WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Personal Response Writing Assignment ('I Want to Die in My Own Bed' by Yehuda Amichai)

I Want to Die in My Own Bed
by Yehuda Amichai

All night the army came up from Gilgal*
To get to the killing field, and that's all.
In the ground, warf* and woof*, lay the dead.
I want to die in My own bed.

Like slits in a tank, their eyes were uncanny,
I’m always the few and they are the many.
I must answer. They can interrogate* My head.
But I want to die in My own bed.

The sun stood still in Gibeon*. Forever so, it’s willing
to illuminate* those waging battle and killing.
I may not see My wife when her blood is shed,
But I want to die in My own bed.

Samson, his strength in his long black hair,
My hair they sheared* when they made me a hero
Perforce*, and taught me to charge ahead.
I want to die in My own bed.

I saw you could live and furnish* with grace
Even a lion's den, if you've no other place.
I don't even mind to die alone, to be dead,
But I want to die in My own bed.

Translated from the Hebrew by Barbara and Benjamin Harshav, in A Life of Poetry: 1948 - 1994, New York, HarperCollins, 1994, with thanks to the publisher

*Definition? Use a dictionary.

ASSIGNMENT: Use your knowledge of the elements/devices of poetry and your ability to respond to literature, and write a detailed response in which you discuss the poem’s central argument and theme.

*NOTE: Stay on topic…don’t stray…nor discuss things that do not directly connect or pertain to the poem.

GENERAL COMPOSITION RULES: In your response please address the poem’s central argument and theme. Also, please adhere to ALL of the following rules:

• Consider your audience; it may be a group of teens or adults that you are trying to reach.
• Think about the overall purpose of your piece. (hint: You are seeking to explain and analyze…)
• Use examples from the poem to support your response.
• Use the ASSERTION-EVIDENCE-COMMENTARY concept within your writing.
• You MUST use a format that uses rhetorical devices and modes of developments (i.e. examples, rhetorical questions, description, cause and effect, etc.) within your response.
• Your writing should be publishable…you are not writing down random thoughts and ideas…they MUST be organized, easy to understand, logical, relevant to some degree, timely, etc.

SPECIFIC TYPING CRITERIA: When I evaluate your work, I will be looking for substantial compliance of the following:

• Use this underlined heading: A PERSONAL RESPONSE FOR ‘I WANT TO DIE IN MY OWN BED' BY YEHUDA AMICHAI(-5 if not followed)
• Attract the reader’s attention and indicate knowledge of the subject (you did read the poem…didn’t you?)
• Express clearly, probably in the first sentence, your opinion (thesis).
• Use ‘Yehuda Amichai,’ ‘Amichai,’ ‘the poet,’ or ‘the author.’ DO NOT USE ‘YEHUDA’ OR ‘MR. AMICHAI’…YOU AND THE AUTHOR ARE NOT ON A FIRST NAME BASIS!!!! (-10 if not present).
• Use the ASSERTION-EVIDENCE-COMMENTARY concept within your writing. There should also be evidence of the usage of the multiple levels of commentary…LEVELS 1, 2, 3, and 4. (-20 if not followed)
• The main idea of your response should be clear and concise. The overall gist (meaning) of your response, opinion, argument, etc. should be clearly stated at the beginning of the response. IT MUST BE UNDERLINED. (-5)
• Provide details adequate to support your response. Use examples from the poem to support your response. (-5 if not followed)
• Follow an organizational plan that best attracts the reader’s attention. Do this with the construction and completion of a Multiple Levels of Commentary Plan Sheet (MLP). (-25 if not followed)
• Omit phrases like I think, in my opinion, it seems to me, or for one since a subjective response is already recognized as your opinion.
• DO NOT USE PERSONAL PRONOUN REFERENCES (I (-2), you (-2), us (-2), we (-2), my (-2), me (-2), our (-2))
• DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS (-2 for each error)
• STIFF PENALTIES FOR SIMPLE GRAMMAR MISTAKES…PLEASE PROOFREAD YOUR WORK (-5 for sentence structure errors, -3 for grammatical errors, and -2 for spelling errors)
• PROOFREAD YOUR PAPER CAREFULLY AND CORRECT YOUR ERRORS. I AM NOT YOUR PROOFREADER.
• Stick to the assigned main idea and purpose. Do not include any extraneous information that is not relevant to the topic of your response. If you deviate from the assignment I will deduct points.
• Writing must be AT LEAST ONE FULL PAGE, including no LESS than 500 WORDS (but no more than 1000) in the body. You may exceed one page, but not go over two. (automatic 10/50 if paper is less than what is required).
• Your name and honor code MUST be written on the back of the last page only. If your name appears on the front, or if you scratch out your name you will lose points. (-10 if not present)
• Your paper must have THIS SHEET attached to the front. If you do not use the rubric you will not know how to earn an A paper. PLEASE CONSULT THE RUBRIC AND MODEL SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR AND EXPECTING. (-10 if not present)

OBJECTIVE: Students should be able to recognize and identify the various elements/devices of poetry and respond to the literature in a response.

STANDARDS: LA.910.1, LA.910.2, LA.910.3, LA.910.4, LA.910.5, LA.910.2.1.3, LA.910.2.1.4, LA.910.2.1.5, LA.910.2.1.7, LA.910.2.1.8, LA.910.5.2, LA.910.5.2.2, LA.910.5.2.3, LA.910.5.2.4

AREAS OF EVALATION: Here are the areas of evaluation that I will be using when grading this assignment…please adhere to them and consult your commentary guide:

CONTENT [C]: To receive max points in this area, the student must demonstrate they are able to write a well organized response to the topic. Not to mention, that they have an understanding of the elements of poetry. (50 points possible)

STYLE [S]: To receive max points in this area, the student must demonstrate that they are able to follow the basic rules of grammar, as well as avoiding contractions and all person pronoun references. (20 points possible)

FORMAT [F]: To receive max points in this area, the student must demonstrate that they are able to follow the prescribed formatting rules outlined on the format guide; there should also be evidence of the student’s use of the model of this type of writing assignment. (15 points possible)
ORGANIZATION [O]: To receive max points in this area, students must demonstrate that they are able to produce a fluid and well-organized response through the usage of transitions, and conjunctions. (15 points possible)

*NOTE: DO NOT TYPE THIS ASSIGNMENT...WRITE IT IN YOUR JOURNAL. SINCE THIS IS A WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (NOT A TYPED ONE) PLEASE ADHERE TO AS MANY COMPOSITION RULES AS YOU CAN.