Example of student writing of an open response question
“Many Stones” by Carolyn Coman
Based on the excerpt, describe how the narrator’s visit to the prison affects her. Support your answer with important and specific evidence from the excerpt.
Based on the excerpt, the narrator’s visit affects her by making her learn things about life, which made her feel “smaller”. The lesson she learns is: everyone has a past, or something they are ashamed of. They can either let it define them as a person, learning nothing from it. Or they can let it refine them, mold them and change them into a better person. –And that we can’t let the little things in life bother us because there are others that had it even worse, yet they changed for the better.
In paragraph 12, the narrator says, “I feel smaller and smaller, sitting here, listening to him. It’s like big important history drapes over everything here in South Africa –waiters and quarries and a president who had to live in a cage. Nothing I know comes close to being a matter of life and death, nothing I can think of.” This means, she feels as if she hasn’t had something happen to her that‘s made her have to struggle. So she hasn’t been able to grow as a human being. Those people in Prison had a terrible history –they’ve known life without seeing loved ones, they’ve HAD to be in situations of surviving, never mind living.
Also when the narrator’s father asks Michael why he isn’t bitter, Michael responds, “Being bitter will not help anything, will keep him from going forward. He says it’s time to get on with other things, with reconciliation.” I think he means that if he doesn’t let go of the past, the only thing it will do is restrain him from progressing in the future. So he would much rather focus on important things. And whenever he does come across a problem, he would settle, and learn from it, to become a better person.
The last sentence of the excerpt, I believe, is especially important as it says, “It occurs to me that maybe his history gave him a chance to get bigger and he took it.” This proves that he learned from his experience and progressed. Think of it as a seed, the flower has to break through its hard shell, and with water and nutrients, it can grow into a beautiful flower. A person has to get through his past and work in the present, in order to succeed in the future.
The tour made the narrator learn that you can’t let your past consume you. It’s good to have a history, as long as you don’t let it become you, because having a past gives you an opportunity to grow. So when the time comes –take it.
Michelle D., Grade 7
In paragraph 12, the narrator says, “I feel smaller and smaller, sitting here, listening to him. It’s like big important history drapes over everything here in South Africa –waiters and quarries and a president who had to live in a cage. Nothing I know comes close to being a matter of life and death, nothing I can think of.” This means, she feels as if she hasn’t had something happen to her that‘s made her have to struggle. So she hasn’t been able to grow as a human being. Those people in Prison had a terrible history –they’ve known life without seeing loved ones, they’ve HAD to be in situations of surviving, never mind living.
Also when the narrator’s father asks Michael why he isn’t bitter, Michael responds, “Being bitter will not help anything, will keep him from going forward. He says it’s time to get on with other things, with reconciliation.” I think he means that if he doesn’t let go of the past, the only thing it will do is restrain him from progressing in the future. So he would much rather focus on important things. And whenever he does come across a problem, he would settle, and learn from it, to become a better person.
The last sentence of the excerpt, I believe, is especially important as it says, “It occurs to me that maybe his history gave him a chance to get bigger and he took it.” This proves that he learned from his experience and progressed. Think of it as a seed, the flower has to break through its hard shell, and with water and nutrients, it can grow into a beautiful flower. A person has to get through his past and work in the present, in order to succeed in the future.
The tour made the narrator learn that you can’t let your past consume you. It’s good to have a history, as long as you don’t let it become you, because having a past gives you an opportunity to grow. So when the time comes –take it.
Michelle D., Grade 7
Character Suitcase Project
Students will choose a main character from any novel (with teacher approval). They will create a "suitcase" which will include the following items:
a. Luggage tag with the character's name, address, and destination written on it.
b. Memorabilia to decorate the outside of the suitcase, such as bumper stickers or memories from previous trips.
c. 10 items the character would pack, either tangible or intangible. For example, Brian Robeson, the main character in Hatchet, would pack a hatchet (tangible) and courage (intangible) because he needs both to survive.
d. A brief explanation why the character chose to pack each item. It should be written from the character's point of view. Explanations must also by typed. If you don't have a computer/printer at home, make sure you organize your time wisely and plan after school computer time. Projects that are not typed will receive no higher than a "D".
Suitcases will be presented in class in two weeks.
Grades will be based on the rubric below:
A- All essential elements of the activity are clear and complete. Suitcase shows creativity and explanations are clear and concise. Little if any grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was typed.
B- Most essential elements of the activity are clear and complete. Suitcase shows creativity and explanations are clear and relatively concise. Few grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was typed.
C- Some essential elements of the activity are clear and complete. Suitcase shows some creativity, but explanations are vague or difficult to understand. Several grammatical errors and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was typed.
D- Few essential elements of the activity are present. Suitcase shows some creativity, but explanations are vague and difficult to understand. Little or no effort was put into the project. Many grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was not typed.
F- Little or no effort put into project. Too many grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was not typed. This is unacceptable and I expect more effort in the future.
Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper
Project by: Alexandra R., Grade 7
a. Luggage tag with the character's name, address, and destination written on it.
b. Memorabilia to decorate the outside of the suitcase, such as bumper stickers or memories from previous trips.
c. 10 items the character would pack, either tangible or intangible. For example, Brian Robeson, the main character in Hatchet, would pack a hatchet (tangible) and courage (intangible) because he needs both to survive.
d. A brief explanation why the character chose to pack each item. It should be written from the character's point of view. Explanations must also by typed. If you don't have a computer/printer at home, make sure you organize your time wisely and plan after school computer time. Projects that are not typed will receive no higher than a "D".
Suitcases will be presented in class in two weeks.
Grades will be based on the rubric below:
A- All essential elements of the activity are clear and complete. Suitcase shows creativity and explanations are clear and concise. Little if any grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was typed.
B- Most essential elements of the activity are clear and complete. Suitcase shows creativity and explanations are clear and relatively concise. Few grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was typed.
C- Some essential elements of the activity are clear and complete. Suitcase shows some creativity, but explanations are vague or difficult to understand. Several grammatical errors and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was typed.
D- Few essential elements of the activity are present. Suitcase shows some creativity, but explanations are vague and difficult to understand. Little or no effort was put into the project. Many grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was not typed.
F- Little or no effort put into project. Too many grammatical and/or spelling errors are present. Explanation was not typed. This is unacceptable and I expect more effort in the future.
Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper
Project by: Alexandra R., Grade 7
Literary/Character Analysis
Choose a chapter from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischmann and create a poster and response based on the character traits of the main character. Give specific evidence from the chapter to support your analysis and response.
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischmann
Maricela
Character Analysis by: Michelle D., Grade 7
Maricela
Character Analysis by: Michelle D., Grade 7