Year 9 English Assessment Task

Literature Response - Themes

Expository Essay

Due: Tuesday, 10^th June, 2008

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 and compose texts

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

The question: “ Adolescence can be a very difficult time that presents challenges and provides opportunity for change.”

Discuss this in relation to the novel studied in your class; discuss the issues confronting the main character(s), how they cope and the discoveries they make about themselves.

In your essay discuss HOW the author of your novel uses various devices to explore adolescence.

Length: 1000 words.

Write the word number achieved at the end of the essay.

Write concise sentences using precise vocabulary. Select your quotations wisely, including only the most necessary segments.

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 and analyse quotations from the text to support your views

· To use the register and style of an expository essay

STRUCTURE

· Introduction

- Address the first part of the question and explore its main idea a little

- State your opinion about this idea (This is your contention, the rest of the essay will support the contention)

- Summarise the key points you will make

- Address the second part of the question by briefly listing the main language techniques you will be discussing

· Body

- One large paragraph for EACH main idea

- A topic sentence for each paragraph is essential – these should be developed from the key points summarised in the introduction

- Underline or highlight the topic sentences.

- Explain your topic sentence

- Provide evidence from the novel to support your views, ie, facts and brief quotations and language techniques

- Argue the relevance of this point to the question

· Conclusion

- Refer to the question, reaffirming your view

- Make a general statement about the overall achievement and significance of the novel.

Assessment Criteria

The best responses will:

· demonstrate understanding of the concept of Adolescence

· analyse, explain and assess the ways Adolescence is represented

· organize, develop and express ideas using language appropriate to audience, purpose and essay form

Marking Guidelines:

A: 18-20

· Highly developed understanding of the concept of adolescence

· Analyses, explains and assesses skilfully the ways the composer represents adolescence

· Composes a sophisticated essay using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form

B: 14-17

· Demonstrates a well-developed understanding of the concept of adolescence

· Analyses, explains and assesses effectively the ways the composer represents adolescence

· Composes an effective and cohesive essay using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form

C: 10-13

· Demonstrates a sound understanding of the concepts of adolescence

· Explains adequately and/or attempts to assess the ways the composer represent adolescence

· Composes an essay using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form

D: 6-9

· Demonstrates a limited understanding of the concept of adolescence

· Attempts to explain the ways the composer represents adolescence

· Attempts to compose an essay with some appropriateness to audience, purpose and form