“The Story of an Hour” Formative Assessment
Directions: For this assignment, you will analyze how the literary techniques in this short story contribute to the development of Chopin’s message about women and their situation. Fill out the rest of this sheet to partially write and outline an essay.
Thesis Statement: Be sure to identify the literary technique(s) in the context of the story and the specific message that Chopin is sharing with her audience.
Body Paragraph 1: Write the first body paragraph that would support this thesis statement in an essay that would ideally have 3-4 body paragraphs. This paragraph should begin with a strong topic sentence, direct quotes that are masterfully embedded into the analysis, and a final sentence that transitions into the next body paragraph.
Topic Sentence 2: Write the topic sentences only for the second body paragraph of your essay. It should make sense that this paragraph should come after the paragraph you wrote before it.
Supporting Quote: Write one supporting quote that would fit into your second body paragraph.
Analysis: Write 1-2 sentences of analysis that explain how this quote supports your topic sentence and therefore supports your thesis statement.
Topic Sentence 3: Write the topic sentences only for the third body paragraph of your essay. It should make sense that this paragraph should come after the paragraph you wrote before it.
Supporting Quote: Write one supporting quote that would fit into your second body paragraph.
Analysis: Write 1-2 sentences of analysis that explain how this quote supports your topic sentence and therefore supports your thesis statement.
Mastery (A)
Effective (B)
Adequate (C)
Inadequate (D)
THESIS and TOPIC SENTENCES
RL.2
Determine a theme of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details
10 points
Thesis masterfully determines a theme about women and their situation and analyzes how it is shaped by Chopin’s literary techniques
AND
Each topic sentence makes a claim that clearly connects to and supports the argument of the thesis statement
Thesis effectively determines a theme about women and their situation and analyzes how it is shaped by Chopin’s literary techniques
AND
Each topic sentence makes a claim that somewhat connects to and supports the argument of the thesis statement
Thesis attempts to determine a theme about women and their situation and analyze how it is shaped by Chopin’s literary techniques, and may represent a misinterpretation or oversimplification of the text.
AND/OR
Topic sentences may not make claims or connect to or support the argument of the thesis statement
Thesis does not determine a definable theme about women and their situation or adequately examine how it is shaped by Chopin’s literary techniques, and may represent a misinterpretation or oversimplification of the text.
AND/OR
Topic sentences are not argumentative and/or are disconnected from the thesis statement
SELECTION AND ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE – Use of Literary Techniques and Development of Theme
W.2
Examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
10 points
Evidence is masterfully selected by choosing precise quotes and including the best possible words from those quotes to support the claim of the paragraph
AND
Evidence is masterfully analyzed by conveying complex ideas that support all aspects of the thesis
Evidence is effectively selected by choosing precise quotes and including appropriate words from those quotes to support the claim of the paragraph
AND
Evidence is effectively analyzed by conveying complex ideas that support all aspects of the thesis
Evidence is adequately selected by choosing appropriate quotes to support the claim of the paragraph
AND/OR
Evidence is adequately analyzed by conveying ideas that support the thesis
Argument may not adequately fully move forwards as the essay progresses
Evidence is inadequately selected by choosing quotes that do not fully support the claim of the paragraph
AND/OR
Evidence is inadequately analyzed by not fully conveying ideas that support the thesis
Argument does not move forwards as the essay progresses. Main ideas of paragraphs are repetitive or redundant.
ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
W.2
Examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
5 points
Main ideas of body paragraphs are nuanced and masterfully organized in a way that is logical and purposeful for the goal of the essay.
Main ideas of body paragraphs are complex and effectively organized in a way that is mostly logical and purposeful for the goal of the essay
Main ideas of body paragraphs are simplistic but accurate
AND/OR
Are adequately organized in a way that is somewhat logical for the goal of the essay
Main ideas of body paragraphs are vague or inaccurate
AND/OR
Are organized in a way that is illogical for the goal of the essay
SOPHISTICATION
W.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5 points
Student masterfully produces clear and coherent writing in which the style is controlled, intellectually stimulating and appropriate for the task, purpose, and audience
AND
Essay is fully MLA formatted, all quotes are properly cited, and little to no errors in grammar and punctuation are detected
Student effectively produces clear and coherent writing in which the style is mostly controlled, intellectually stimulating and appropriate for the task, purpose, and audience
AND
Essay is mostly MLA formatted, almost all quotes are properly cited, and few errors in grammar and punctuation are detected
Student adequately produces clear and coherent writing in which the style is somewhat controlled and appropriate for the task, purpose, and audience
AND/OR
Essay is not fully MLA formatted, quotes are not properly cited, and many errors in grammar and punctuation are detected
]
———-
Formative Assessment for “The Story of an Hour”
For this project, you will examine how the literary techniques used in this short story contribute to the development of Chopin’s message about women and their circumstances. Fill out the rest of this sheet to plan and partially compose an essay.
Thesis Statement: Identify the literary technique(s) used in the setting of the story, as well as the specific message that Chopin is conveying to her audience.
Body Paragraph 1: Write the first body paragraph in an essay that should have 3-4 body paragraphs to support this thesis statement. This paragraph should begin with a strong topic sentence, direct quotes that are expertly integrated into the analysis, and a closing sentence that transitions into the next paragraph.
