Learning Goal: RI2, Analyze a complex set of ideas and explain how they develop over the course of the text
Today's Objective: Identify Emerson's theme in "Self-Reliance" and discuss how he expands upon the idea.
What we will do today: Read the background information of Emerson, read
the essay "Self-Reliance" and "Nature" discuss a theme in each and ways he develops it.
1 – Be able to discuss with examples how Emerson (Nature and
Self-Reliance) and Thoreau (Walden and
Civil Disobedience fit the ideas of Transcendentalism.You will need to be able to pick out a theme for each essay and use specific
examples.
Learning Goal: Determine the central ideas of a text and analyze
their development; provide an objective summary of the text.
Today's Objective: Read "from Civil Disobedience" and determine the theme that
Thoreau develops and then write a summary of the text using specific examples to back up your ideas.
11/17 – 11/18 Work on Essay for The Scarlet Letter
Please send me your essays as soon as you have the introduction written. Remember to consider a theme when looking at literary elements such as symbols, characters, structure, choice of details, as everything in the book should reinforce theme.
Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of nineteenth century foundation works of American Literature by determining how a theme is developed over the course of text by analyzing structure, author’s choice of details, and character; and, by writing a 3-5 page essay on how these elements (or one of them) influences the meaning of the novel as a whole.
Analytical Essay Rubric
4
3
2
1
Thesis, opening paragraph.
Student takes a clear position on the prompt/topic. Thesis Statement is defensible. Hook and thesis statement link. Order of development is present and sets up how the thesis will be investigated. Thesis connects prompt to the text as a whole.
Student has a clear and defensible thesis statement.
Thesis connects prompt to the text as a whole.
Essay contains a hook.
Thesis statement is attempted,
But – maybe not be defendable.
May not be clear. May be wordy.
May not connect to the text as a whole.
There is no recognizable thesis statement.
Or there may be multiple thesis statements.
Use of Evidence
Evidence is introduced and relevant to the thesis and analysis is thorough makes clear how the evidence connects to and defends the thesis. Evidence is properly cited. (3-4 pieces of evidence per point)
Evidence is introduced and relevant to the thesis. The analysis makes connection between evidence and thesis, but the quality and/or quantity is inconsistent. Evidence is cited.
(2 pieces of evidence per point)
Evidence is relevant to the thesis and there is some analysis attempted, but the analysis may be taken out of context, misinterpreted, or oversimplified.
(2 pieces of evidence per point)
Evidence is attempted, but may not defend thesis or there is no connection made between evidence and the thesis.
No direct quotation, or citations.
Sophistication of Writing
Use of prose style that is especially vivid. Student uses rhetorical strategies such as parallel structure. Varied syntax. High level vocabulary. Language consistent for an academic essay.
Student uses varied syntax. Some high level vocabulary present. Prose style is engaging. Language consistent for an academic essay.
Student attempts varied syntax. Vocabulary might be simplistic or repetitious. Prose style is sometimes engaging but might be repetitious of ideas. Language may not be consistent for an academic essay
Wordy, repetitious. Vocabulary might be repetitious or the use of “to be” verbs may be overused. Not engaging.
Grammar
No Errors
1-3 errors that do not distract from reading.
More than 3 errors, or the errors present distract from reading.
Many errors. Errors seriously distract from the reading of the text.
Today we will be looking at chapters 21-22. Tomorrow we will be review for the test.
THE SCARLET LETTER
Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of nineteenth
century foundation works of American Literature by determining how a
theme is developed over the course of text by analyzing structure,
author’s choice of details, and character; and, by writing an essay on
how these elements (or one of them) influences the meaning of the novel
as a whole.
Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:
4 – The student can write a 5-10 page essay that explores how structure,
details (symbol, imagery, figurative language) is developed of the
course of the novel and how it influences the meaning of the novel.
3 – The student can write a 3-5 page essay that explores how structure,
details (symbol, imagery, figurative language) is developed of the
course of the novel and how it influences the meaning of the novel.
2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can write a
3-5 page essay that explores how structure, details (symbol, imagery,
figurative language) is developed of the course of the novel and how it
influences the meaning of the novel.
1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to the student
can write a 3-5 page essay that explores how structure, details
(symbol, imagery, figurative language) is developed of the course of the
novel and how it influences the meaning of the novel.
Objectives (smaller chunks of overall goal) and suggested time periods
At the end of this Unit the Students will be able to
1) List and explain 3-5 symbols from the novel The Scarlet Letter
2) Discuss the basic structure(s) of The Scarlett Letter
3) Given the main ideas of various pieces of Romantic Literature
4) List the key aspects of Romanticism
5) List the key aspects of transcendentalism
6) Discuss who the Fireside poets were and what they believed in
7) Keep a dialectical journal while reading The Scarlet Letter
8) Evaluate the purpose and argument of public advocacy
9) Determine two or more themes in a text
10) Discuss the importance of rhyme scheme and stanza structure and how they create meaning
11) Compare Emerson and Thoreau
Hester: Hestier in Greek mythology, Zeus’s sister, a woman
of beauty
hestier
(hasty)
Prynne: prurient
prune:
purify her sin
pry:
probe into the interior of one’s heart
Arthur Dimmesdale
Arthur: Adam, adultery
Dimmesdale: dim + dale:dim interior(to hide one’s
sin)
Roger Chillingworth
Roger: rogue (revenge)
Chillingworth: chilly (cruel, inhumane)
+ worth (induce Arthur to speak out his own sin)
Pearl: good, pure and precious
THEMES:
2010. Palestinian American literary theorist and cultural critic Edward
Said has written that “Exile is strangely compelling to think about but
terrible to experience. It is the unhealable rift forced between a human
being and a native place, between the self and its true home: its
essential sadness can never be surmounted.” Yet Said has also said that
exile can become “a potent, even enriching” experience. Select a novel,
play, or epic in which a character experiences such a rift and becomes
cut off from “home,” whether that home is the character’s birthplace,
family, homeland, or other special place. Then write an essay in which
you analyze how the character’s experience with exile is both alienating
and enriching, and how this experience illuminates the meaning of the
work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Nature vs. Human Law
Nature of Evil
Sin vs. Forgiveness or Punishment vs. Forgiveness
Individual vs. Society
Exile
Public Guilt vs. Private Guilt
Civilization vs. Wilderness or Town vs. Woods
Good vs. Evil
Analysis Essay:
Students will need to analysis
some aspect of The Scarlet Letter and connected it to a theme. Things
that can be explored include symbolism, tone, diction, characters and
events. I expect students to use their didactical journals for focus on
examples. I also expect all students to choose something small to
concentrate on. I would rather you spend three pages examining one
paragraph in relation to a theme, than to try and examine something like
Pearl’s role as Savior and Chillingworth’s role as the devil (unless
you view these roles from looking at one paragraph or one page). This
would be too large. You couldn’t examine it in enough detail in three
pages. Remember I’m looking for precise thesis statements and evidence
that is analyzed.
Remember - thesis statement.
Connect the symbol, character or literary element to a theme. Then
present an order of development or list of things you will cover in your
essay.
Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement directs all of the ideas,
quote selection, and commentary in your essay. Therefore, a muddled or
imprecise thesis statement will lead to an unclear or meaningless essay.
A thesis statement is NOT:
1. An abstract concept. For example, “Greed” is not a thesis statement.
2.
A general “universal” truth. For example, the following sentence is not
a thesis statement: “For thousands of years, man has been greedy.”
A
thesis statement IS a statement that provides direction for the
analysis of a theme or idea presented by a particular text. Therefore,
in order to construct an effective thesis statement, you must first
determine what a text is suggesting about an abstract concept (like
greed, for example).
Your thesis statement will address an abstract concept PLUS the evaluation of that concept through a particular text.
A
thesis statement for “The Pardoner’s Tale” might address the abstract
concept of greed as it is handled in the story. The first two examples
are NOT thesis statements. The third one is a complete thesis statement:
a.
Greed is something that man has struggled with for centuries, as
demonstrated in “The Pardoner’s Tale” by Chaucer. (Abstract Concept
Only)
b. “The Pardoner’s Tale,” written by Chaucer, is a story
about how three men kill one another while looking for Death. (Plot
Summary)
c. “The Pardoner’s Tale,” written by Chaucer, suggests
that the “deadly” sin of greed is stronger than any oath of friendship,
and will ultimately lead those who give into its allure to their own
destruction.
EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE THESIS STATEMENTS:
In the Scarlet Letter, the theme of exile transforms the characters of Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth.
In the Scarlet Letter, the "A" on Hester's chest represents Hester,
herself, and reflect her transformation - from Adulterer to Able to
Absolution. The "A" is Hester's soul.
In the Scarlet Letter, Pearl represents the theme of forgiveness. She
is the force sent - like a female Christ figure - to allow Hester and
Dimmesdale to be saved from their sin.
