April 20

Humanities 8

Today we continued with presentations.

English 10

Today we worked on the second attempt at our comparison/contrast essay.  Below is the hand-out with some hints etc.

Compare/Contrast E-exam Essay #2

Today the goal is to improve your writing from your first attempt at an E-exam compare/contrast essay.   As you become familiar with the format and some of the key things the markers will be looking for, your confidence will increase too (hopefully!!)

Directions:  Click on either of the e-exam hyperlinks.  Be sure to select the EN100910 option.  The readings associated with the question are “Students” and “Crow Lake.” 

The question is:  Compare and contrast the relationships between the students and their teacher in “Students” and “Crow Lake.”  In your response you must discuss both passages. 

The 1^st key to success is to brainstorm and create a plan!   Use the space below to do so.  Use the example and checklist on the other side to help you with your essay!

Here is an example of a body paragraph that answers the question from the 1^st exam and uses the PEE principle (point, example, explain).

In the story “Stones,” the narrator values his/her experience working in the family run antique shop and it seems like it will inspire him/her to carve out a future career.   The narrator repairs and refinishes old furniture in the store.  He seems to value the old style craftsmanship and working with wood and thus appreciates the past.  His distaste for modern values is emphasized when he tries working in a modern store and he returns to the antique shop and its more simplistic values implied by, “Buy it, give us the money, and keep it.”  When talking with Raphaella, the narrator says, “My dream is to find someone to teach me to design furniture, then open my own shop one day.”  This suggests to the reader that working with the antiques in the low-tech store has inspired him to pursue a career, presumably creating his own pieces.  He doesn’t care about making a lot of money which suggests that these will be hand-crafted pieces in the old-fashioned tradition.  Therefore, it is fair to say that the narrator’s love of the old values and craftsmanship has inspired him to align his future job with these in mind.   

Similarly, the musicians referred to in the “Voices Rising” webpage use the past for inspiration.  In this case….

Checklist

        Have you answered the question clearly?

        Is your answer found in the introduction and written as your thesis?

        Have you written about both pieces of literature?

        Have you provided evidence to support your points and show your understanding?  Ex– details from the story or quotes

        Have you used the PEE principle in your body paragraphs?  

        Have you written a strong conclusion emphasizing your answer to the question?

         Have you proofread your work for clarity, correct grammar and spelling?