The World of Blocks: Minecraft, developed by Mojang Studios in 2011, is a sandbox game where you can explore, create, and survive in an open blocky world filled with endless possibilities. There are endless ways for you to play in Minecraft, such as creating structure’s, exploring new worlds and biomes, or fighting hostile and passive mobs to ensure your survival. While the simple graphics make you think that it’s easy, it’s really the game's depth and creative freedom that makes it special. This explanatory essay will explain why Minecraft is such a popular game and why the game is so much fun!

Game modes: There are two different versions of the game called Java and Bedrock, where java are for PC players and Bedrock are for console players, each giving players different perks in the game. There are also different game modes you can play in either java or bedrock, such as survival, creative, hardcore, and adventure mode. The first game mode is survival mode where you’ll have to survive in a randomly generated world filled with structures, biomes, and hostile/passive mobs, plus you have endless lives so you can respawn in your world. Another one is Creative mode, where you access limitless resources to build structures and biomes, access cheats to perform impossible tasks, and go into spectator mode to explore anywhere with ease. Also adventure mode is all about exploring structures and biomes, but you can’t build or break blocks in this game mode. Hardcore mode is just like survival mode but you only have one life, so if you die to a mob or in an accident, it’s pretty much game over. There are also difficulty modes such as peaceful mode, easy mode, normal mode, or hard mode depending on whether you’re a beginner or an expert in the world of Minecraft! These game modes give the players a different way of playing the game, whether they want to build and explore in creative mode or have a wild near-death experience in hardcore mode, it is up to them how they would want to play the game

Endless possibilities: The game’s goal is to eliminate the ender dragon, but its main goal is to do whatever you want to do, such as building, fighting, exploring and much more. You can build anything you want to build, like a castle or a city or even a giant spaceship, whatever you wanna build, build it. You can fight different mobs such as the wither, the ender dragon, and the warden, but there are many other mobs to fight other than those three. You can also explore biomes, islands, oceans, caves, caverns, mountains, structures, and other-worldly dimensions such as the nether and the end. These are only the highlights that you can do to play this game where you can do anything in this game, even the impossible.

The Marketplace: Minecraft also has a Marketplace, where you can buy skin packs, add-ons, mash-ups, texture packs, and minigames that impact the way you see, play, and enjoy, but to pay for all of this, you’ll need a type of currency called minecoins in order to buy them! The skin and texture packs are completely different, with the skin packs changing your character's look and the texture pack changing your entire world's look, giving the players a different perspective. Mash-ups are themed worlds that have pre-built biomes and structures, have custom weapons you can use against foes, and special mechanics that make each world completely different. Minigames are games made by other people such as parkour, pvp, building competitions, etc where people can test their skills and abilities and Add-ons are like texture packs but can impact the world's gameplay and add new ways of playing the game. There are many more to buy in the marketplace than those five and buy what you would love to see, play and enjoy in your world from the marketplace.

The End (not the literal one): In summary, Minecraft is A popular Game because it gives player’s endless possibilities to play the game. Including different game mode gameplay, limitless goals and activities for players to do and enjoy, and amazing content in the marketplace. The game's creativity, difficulty, and adventurous spirit makes it an amazing game among players throughout the world!

Directions: For this assignment, you will write a 5-paragraph informative essay on a topic of your choice. This essay will include an introduction, conclusion, and three body paragraphs. You can start working on your draft immediately. After meeting to review your draft with me during your CBA, continue with the lessons in Unit 4. You will use what you have learned in this unit regarding introducing a topic, organizing ideas, providing graphics, using relevant details, transitions, precise language, and conclusions to edit your essay.

When writing informative or explanatory material, purposes might include:
To inform readers about a topic
To explain a process or issue
To persuade readers to agree with an opinion
To motivate readers to do something
To describe a person, place, or thing
To reflect on an experience or feeling

The final essay should be 500 to 1000 words, double-spaced. The essay should be submitted as a .doc or .pdf file; please no image files! In addition, you will need to create a separate bibliography (this does not count towards your word count total). This bibliography should include at least three sources you used to research your topic (refer to Unit 4, lesson 12 for information on creating a bibliography).

Make sure to follow the Revising Checklist before submitting your final draft:
Does the introduction present the topic clearly while engaging the reader?
Are my ideas organized in a logical way?
Do I include sufficient facts, details, and examples to explain each detail?
Do I use transitions appropriately to show the relationship between ideas?
Does the tone of my writing serve my purpose and connect to my audience?
Are there things I can delete to make my writing clearer and more concise?
Did I use the most precise language to express my ideas?
Are my sentences interesting and varied?
Should I add or revise any headings to make things clearer?
Should I add any graphics or multimedia?
Does my conclusion support and strengthen my ideas?

Writing Informative/Explanatory Text Portfolio Rubric
Directions: Use the rubric below as a guide in writing and revising your informative/explanatory essay.
Criteria
(Weight)

Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) Points Awarded

Ideas/Purpose
(× 1)

The main idea or
purpose is clearly
stated.
The response is
fully relevant.
The response
strongly supports
the main idea or
purpose.

The main idea or
purpose is
stated.
The response is
generally
relevant.
The response
mostly supports
the main idea or
purpose.

The main idea or
purpose may be
unclear.
The response is
somewhat
relevant.
The response
provides basic
support for the
main idea or
purpose.

The main idea or
purpose is
unclear.
The response
has little or no
relevance.

Organization
(× 1)

There is a clear
and effective
organizational
structure.
The introduction
and conclusion
are effective.
Ideas are
organized
logically.

There is an
organizational
structure.
The introduction
and conclusion
are adequate.
Ideas are
organized
logically, though
a few ideas may
be out of place.
The
organizational
structure is
inconsistent.
The introduction
and conclusion
are weak or not
present.
Some ideas are
extraneous or
out of place.

There is little or
no organizational
structure.
There is no
introduction or
conclusion.
Ideas are limited
or extraneous.

© 2020 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved.

2

Criteria
(Weight)

Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) Points Awarded

Word Choice
(× 1)

The vocabulary is
clearly
appropriate for
the audience and
purpose.
Words are used
effectively.
Writing is rich
with a variety of
academic and
domain-specific
words.

The vocabulary
is generally
appropriate for
the audience and
purpose.
Most words are
used effectively.
Writing shows an
adequate use of
academic and
domain-specific
words.

The vocabulary
is somewhat
appropriate for
the audience and
purpose.
The word choice
is weak or
ineffective.
Writing shows a
weak use of
academic and
domain-specific
words.

The vocabulary
may not be
appropriate for
the audience or
purpose.
There are
multiple errors in
word choice.
Writing shows
limited or no use
of academic or
domain-specific
words.

Conventions
(× 1)

There is a strong
command of
conventions.
Punctuation,
capitalization,
and spelling are
consistently
correct.

There is a
general
command of
conventions.
Punctuation,
capitalization,
and spelling are
mostly correct.

There is a partial
command of
conventions.
Punctuation,
capitalization,
and spelling are
inconsistent or
weak.
Errors in
conventions may
occasionally
interfere with
meaning.

There is a limited
command of
conventions.
Punctuation and
capitalization are
mostly incorrect.
There are
multiple errors in
spelling.
Errors in
conventions
often interfere
with meaning.

© 2020 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved.

3

Criteria
(Weight)

Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) Points Awarded

Presentation
(× 1)

The presentation
is clearly
appropriate to
the task,
purpose, and
audience.

The presentation
is generally
appropriate to
the task,
purpose, and
audience.

The presentation
is somewhat
appropriate to
the task,
purpose, and
audience.

The presentation
may not be
appropriate to
the task,
purpose, or
audience.

how many points will i get

1 answer

To evaluate your essay based on the provided rubric, let's break down each criterion and provide a score according to the descriptions.

Ideas/Purpose (Weight: 1)

  • Your Essay: The main idea—that Minecraft is popular due to its endless possibilities, game modes, and Marketplace—is clearly stated and relevant.
  • Score: 4 (Excellent)

Organization (Weight: 1)

  • Your Essay: The introduction is effective, there are clear body paragraphs that differentiate game modes, possibilities, and the Marketplace, and the conclusion reinforces your main ideas.
  • Score: 4 (Excellent)

Word Choice (Weight: 1)

  • Your Essay: The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the audience, with effective use of words related to gaming. There is some variety, though it could deepen the academic tone slightly.
  • Score: 3 (Good)

Conventions (Weight: 1)

  • Your Essay: The punctuation, capitalization, and spelling are mostly correct, though there are a few errors (e.g., "structure’s" should be "structures").
  • Score: 3 (Good)

Presentation (Weight: 1)

  • Your Essay: The presentation is appropriate for the task, purpose, and audience, but adding graphics or multimedia might enhance it further.
  • Score: 3 (Good)

Total Score Calculation

  • Ideas/Purpose: 4
  • Organization: 4
  • Word Choice: 3
  • Conventions: 3
  • Presentation: 3

Total Score: 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 17 out of 20

Final Comments

Overall, your essay is well-crafted and covers the topic effectively. To improve, focus on enhancing your word choice and ensuring a few minor grammatical issues are corrected. This will boost your score in the conventions and word choice categories. Keep up the good work!