In order to ensure that students have mastered the objectives, I will use the following assessments throughout the unit.
Journal Writing
Students are expected to write in journals consistently throughout the year. These writings usually take place during class where students answer daily essential questions, writing prompts, and note taking. Students will also be expected to keep any significant passages discussed in class in their journals, annotate them and write a commentary on what the message conveyed. Students get credit for any informal writing they do in their journal. Journals are checked once a week. In order for the grading to not become overwhelming, I will ask students to place a sticky note at two journal entries they want me to grade.
Responses
Students will be responsible for handing in written responses based on what they have read throughout the course of the unit. In the responses, students should focus on literary and rhetorical devices used to convey author’s message. This includes but is not limited to theme, motif, symbols, character, and setting. This will allow students to come up with ideas for their paper they will write at the end of the unit. It will also allow me to determine who is keeping up with the reading or not. Before class students will hand in responses and retrieve corrected ones. Students will write 350 word response three times a week.
Critical Analysis Paper
Student will write a five page critical analysis on
The Grapes of Wrath
choosing one of the major themes that deal with representations of democracy.
Artistic Project
This project will be based on Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence. Because our school is an arts school, students are encouraged to engage in interdisciplinary projects. Students will be expected to create their artistic project based on their art discipline. I want the students’ project to represent a moment in American democracy. Students will be expected to present their projects to the class at the end of the unit.