A Separate Peace Annotation Assignment Chap 3 and 4

Annotations Assignment: A Separate Peace (Chapters 3 and 4)
Pre-AP English I

Task: Using their knowledge of annotations, literary elements (NOT rhetorical devices), and the short story, A Separate Peace Chapters 3 and 4, by John Knowles, please type a complete and thorough (detailed) annotation for each of the specific passages. Students should clearly and legibly type the annotation on a separate sheet of paper in the discussed format and then staple to the back of their outline form. If the work requires two pages, please number the pages, and staple both to the outline. FOLLOW ALL FORMATS.

Objective: Students should be able to demonstrate their knowledge of annotations, literary elements, and their ability to type a complete and thorough (detailed) discussion annotation using the appropriate format.

Standards: ER2, 3 and EW 1, 2, 3, 4

Evaluation: Students’ work will be evaluated based on the following specific areas:

Specific Ideas: To receive the maximum points in this area, students should submit an assignment that is well organized. Ideas presented in the assignment must be relevant, clear and specific. Students’ assignments should produce a feeling of cohesion (unity) that demonstrate their ability to take ideas and place them into an assignment that has a clear beginning, middle, and end. YOU MUST IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA!!!! Use at least 8-10 sentences; include both objective and subjective comments. Please include something about the author’s purpose in the comments.

Attention given to each literary device in the passage: To receive the maximum points in this area, students should discuss each image presented in the passage. Overlooking relevant images will result in a lesser grade.

Connecting Comments: To receive the maximum points in this area, students’ assignments should demonstrate that they are able to not only connect the image to the passage, but also to the story. Connections should be logical and supported with evidence pulled from the nonfiction selection.

Evidence of Time Spent: To receive the maximum points in this area, students’ assignments should clearly indicate that a sufficient amount of time, effort and thought was put into it. Assignments should reflect a serious study of the passages, and should not reflect a rushed completion of work.

Typesetting: To receive maximum points in this area, the students’ assignments should be written per the discussed standards. The entire passage should be typed first in a clear and legible single space format. Then the annotation should be typed in a clear and legible double space format beneath it (see model below). Students must use 11 point Times New Roman font. The following heading for the assignment should be included at the top of the paper: ANNOTATIONS FOR A FEW PASSAGES FROM A SEPARATE PEACE (CHAPTERS 3 AND 4)

Model: Students should use the following as a model for the format of their annotations:

Page 50, First Column, First Paragraph: He turned, and with a firm and rapid step he walked across the empty space. Every heart stopped beating, every breath was held, every eye was fixed immovably upon that man. Without the slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right, and opened it.

Annotation: Plot, character, conflict, point of view, and setting: The narrator is speaking in the third person omniscient point of view. The setting is revealed through the narration. The climax occurs when the princess gestures toward the right and the young man opens the door. The story’s loose ends are not resolved, and the reader is free to decide the fate of the man. The young man is experiencing internal conflict as he tries to decide which door he should open, and as the audience awaits his selection. One might interpret this scene as a very good example of man versus society given the fact that the man is in a unique situation in which the audience wants him to make a decision that may result in the loss of his life. We see this conflict specifically when the narrator says, “...Every heart stopped beating, every breath was held, every eye was fixed immovably upon that man...”

Passages: Students should annotate the following passages:

1. Page 32, Chapter 3, First Paragraph: “Everyone has a moment in history...passing moment forever.”
2. Page 33, Chapter 3, Within the First Paragraph: “The prevailing color in America is...risk being unpatriotic.”
3. Page 37, Chapter 3, Second Paragraph: “To keep silent about this...based on rivalry.”
4. Page 40, Chapter 3, Second Paragraph: “It was a courageous thing...which contains the truth.”
5. Page 41, Chapter 4, First Paragraph: “The next morning...dead looking itself.”
6. Page 45, Chapter 4, Third Paragraph: “I found it...Except for him.”
7. Page 45, Chapter 4, Fourth Paragraph: “Then a second realization...it was all enmity.”
8. Page 47, Chapter 4, Second Paragraph: “I could see through...redoubled my efforts.”
9. Page 52, Chapter 4, Second Paragraph: “Holding firmly to the trunk...my fear of this forgotten.”

***You MUST include the author’s purpose for writing the specific passages.***