1/13/15Do Now:- Pass forward your HW• Grade Sheet Signed• Crucible Viewing Guide

Homework:• Outline for Critical Lens Essay• Extension Activity Due 1/20/15

Content Objective: Students will gain understanding and practice writing a critical lens essay based on The Great Gatsby and The Crucible.

Language Objective: Students will plan their critical lens essay using the outline provided.

Mid-Term ExamPart One: Listening Comprehension- Approximately 10 multiple choice questionsPart Two: Reading Comprehension- Reading two passages- Approximately 12 multiple choice questionsPart Three: Reading Comprehension/Written expression- Reading two passages (one will be poetry)- Approximately 5 multiple choice questions- 2 short response questions

- 1 response is about “controlling idea”- 1 response is about literary element/technique

Part Four: Written expression- Critical lens essay

REX-T

Write a multi-paragraph critical lens essay in which you discuss two works of literature and write from the particular perspective of the statement that is provided for you in the Critical Lens. Follow the guidelines given below. You may use scrap paper to plan your response. Write your final draft in the essay book provided.

 

Critical Lens: “It is the responsibility of the writer to expose our many grievous faults and failures and to hold up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams, for the purpose of improvement.” ~ John Steinbeck

Be sure to: Provide a valid interpretation of the critical lens that clearly establishes the criteria for

analysis. Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it. Use the meaning of the quote in the critical lens to address two works of literature Create and defend a thesis. Avoid giving plot summary. Instead, use specific references to appropriate literary

elements (for example: theme, characterization, etc.) and/or literary techniques (irony, symbolism, figurative language, etc.) to develop your analysis.

Organize your ideas in a unified and coherent essay Use standard written English Incorporate vocabulary you have learned this year into your written response.     

The Critical Lens Question:

Writing the Introduction

REX-T

R– Restate Critical LensE- Explain what the quote means/Interpret X- eXamples of two works that support main

idea expressed in the quoteT- Thesis- Tell how do the works of literature

connect to the topic. Use characters’ names, not titles, here.

* the topic will change based on the quote

Begin with, “(author’s name) once said,…” Copy the quote exactly as it is presented to

you on the exam.

John Steinbeck once said, “It is the responsibility of the writer to expose our many grievous faults and failures and to hold up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams, for the purpose of improvement.”

R: Restate the quote

Begin this sentence with one of the suggested sentence starters.

Keep your interpretation, as well as the entire essay, in the third person

In other words, Steinbeck believed that literature can reveal the flaws in human beings; once the flaws are known, they can be corrected.

E: EXPLAIN WHAT THE QUOTE MEANS

This is where you include the T.A.G. (title, author, genre) of the two works and connect back to the quote’s main idea.

This sentence will also let your reader know if you agree or disagree with the quote.

Both the drama Antigone by Sophocles and the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger support Steinbeck’s idea.

or

Both the drama Antigone by Sophocles and the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger support Steinbeck’s idea that literature enables people to improve their own lives by examining the flaws of characters.

EX: EXAMPLES OF THE TWO TEXTS

Neither the drama Antigone by Sophocles nor the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger support Steinbeck’s idea that literature enables people to improve their own lives by examining the flaws of characters.

You can also show how the works do not support the critical lens:

Use characters’ names, not titles, here. The title you mention first in sentence 3 should be the

first work stated in your thesis as well as the first work you will write about.

It is not “wrong” to identify literary elements in your introduction, but there really is no need to.

If you choose to add literary elements: Through their conflicts and characters, both texts illustrate the worst traits of human beings. In the ancient Greek drama, it is the actions of the antagonist, Creon, that brings to light humanity’s imperfections while for Holden Caulfield, it is through the protagonist’s many failures that mankind’s flaws are revealed.

T: THESIS STATEMENTHOW DO THE TEXTS SUPPORT THE IDEA?

John Steinbeck once said, “It is the responsibility of the writer to expose our many grievous faults and failures and to hold up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams, for the purpose of improvement.” In other words, Steinbeck believed that literature can reveal the flaws in human beings; once the flaws are known, they can be corrected. Both the drama Antigone by Sophocles and the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger support Steinbeck’s idea that literature enables people to improve their own lives by examining the flaws of characters. In the ancient Greek drama, it is the actions of the antagonist, Creon, that brings to light humanity’s imperfections while for Holden Caulfield, it is through the protagonist’s many failures that mankind’s flaws are revealed.

Sample Introduction to the Critical Lens Essay

Critical Lens Essay:Your Task: Write a critical essay in which you discuss The Great Gatsby and “The Crucible” from the particular perspective of one of the statements provided for you in the Critical Lens. In your essay, provide a valid interpretation of the statement, agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it, and support your opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements from The Great Gatsby and “The Crucible”. Critical Lens:

Guidelines:

Be sure to • Provide a valid interpretation of the critical lens that clearly establishes the criteria for analysis • Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it • Choose two works you have read that you believe best support your opinion • Use the criteria suggested by the critical lens to analyze the works you have chosen • Avoid plot summary. Instead, use specific references to appropriate literary elements (for example: theme, characterization, setting, point of view) to develop your analysis • Organize your ideas in a unified and coherent manner • Specify the titles and authors of the literature you choose • Follow the conventions of standard written English

“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.” -Benjamin Franklin

“Great ambition is the passion of a great character.” –Napoleon Bonaparte

“The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys his or her conscience” –J.F. Clarke

“In this world goodness is destined to be defeated.”—Walker Percy (The Moviegoer, 1962) “The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives.” –Albert Einstein “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” –Ralph Waldo Emerson “Men at some time are masters of their fate” –Julius Caesar in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

Extensio

n Activity

Complete one of the following written responses. Your response will be evaluated based on the

overall insight and quality of the essay you produce. Keep in mind that this assignment is not

required though all are invited to participate; this assignment is designed to extend the content

and skills you practice in the eleventh grade curriculum. Please be sure to check with Mr. Brill

before beginning your work to make sure you are properly completing the task. (100 points)

Due Date: on or before Tuesday, January 20th to Turnitin.com Note that this assignment will not be accepted after this deadline.

LITERARY ANALYSIS – THE CRUCIBLE

We have just completed a study of The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Write a literary analysis essay

of at least two pages, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font where you explore and

analyze a character or a theme from The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

THE POWER OF PERSUASION

Research an issue you feel strongly about (gun control, euthanasia, abortion etc.). Write a

persuasive essay following the format and guidelines we have been practicing for constructing a

persuasive argument and counter-argument. Write an essay of at least two pages, double spaced,

12 point Times New Roman font where you present and defend your point of view with regard to

an issue of importance to you. You must incorporate research from at least one (but no more

than three) sources. Be sure to include citations within your paper and a Works Cited page that

identifies the sources you include in your paper.

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Melanie

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Bianca

Jake

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Teachers

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Andrew

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Period 3

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Period 5