1.2 ENC

Looking into Literature Assessment

Step 1: Select and read one of the following short stories. Each may be found online.

• "A White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett

Step 2: Complete the graphic organizer using complete sentences and details from your selected short story.

Title of Short Story

Author

Plot

Fill in the events of the plot from your selected short story.

Exposition:

Rising Action:

Climax:

Falling Action:

Resolution:

Characters

Who is the story's protagonist?

What type of character is the protagonist (flat, round, static, dynamic)?

Textual evidence to support this:

Who or what is the story's antagonist?

Setting

Describe the setting of the short story in 2-3 sentences. Provide as much detail as possible and remember that setting involves many components, like time, place, weather, historical context, and social environment.

Conflicts

Identify two conflicts from the short story.

Conflict 1 description:

Type of conflict:

Conflict 2 description:

Type of conflict:

Point of View

Point of view this story is told from:

Textual evidence to support this:

Universal Theme

In a complete sentence, state the story's universal theme:

How did the author develop the theme from the exposition through the resolution? Respond in at least 2-3 complete sentences.

Looking into Literature Rubric

On Target

Almost There

Needs Improvement

Plot

(5 points)

5-4 points

The student shows an in-depth understanding of the plot of their short story by correctly identifying each plot element.

3 points

The student attempts to show an understanding of the plot of their short story, but some plot elements may be misidentified.

2-0 points

The student may be missing some or all plot elements, or most elements were incorrectly identified.

Characterization

(5 points)

5-4 points

The student correctly identifies the protagonist, antagonist, and type of character with textual support.

3 points

The student attempts to identify the protagonist, antagonist, and type of character but may have misidentified or may be missing textual support.

2-0 points

The student may be missing some or all elements of the characterization section, or most characters were incorrectly identified.

Setting

(5 points)

5-4 points

The student insightfully explains the elements of the setting in 2-3 sentences, with specific reference to time, place, weather, historical context, mood, and/or social environment.

3 points

The student attempts to explain the elements of the setting, but may only address place and time with little focus on context, environment, or mood.

2-0 points

The student may be missing an explanation of the setting, may have incorrectly identified the setting, or may provide a response not written in sentence format.

Conflicts

(5 points)

5-4 points

The student correctly identifies and explains two conflicts from the short story.

3 points

The student attempts to identify and explain two conflicts from the short story but may incorrectly identify or lack a complete explanation.

2-0 points

The student may be missing identification and explanation of the conflicts or may have incorrectly identified the conflicts.

Point of View

(5 points)

5-4 points

The student correctly identifies the point of view in which the story is told and provides textual evidence to support their response.

3 points

The student attempts to identify the point of view but may have misidentified or may be missing textual support.

2-0 points

The student may be missing some or all elements of the point of view section, or the point of view was incorrectly identified.

Universal Theme

(5 points)

5-4 points

The student states the universal theme in a complete sentence and thoroughly explains how the universal theme of the short story was developed.

3 points

The student attempts to identify and explain the development of a universal theme but may not have a complete sentence or thorough explanation.

2-0 points

The student may be missing identification and/or explanation of a universal theme, or the theme is stated as a topic with little explanation.

Grammar

(5 points)

5-4 points

There are virtually no spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. 

3 points

There are a few spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors.

2-0 points

There are several spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.