Year 8 English Assessment Task

Literature Response - Themes

Expository In-class Essay

 

 

Outcomes:

1.    A student responds to and composes texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis and pleasure

 5.   A student makes informed language choices to shape meaning with accuracy, clarity and coherence

 7.   A student thinks critically and interpretively about information, ideas and arguments to respond to and compose texts

 

This is a common task, sat by all students in the year group.

 

Due Date: Term 2, Week 5 – Friday 30th May, 2008.

 

Task:  Write an expository essay in response to the novel you have studied this term.

 

The question is: How do the experiences of the main character in your novel contribute to the main character’s growth in maturity?  Give evidence for your opinions.

 

Length: Write as much as you can in the time given.  You should be able to write between 500 (2 pages) and 750 words (3 pages) in the allocated time. Ensure you finish the essay with an appropriate conclusion.

 

Time given: 55 minutes

 

What are you allowed to bring to the in-class essay?

 

Loose-leaf paper will be provided on the day.

 

Preparation time in class:

You will be given time to plan and prepare your draft in class.

 

Texts

8A        Holes, by Louis Sachar

                

8B        Holes, by Louis Sachar

 

8C        Guitar Highway Rose, by Brigid Lowry

 

8D        Holes, by Louis Sachar

 

8E        Guitar Highway Rose, by Brigid Lowry

 

Aims of the Task

·         To show your knowledge of the text

·         To show your understanding of the themes and characters in the novel

·         To argue your point of view in a logically structured way

·         To use quotations from the text to support your views

·         To use the register and style of a literary essay

 

What is a literary essay? (Expository type)

·         See separate handouts: Essay Writing Guide and the Marking Guide.

 

 

Steps to a successful essay

Even though you will write this in class under exam conditions, you must plan and draft your essay, prior to the day of the exam.

 

Researching and Planning

1.    Read the Essay Writing Guide and the Marking Guide.

2.    Analyse the question carefully.

 

Creating and Organising

3.         Brainstorm ideas in response to the question.

4.         Work out your main ideas (4-5)

5.         Write concise topic sentences stating these ideas.

6.         Number your ideas in logical order for the most persuasive argument.

7.         Find relevant quotations to support each main idea.

        Note down the page numbers as you go.

8.    Develop your introduction and conclusion.

 

Creating and Editing

9.    Write a draft in your workbook, leaving lots of space around each paragraph for adding and changing ideas.

Aim to:

·       express your ideas clearly

·       explain each of your ideas carefully and in detail

·       provide examples or quotations from the text.

 

10.     Reread your draft.

11.     Edit and proof read.

12.     Have someone else read the draft to check the development of the argument and to point out any errors.

13.     Make further corrections.

14.     Now practise writing this in 55 minutes. Do not read from your notes. It doesn’t matter if the rewritten task is a little different from the original. This is to be expected.

15.     Then, check your rewritten task against the original. Check the following:

·           Have you included all important ideas and quotations?

·           Are your ideas in the correct order?

·           What did you leave out?

 

16.   Repeat this process until you feel confident that you have mastered your essay in the time given.

 

Year 8 English

Literature Response - Expository Essay

Marking Guide

 

Student’s Name:                                              Teacher:                                              Date:

 

Criteria

Advanced

Highly Competent

Competent

Developing

Experiencing

Difficulty

1.   Knowledge and understanding of the text:

·         Accurate knowledge of plot and facts

·         Insight into characters and themes

 

 

 

 

 

2.       Thorough and relevant answer to the question

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.       Ability to present an argument:

·         logical construction

·          explanation of ideas

·         links to the question

 

 

 

 

 

4.       Use of evidence from the text to support argument

·         appropriateness of examples and quotations

·         fluent integration of quotations into arguments

·         indenting, punctuating and referencing of quotations

 

 

 

 

 

5.       Ability to develop an  Introduction

·          explanation of the concept in the question

·         title (italics or underlined) and author of text

·         background information

·         contention: your overall opinion

·         summary of main arguments 

 

 

 

 

 

6.       Ability to develop Body Paragraphs

·         use of topic sentences (highlighted/underlined)

·         explanation of ideas

·          inclusion of evidence

·         concluding link to question

 

 

 

 

 

7.       Ability to develop a conclusion:

·         reassert your view (link to contention or point of view)

·         general statement re overall concept in question

·         evaluation of the achievement of the writer

 

 

 

 

 

8.       Use of appropriate vocabulary and style:

·         formal language

·         developed vocabulary

·         use of literary terms

·         use of impersonal voice and first person plural

·         fluency and expressiveness

 

 

 

 

 

9.   Grammar and sentence structure

 

 

 

 

 

10.  Spelling

 

 

 

 

 

11.  Punctuation.

 

 

 

 

 

12.  Appropriate Length

 

 

 

 

 

13.  Handwriting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark:        /20        Marking range:   Adv : 18 – 20,  HC: 14 – 17,  C: 9 – 13,  D: 6 – 8,  ED: 0 - 5

 

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