HB's English Links--Classical Magnet School

Core Values 2012

Home
Research Links for CAPSTONE
Writing Links & Resources
Audio Links for American Literature
Teacher Assistants at Classical Magnet School
"American Literature" 11th Grade English @ CMS
SAT Information & Practice
Reading Links
Words, Glorious Words
AP Literature Exam Prep
How to Run a Seminar
A Pretty Good List of Literary Terms
"Modern Mythology" 10th Grade English @ CMS

Core Values Essay 2012

Sophomore Class

 

Assignment:

          Another essay!  Hooray!

 

Topic: 

          You will analyze one of the characters you have read about this year, as the character either exemplifies or does not exemplify one of the core values of our school.

EXAMPLE:  In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, the character Ralph is a perfect example of pietas.

 

Core Values Background Information:

Roman citizen would avoid any act or behavior that would dishonor the concept of Romanitas. He reinforced those qualities most prized within the scared boundary of the the city: dignitas, gravitas, and pietas. These qualities of citizenship are the modern ancestors of the words “dignity,”  “gravity,” and “piety.” But our modern definitions, however, pale in comparison to their Latin forebears.

 

 

·                                 Dignitas — fitness (for a certain task), suitability, worthiness, visual impressiveness, distinction, rank, esteem, status, importance A person shows dignitas by acting in a manner appropriate to his social role. For example, students and teachers would show dignitas by striving for academic excellence. Their dignitas comes from their accomplishments as serious scholars.

 

·                                 Gravitas — heaviness, weight; seriousness, majesty; authority, influence or importance of a person A person displays gravitas by approaching tasks with seriousness.

 

·                                 Pietas — dutiful respect toward family, the city, the gods, the school

         

Length:  about 2 pages, double-spaced

 

DUE DATE:  April 9, 2012 via email to Ms HB (by 11:59 PM!)

Characters You Could Choose From

Of Mice and Men

          Lennie, George, Curley, Curley’s wife, Crooks

“Antigone”

          Antigone, Creon, Ismene, Haemon

Lord of the Flies

          Jack, Ralph, Simon, Piggy

Henry V

          Henry, Catherine, Fluellen

Things Fall Apart

          Okonkwo, Nwoye, Unoko, Ekwefi

 

Questions to consider:
1.  Which novel will you discuss?
2.  Which character will you discuss?
3.  Is your character a GOOD example or BAD example of the Core Value(s)?
4.  How well do you understand the Core Value(s)?
5.  Which quotations will you use?

 

Exemplary

Acceptable

Limited

Deficient

Ideas/ Content  (20  points)                                                                                            

This paper is clear and focused. The writing commands the reader's attention. Writing contains extensive and relevant details with examples to support topic/theme.(20)

This paper is clear and focused. It holds the reader's attention. Writing contains sufficient and effective details with examples to support topic/theme. (16)

This paper has a loosely defined topic, but may not be clearly developed. Writing contains some details with examples to support topic/theme. (13)

This paper has a general topic, but is not clear. To extract meaning from the text, the reader must make inferences based on sketchy or missing details. (5)

Organization (20 points)

Progression of ideas is logical and transitions are clear, effective and enrich the fluency of the writing. Introduction, body, conclusion and format are excellent. (20)

Progression of ideas has some inconsistencies in unity and/or coherence. Transitions are clear. Introduction, body, conclusion and format are good. (16)

Progression of ideas has major inconsistencies in unity and/or coherence. Transitions are poor. Writing has a weak introduction, body, conclusion, or all three. Format is fair. (13)

Progression of ideas is difficult or impossible to follow. Transitions are missing. Introduction, body, conclusion and/or format are lacking. (5)

Voice (10 points)

The writer is consistently aware of and connects strongly with the audience, presenting relevant details to the paper's purpose. Writing reflects a strong commitment to the topic and is engaging.  (10)

The writer is aware of and connects with the audience, presenting mostly relevant details to the paper's purpose. Writing reflects a commitment to the topic and is mostly engaging. (8)

The writer is somewhat aware of the audience, presenting some relevant details to the paper's purpose. Writing reflects some commitment to the topic. (6)

The writer does not demonstrate awareness of the audience, presenting few details to support the paper's purpose. Writing reflects lack of commitment to the topic. (3)

Word Choice (10 points)

Words convey the intended message in a precise, interesting, and natural way. The words are powerful and engaging. (10)

The language is functional, even if it lacks much energy. It is easy to figure out the writer's meaning on a general level. (8)

The writer struggles with a limited vocabulary, searching for words to convey meaning. (6)

The writer demonstrates a deficient vocabulary, using incorrect words to convey meaning. (3)

Sentence Fluency (20 points)

Sentences are well-built, strong, and varied in structure and length. Writing has an easy flow, rhythm, and cadence. Writing contains creative and appropriate connections between sentences and thoughts, showing how each relates to, and builds upon, the one before it. (20)

Sentences are well-built, strong, and may vary in structure and length. Writing has flow, rhythm, and cadence. Writing contains creative connections that build upon prior statements. (16)

Sentences begin the same way and follow the same patterns. Writing is more mechanical than fluid. Writing contains some connections that build upon prior statements. (13)

Sentences begin the same way and follow the same patterns. Writing is mechanical, and lacks fluency. Writing contains few or no connections between statements, and is difficult to understand. (5)

Conventions (10 points)

The writer demonstrates a good grasp of standard writing conventions (e.g. - spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, paragraphing) and uses conventions effectively to enhance readability. Errors are so few that just minor corrections would make this piece publishable. (10)

The writer shows reasonable control over an acceptable range of standard writing conventions. Conventions are sometimes handled well and enhance readability; at other times, errors are distracting and impair readability. (8)

Errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, usage, and grammar and/or paragraphing repeatedly distract the reader and make the text difficult to read. (6)

Errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, usage, and grammar and/or paragraphing continuously distract the reader and make the text nearly impossible to read. (3)

Presentation (10 points)

The form and appearance of the text enhances the reader's ability to understand and connect with the message. It has a professional appearance and fully conforms to project standards. (10)

The form and appearance of the text mostly enhances the reader's ability to understand and connect with the message. It has a mostly professional appearance and mostly conforms to project standards. (8)

The form and appearance of the text somewhat enhances the reader's ability to understand the message. It has a somewhat professional appearance and conforms to project standards. (6)

The form and appearance of the text does not enhance the reader's ability to understand the message. It lacks a professional appearance and does not conform to project standards. (3)

How VALUABLE you are!