English 12 First Quarter Final Writing Assignment and Assessment

Preamble: Since the beginning of this school year, we have focused on the development of critical reading and critical thinking skills which we defined in part as not accepting the “face value” of “texts” we encounter.

Clear Purposes: (1) In designing, developing, and writing your own assignment, you will express a depth of understanding about the texts we have read, listened to, and discussed as a class. (2) To express understanding, you must blend ideas from a variety of sources in order to explain, interpret, apply, empathize, or obtain new perspectives and self-knowledge. (3) Lastly, you will also demonstrate your knowledge of and skill using English to express your ideas.

Clear Targets: (1) For this assignment, use writing to explain one (or more) of your insights or understandings about any of the many issues or themes, or the relationship between several themes, you’ve attained through reading, listening to, and discussing the following texts:

1. “How to Tell a True War Story” by Tim O’Brien (short story, fiction)

2. President Obama’s speech awarding the Medal of Honor to Sgt. First Class Jared C. Monti (speech, non-fiction)

3. “Lemon Tree” by Will Holt (song lyric, allegory)

4. “It is the Soldier” by Charles Province (poetry, memorial tribute)

5. “The War Prayer” by Mark Twain (short story, fiction)

6. “Backlash from Afghan Civilian Deaths” by Aryn Baker (journalism, non-fiction)

7. The other articles linked from my web site (journalism, non-fiction).

8. “So We Meet Again: Act I of ‘The Devil in Me’” from the radio program This American Life about Sam Slaven and his experience with the Muslim Student Association. (long-form journalism, non-fiction)

9. Other related texts of your choice. However, you must obtain permission from me to use additional sources by showing me the source material and explaining its link to your writing assignment.

(2) Explain how connections between the texts or themes have contributed to your learning and personal growth as a critical reader and thinker.  Review the “Elements of Understanding” handout and consider how studying this material from a variety of perspectives and through a variety of media added depth to your understanding of any of the many issues in the material.

Your written product may take on one of any number of forms provided it meets the goals, purposes, and technical requirements of the assignment.  For example, you could simply write a (1) formal literary analysis, (2) a comparison and contrast paper, or (3) a persuasive essay about one or more of the readings; however, you could also compose your own (4) “test” made up of interpretive (textual) questions and your answers (If you choose the self-test option, you must draft the questions first and obtain my approval for your questions before proceeding). You could also write an original (5) short story, (6) song lyrics, (7) a rap (or raps), (8) a series of poems, (9) a newspaper article, (10) create a pamphlet, (11) create a PowerPoint slide show with accompanying graphics, or (12) come up with an original idea not listed (but please discuss it with me before beginning).  

Technical requirements: Whatever form your 1^st quarter writing assignment takes (see the 12 options above), it must accomplish the purposes and meet the targets listed above in addition to meeting the following requirements:

1. Please type and format your writing in MLA style (see style guide).

2. Your total composition must number between 750 and 1250 words (approximately 3-5 pages of an essay formatted in MLA style).

3. Regardless of your chosen form, your writing should employ thoughtful ideas, powerful words, good organization, smooth fluency, an individual yet mature voice, and correct mechanics and conventions.

4. Other technical criteria depend on the chosen format.  Please consult with the instructor as you compose your 1^st quarter writing assignment.