Question

Write a paragraph analyzing how Brent Staples develops the claim that perception differs from reality.
Row A — Thesis (0–1 point)

1 point — Clear, defensible claim that answers the prompt (for example, about the author’s purpose or main argument) that indicates at least one rhetorical choice.

Student checklist: I wrote a one‑sentence claim that says what the author argues and names or hints at a device/strategy.

0 points — No thesis, or thesis merely repeats the prompt or is too vague.



Row B — Evidence + Commentary (0–2 points)

(Score holistically for evidence quality and explanation connecting evidence → device → purpose)

2 points — One specific, well‑chosen quotation or precise textual reference PLUS a clear explanation that:

Identifies a rhetorical device (e.g., diction, repetition, analogy, contrast);

Explains the literal meaning of the evidence; AND

Shows how that device furthers the author’s purpose or affects the audience (connects device → effect → purpose).

Student checklist: I quoted or cited a specific line, named a device, explained what the quote literally shows, and explained how it persuades the audience.

1 point — Some textual support present (paraphrase or vague quote) and an attempt at explanation, but missing one element (device ID, clear literal reading, or explicit link to purpose), or the explanation is superficial.

0 points — No textual support OR no explanation of why the evidence matters.



Total score = Row A + Row B (out of 3)

Score guide:

Answer 1

Brent Staples argues that people’s perceptions often distort the reality of Black men’s intentions, and he develops this claim mainly through vivid anecdote and pointed contrast. For example, Staples recounts recurring episodes in which a woman “clutches her purse” or crosses to the other side of the street when she sees him—a precise scene he repeats—while elsewhere he describes deliberately whistling classical music to seem less threatening. By using anecdote and concrete diction (words like “clutch” convey visceral fear) alongside contrast between his actual, benign behavior and others’ fearful reactions, Staples makes the abstract thesis tangible: readers can see and feel the mismatch between how he behaves and how he is perceived. This strategy not only provokes sympathy for the narrator but also forces readers to confront the social stereotypes that produce such misreadings, thereby persuading them that perception can be a misleading social construction rather than an accurate reflection of reality.