middle paragraphs that describe the progression of events?

❒ Is there a closing paragraph that provides a thorough resolution to the story?

Narrative Language and Techniques

❒ Have you incorporated narrative language and techniques (e.g., figurative language, concrete and sensory details, dialogue, and vivid description)?

❒ Can examples of narrative language and techniques be found throughout your story, or are they only evident in some places?

Conventions

❒ Have you double-checked for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, and capitalization?

❒ Have you proofread to find and correct typos?

Before You Submit

❒ Have you included your name, date, and course in the top left corner of the page?

❒ Have you answered all of the “Think About Your Writing” questions?

❒ Is your essay between 500 and 800 words in length (2-3 pages)?

D. Scoring

Your composition and reflection will be scored according to the Touchstone 1 Rubric, which evaluates the narrative focus, narrative flow, narrative structure,

narrative language and techniques, use of conventions (grammar, punctuation, etc.), and your answers to the “Think About your Writing” questions above.

E. Rubric

  Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs
Improvement
(50%)

Non-Performance
(0%)

Narrative Focus

Present a focused,
meaningful narrative.

The composition is consistently
focused, and details are
relevant and specific.

The composition is focused and
details are relevant and specific.
However, a few details and
descriptions detract slightly
from the focus.

The composition is mostly
focused and the majority of
details are relevant and
specific. However, there are
several details and
descriptions that detract
from the focus.

The composition does not
have a consistent focus.

The composition exhibits no
evidence of a focus.

Narrative Flow

Tell the story using a
logical, smooth sequence
of events.

The sequence of events and
details is logical and easy to
follow throughout the
composition.

The sequence of events and
details is logical and easy to
follow throughout the
composition, with a few minor
exceptions.

The sequence of events and
details is easy to follow
throughout most of the
composition; however, some
areas are poorly sequenced
or confusing.

The events and details are
primarily poorly sequenced
and difficult to follow.

The sequence of events
and details is illogical.
Readers cannot follow the
progression of the
composition.

Narrative Structure

Develop a clear
beginning, middle, and
end.

The composition has a clear
and well-developed beginning,
middle, and end. The opening
paragraph(s) thoroughly
introduce the setting,
characters, and situation. The
middle paragraphs thoroughly
describe the progression of
events. The closing
paragraph(s) provide a
thorough resolution to the
narrative.

The composition has a clear
and sufficiently developed
beginning, middle, and end. The
opening paragraph(s)
adequately introduce the
setting, characters, and
situation. The middle
paragraphs adequately
describe the progression of
events. The closing
paragraph(s) provide an
adequate resolution to the
narrative.

The composition has a clear
beginning, middle, and end;
however, one of the three
sections is minimally
developed.

The composition lacks a
clear beginning, middle, or
end; or, two of the three
sections are minimally
developed.

The composition lacks a
clear beginning, middle, and
end; or, all three sections
are minimally developed.

Narrative Language
and Techniques

Use narrative language
and techniques
competently.

Uses narrative language and
techniques (e.g., concrete and
sensory details, figurative
language, vivid description,
dialogue, pacing, and plot
development) effectively
throughout the composition.

Uses narrative language and
techniques (e.g., concrete and
sensory details, figurative
language, vivid description,
dialogue, pacing, and plot
development) effectively in the
majority of the composition.

Uses narrative language and
techniques (e.g., concrete
and sensory details,
figurative language, vivid
description, dialogue,
pacing, and plot
development) effectively in
some parts of the
composition.

Uses narrative language and
techniques (e.g., concrete
and sensory details,
figurative language, vivid
description, dialogue, pacing,
and plot development) rarely
in the composition.

Does not use narrative
language and techniques
(e.g., concrete and sensory
details, figurative language,
vivid description, dialogue,
pacing, and plot
development) in the
composition.

Conventions

Demonstrate command of
standard English
grammar, punctuation,
spelling, capitalization,
and usage.

There are few, if any, negligible
errors in grammar, punctuation,
spelling, capitalization,
formatting, and usage.

There are occasional minor
errors in grammar, punctuation,
spelling, capitalization,
formatting, and usage.

There are some significant
errors in grammar,
punctuation, spelling,
capitalization, formatting,
and usage.

There are frequent
significant errors in grammar,
punctuation, spelling,
capitalization, formatting, and
usage.

There are consistent
significant errors in
grammar, punctuation,
spelling, capitalization,
formatting, and usage.

  Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs
Improvement
(50%)

Non-Performance
(0%)

Think About Your
Writing

Reply to reflection
questions thoroughly and
thoughtfully.

Demonstrates thoughtful
reflection; consistently includes
insights, observations, and/or
examples in all responses.
Answers all reflection questions
effectively, following or
exceeding response length
guidelines.

Demonstrates thoughtful
reflection; includes multiple
insights, observations, and/or
examples. Answers all reflection
questions effectively, following
response length guidelines.

Primarily demonstrates
thoughtful reflection, but
some responses are lacking
in detail or insight. Answers
all reflection questions,
primarily following response
length guidelines.

Shows limited reflection; the
majority of responses are
lacking in detail or insight.
Answers reflection questions
inadequately; may not
answer all of the questions
and/or may not follow
response length guidelines.

Does not answer the
majority of reflection
questions, or the majority of
answers do not follow
response length guidelines.

F. Requirements

• Your narrative must be 500 to 800 words (approximately 2-3 pages) in length.

• Assignment guidelines must be followed or your submission will not be graded.

• Double-space the essay and use one-inch margins.

• Use an easily-readable 12-point font.

• All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.

• Your narrative must be original and written for this assignment.

• Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.

• Your submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.

• Your submission must include both your narrative and your answers to the “Think About Your Writing” questions.

• Submit only a single file that contains all of the assignment components.

• Acceptable file formats are and x.

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