WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Personal Response Writing Assignment ('Making a Fist' by Naomi Shihab Nye)

Making a Fist
by Naomi Shihab Nye

For the first time, on the road north of Tampico*,
I felt the life sliding out of me,
a drum in the desert, harder and harder to hear.
I was seven, I lay in the car
watching palm trees swirl a sickening pattern past the glass.
My stomach was a melon split wide inside my skin.

"How do you know if you are going to die?"
I begged my mother.
We had been traveling for days.
With strange confidence she answered,
"When you can no longer make a fist."

Years later I smile to think of that journey,
the borders we must cross separately,
stamped with our unanswerable woes.
I who did not die, who am still living,
still lying in the backseat behind all my questions,
clenching* and opening one small hand.

*Definition? Use a dictionary.

PART II (SHORT JOURNAL RESPONSE)

TASK: Using the concept of Assertion, Evidence, and Commentary (and the Four Levels of Commentary) write a detailed, supported response for writing prompt question. The response to the prompt must be DETAILED.

Failing to support your response will result in a loss of points. Write out the prompt before writing the response. As you write your response pull examples from the poem to support your response.

MAIN IDEA: In your response you are to clearly discuss the title and theme of Nye’s poem. Be specific. Offer a line by line analysis.

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

OBJECTIVE: Using your knowledge of the elements of poetry you should be able to demonstrate your knowledge of literary analysis, poetic literary devices, and your ability to write a detailed discussion response. In our study of poetry, various concepts, and philosophies, you should be able to recognize the universal function of a piece of poetry, as well as recognize how that poem affects both the reader and the listener. You should be able to write a response in the correct ASSERTION, EVIDENCE, and COMMENTARY format.

CONTENT FOCUS AREAS: Main Idea, Author Purpose, Point of View LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 4

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

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

• Heading: A PERSONAL RESPONSE FOR ‘MAKING A FIST’ BY NAOMI SHIHAB NYE (-5 if not done)
• 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).
• 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 if not done)
• 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)
• Provide details adequate to support your response. Use examples from the poem to support your response. (-5 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)
• Use ‘Naomi Shihab Nye,’ ‘Nye,’ ‘the poet,’ or ‘the author.’ DO NOT USE ‘NAOMI’ OR ‘MS. NYE’…YOU AND THE AUTHOR ARE NOT ON A FIRST NAME BASIS!!!! (-10 if not followed).
• 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 FULLY DEVELOPED. Writing must be AT LEAST ONE FULL PAGE, You may exceed one page, but not go over two. (automatic 10/50 if paper is less than what is required).
• PLEASE CONSULT THE RUBRIC AND MODEL SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR AND EXPECTING. (-10 if not present)