Literacy Narrative Assignment

EDU 497 Poetry in the High School

Spring 2006

 

For this assignment, you will write a reflection/narrative of your experiences with and attitudes toward literature and writing.  It’s a relatively short paper (3-5 pages), so I don’t expect you to write your entire history of reading and writing.  Focus on a few key events in your literacy history that have had a profound impact on the way you view the craft and your teaching of it.  Give lots of details—tell a story that will capture the interest of any reader, not necessarily me.  You will be sharing these in class, and a final draft will go into your portfolio as part of your midterm evaluation.

 

Requirements and Deadlines

·        3- to 5-pages, typed, double-spaced, in standard MLA format

·        Earnest sense of voice—let your audience know that you get into this

·        Thorough revision, editing, and proofreading between first and final drafts

·        First complete draft due in class on Monday, February 6th

·        Revised draft, to be graded, due in class on Monday, February 13th.  Include earlier draft(s) and peer comment sheets.

·        You will have a chance at a final revision before mid-semester.

 

Suggestions

·        While this paper is highly personal, it is not a journal entry.  You are writing for an audience who need to see a reason to read your narrative.  Draw them in.

·        Read your drafts aloud to hear if your writing is audience-friendly and has a sense of voice.

·        As you brainstorm and draft, think of key questions that you can answer in the narrative:

o       Why do I like to read literature?

o       What are some favorite stories, novels, plays, and poems I like to read?

o       What do I read when I am just reading for enjoyment?

o       What are my reading habits?  When and where do I read?  How does reading affect my day?

o       What works do I want to read over and over again?  What would I never want to read again?

o       When did I start writing poetry, fiction, or non-fiction prose?  What’s my favorite piece that I have ever written?  Why?

o       How have reading and writing poetry and other genres had an impact on how I view myself?

o       How has school affected the way I view writing and literature?  You can include both positive and negative experiences here.

·        As you draft and revise, develop a central focus or theme for your narrative.  Make sure your readers walk away with a clear impression of how you view your literacy.

·        Have fun with this assignment.  Take some chances.  I’ll be evaluating your final draft, but you can revise it one last time after that.

 

If you need to talk more about this assignment, please come by during my office hours or give me a call (392-6895) or e-mail (smytha2@southernct.edu).

Rubric for Literacy Narrative

 

Student’s Name:        _____________________                              Date:   ______________

 

Quality

Strongest (6 points)

Adequate (4 points)

Weakest (2 points)

Total Points For Quality

FOCUS/ UNITY

·          Narrates events

·          Selectively includes necessary components

·          Makes a point

·          Partially selective in choosing components

·          Attempts to make a point

·          Random selection of components

·          Point uncertain

 

 

 

DEVELOPMENT/

INFORMATION

·          Includes rich supporting details

·          Avoids redundancy

·          Some supporting details

·          Some repetition of story components

·          Few or irrelevant supporting details

·          Redundancy

 

 

COHERENCE/

ORDER

·           Narrative components connect clearly

·           Narrative components are loosely organized

·           Incomprehensible or confusing order of components

 

 

DEPTH

·          Displays insight

·          Demonstrates significant reflection & awareness

·          Establishes significant connection to wider world—specific to literacy

·          Surface understanding

·          Some reflection & awareness

·          Some reference to wider world—specific to literacy

·          Minimal or no reflection or insight

·          Limited connection wider world

·          No references specific to literacy

 

 

 

 

 

AUDIENCE/VOICE

·          Character of writer is consistently conveyed

·          Tone fits narrative

·          Anticipates & answers readers’ questions

·          Engages readers’ interest

·          Active voice

·          Character of writer varies

·          Tone strays from narrative

·          Leaves some unanswered questions

·          Invites some interest

·          Moderate use of the passive voice

·          No character of writer

·          Few connections between narrative and tone

·          Does not answer readers' questions

·          Invites little reader interest

·          Overuse of the passive voice 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quality

Strongest (3 points)

Adequate (2 points)

Weakest (1 point)

Total Points For Quality

WORD CHOICE

·          Precise terms

·          Figurative language

·          Avoids cliches

·          Varied words

·          Rich language

·          Some imprecision

·          Little figurative language

·          Some repetition

·          Imprecise language

·          Literal language

·          Many cliches

·          Limited variation

·          Repetitive

 

 

 

PARAGRAPHS

·          Main idea

·          Limited scope

·          Examples

·          2 or 3 parts listed in first column

·          0-1 of 3 parts listed in first column

 

 

SENTENCES

·          0 errors in grammar & mechanics per page

·          Varies sentence form

·          1-2 errors per page

·          Repeats sentence form

·          3+ errors per page

·          Boring sentence form

 

 

 

SPELLING

·          0 errors in spelling per page

·          1-2 errors per page

·          3+ errors per page

 

 

PRESENTATION

·          Clean, clear

·          Businesslike

·          MLA format

·          Not MLA format

·          Readable

·          Unattractive

·          Unreadable

 

 

Comments:

TOTAL POINTS:

(45 Possible)       

Percentage:

(Out of 100%)     

 

Grade:

(A,B,C,D,F)