Monday

Assignment for Monday and Tuesday: Work on Personal Narratives. Read assignment below. 

Personal Narrative is due 12/8

Personal Narrative

      A Personal Narrative is a form of writing in which the writer relates an event, incident, or experience in his or her own life. It is usually focused on one idea.  The events of a personal narrative are most often presented in chronological order, the order in which they actually occurred in time. The personal narrative incorporates vivid descriptive details as well as the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of the writer. 

           

Remember the first paragraph, just like an essay, should have a grabber or an attention getting statement and it can set up your reason for writing—it could contain a controlling idea and can also state a list of topics that you will discuss in your essay (these are not bad things to practice and you should look at the student examples).   It should follow a plot with an exposition, inciting event and a resolution. 

            Some things you can discuss:

1)    Who are you and where are you from?  What is your family like?   What do your parents or relatives do? 

2)    Tell me something was important in your life (example: describe winning a race, or attending your sister’s marriage, etc.)

3)    Tell a story about your past (maybe this past summer—such as your job)?

4)    Overcoming some problem or situation (example: I had a girl in the Marshall

Islands write about battling anorexia).

5)    Take an experience from your life, an experience that taught you something about life (either about suffering, about healing, about people, about yourself) –Think about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s statement: “What most people are ashamed of usually makes a good story.” 

I’m looking for passion, excitement, description, dialogue, and your voice coming out and calling the reader to pay attention because what you have to say is important! 

Please use details, imagery and if possible figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, etc.)  If you don’t know these terms do not worry, we will cover them in class during the year.  Before you begin writing I’d like you to begin by pre-writing and thinking about organization.  Never just start writing without jotting down ideas or writing out some sort of map or outline. 

The purpose of this assignment is for you to start to format letters/ideas for you to use as a senior when you apply to colleges and for scholarships.  It will also give you valuable writing practice for writing is a skill that needs constant practice and developing.    

Requirements:  Your narrative needs to be at least 3 pages long (it can be double-spaced).  There is no maximum length.  You will be graded on a rubric broken into ideas, organization, voice, word choice (usage), sentence fluidity (structure), and conventions. 

Grade:  This assignment will be worth 150 points.

Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the structure of fiction by breaking down the essential building blocks (literary elements) of short stories by plot, dialogue, imagery, character development, figurative language (metaphor, symbolism, irony), point of view, connecting these blocks to the overall meaning (or theme) of the text, and final writing a personal narrative using some of these devices. 

 Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:

4 – The student can analyze the elements of a short story come up with a valid theme (or themes) of a text and relate this theme to other texts and/or movies and real world situations.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using these elements to create a text with a realistic theme that relates to the student’s life.

3 – The student can analyze elements of a short story and come up with a valid theme for a text.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can analyze the elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  With some direction/help from the teacher the student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to analyze elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  Even with help from the teacher the student in unable to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

Personal Narrative Rubric

	4	3	2	1
Ideas: Introduction to the topic.  Engaging and orienting the reader by setting out a problem or a situation.  This should include a controlling idea or suggested theme. (W2a, W3a)	Topic – controlling idea or theme is clear, and engaging.  There is a problem or conflict in the personal narrative.  The controlling idea links all sections of the narrative.  The presentation is near poetic in effect.	Topic – controlling idea or theme is clear and engaging.	Topic – controlling idea or theme is not clear, or the introduction is not engaging.  There might be no conflict or problem or the intro. is wordy and /or rambles without getting to the point.	The introduction is hard to read or to understand as far as it relates to a central idea or theme.
Details: Use of narrative techniques such as dialogue, descriptions, concrete details.  This could include figurative language (metaphor, similes, symbols, personification), use of allusions, irony, and/or effective dialect. (W2b, W3b, W3c, W3d)	Details are effective and add depth to the narrative.  The use of strategies such as figurative language relate back to the controlling idea or theme.  Use of many techniques or strategies.	Details are effective and concrete.  Use of many techniques or strategies.	The narrative could use more details to develop the setting, problem or the readers understanding of the storyline.	No specific details.  Narrative is a collection of generalizations.
Organization: Use of transitions to idea with idea, sequencing of events or plot strategies, the presentation of ideas in a logical format.  (W2c, W2f, W3b, W3c, W3e)	The sequence of events and/or use of transitions to connect ideas and adds to the text’s meaning or is innovative.  Techniques such as flashback, foreshadowing, use of parallelism, and sentence organization (loose and/or periodic structures) might be used.	The sequence of events and/or use of transitions is effective.	Narrative is either missing transitions or the sequence of events are out of order, illogical, or confusing as presented.	Narrative lacks structure or organization.
Word Choice/Syntax: Use of precise language, interesting word choice, SAT vocabulary and varied syntax (w2d, w2e, L3)	Impressive and effective vocabulary.  Effective and engaging syntax.  Use of high-level vocabulary and many types of sentences and sentence lengths for effect.	Precise and effective language/vocabulary.  Varied syntax.	Overuse of “to be” verbs or repetitious language.  Syntax is not varied much.	No variation in syntax.  Word choice is simplistic.
Conventions/Spelling (L1, L2)	No noticeable grammar errors	1-3 noticeable errors, but errors do not distract from the readability of the narrative.	3 or more noticeable errors, or an error or errors that distract from the readability of the narrative.	Narrative is plagued with grammar errors and is hard to read

Wednesday

  Today we are going to look at "A History of the English Church and People" by Bede.  You will need your textbooks.  Turn to page 96.

Do question 1-6 at the end of the reading. 

 

Tuesday

 Today we are going to read the excerpt from "The Book of Margery Kemp" - it's in your textbook on page 116. 

Objective: Students will be able to determine an author's point of view or purpose in the text.

So note, at the end of these excerpt, you will need to be able to state what the author's purpose was in writing it (this question is addressed in question #8 on page 122).

Homework: Answer questions 1-6 and 8 on page 122. 

For some help go to Shmoop

 

Friday

Read chapters 1-7 of Book 1 below and answer the following questions.

 Book 1 of Le Morte D'Arthur

1) Who is Uther Pendragon and what do you make of his actions with Igraine? 

2) What prophecy surrounds King Uther Pendragon at the beginning of the story, and how does it influence later events?

3)Why does Uther seek Merlin’s help, and what bargain does Merlin strike with him?

4) How does Merlin ensure the safety of Uther and Igraine’s child?

5) What events lead to Arthur being raised away from his biological parents?

6) Describe the circumstances that lead to the creation of the Sword in the Stone challenge.

7)Why do nobles refuse to accept Arthur initially as king?

8) What act finally convinces the nobles and common people to acknowledge Arthur as their rightful king? 

 

Thursday

 Today we will hear Elle and Brenden's Canterbury stories and then we are going to read selections from Le Morte D'Arthur so either in your text book turn to page 246 or click on the link below:

https://www.pottstownschools.org/Downloads/Arthur.pdf

When we finish you need to work on questions on page 263: 1-3, 5 and 9.

HW: Compare Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to Le Morte D'Arthur.  What are the differences between the texts?  What are the similarities?  Please cite evidence.  This should be at least two paragraphs in length. 

Wednesday

Today we will hear Elle and Brenden's Canterbury stories and then we are going to read selections from Le Morte D'Arthur so either in your text book turn to page 246 or click on the link below:

https://www.pottstownschools.org/Downloads/Arthur.pdf

When we finish you need to work on questions on page 263: 1-3, 5 and 9.

HW: Compare Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to Le Morte D'Arthur.  What are the differences between the texts?  What are the similarities?  Please cite evidence.  This should be at least two paragraphs in length. 

 

Tuesday

 Performances are today!

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story.  

Rubric:

4 - Student is dressed as their character and can discuss what they are wearing and why. Discuss how they act and their beliefs, and make even have some props to help the discussion. Student relates a detailed story that is accurate to the original. Story is clear and well told. Student can teach class what type of literary tale their story is and connect it to a theme. Student makes an argument about why their character won.

3 - Student is dressed as their character and makes an attempt at discussing what they are wearing and why. Student relates a detailed story that is accurate to the original. And makes a argument about whey their character won.

2 - Student is not dressed as their character or fails to complete any of the sections of their project. Story is short or inaccurate.

1 - Multiple sections of the story are missing or incomplete.  

 

Monday

 Presentations are tomorrow. This is a major project grade.

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story.  

Rubric:

4 - Student is dressed as their character and can discuss what they are wearing and why. Discuss how they act and their beliefs, and make even have some props to help the discussion. Student relates a detailed story that is accurate to the original. Story is clear and well told. Student can teach class what type of literary tale their story is and connect it to a theme. Student makes an argument about why their character won.

3 - Student is dressed as their character and makes an attempt at discussing what they are wearing and why. Student relates a detailed story that is accurate to the original. And makes a argument about whey their character won.

2 - Student is not dressed as their character or fails to complete any of the sections of their project. Story is short or inaccurate.

1 - Multiple sections of the story are missing or incomplete. 

Wednesday

 Today you have some time to work on your Canterbury projects. You should read and research your story and character. And look at the requirements below.

Canterbury Tales

Objective: To Demonstrate a thorough understanding of a character and literary devices used in Chaucer by dressing up as one of the characters from The Canterbury Tales and presenting their story.

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story.