Summer Reading Evaluation
Ms. Fennelly Humanities
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
In thesis essay format, respond to the prompt below about Mark Haddon's novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Your written answer should be a four paragraph essay (intro, two developmental paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph). You should begin drafting your essay in class, take it home for typing and revision, then submit it in hard copy (typed) and on turnitin.com by Friday, September 15th.
You will be assessed on the following: (rubric is on the reverse side):
-- Clear main idea and two developing ideas in a brief introduction.
-- Clear topic sentence in each developing paragraph (DP)
-- 3 developmental details (DDs) per DP
--1 DD per DP must be a direct quotation (DQ), properly cited
-- Comprehension of the main ideas in the book, as proven through analysis
-- Brief sum-up/ conclusion paragraph that reaches for significance
-- Correct mechanics and use of language
ESSAY PROMPT:
Conflict is a fundamental part of any novel since it is the catalyst for all the characters’ actions and reactions in the story. For this essay, you will explore whether or not Christopher's responses to internal and external conflict help him mature or hinder him. Refer to specific examples in the book that highlight his various conflicts. Your analysis should target how Christopher’s reactions to these challenges help him mature or hinder him.
ALTERNATE ASSIGNMENT: If you did not complete any summer reading, you may earn up to half credit for this assignment by writing about something you have read within the last 4 months (book, magazine, newspaper article, etc.). While you’re not guaranteed a 50, you are guaranteed to start the year with something other than a 0. If you can, respond to the prompt above. If not, summarize the content, what you learned from reading it, and explain what made it worth reading. Your essay will be graded with the same rubric as those students who fulfilled the summer requirements.
All Students will prepare their papers in MLA format. See my website if you are unsure of MLA format.
Some Basic MLA rules include:
ü Title of the work is underlined or italicized (novel, play, film) or in quotation marks (short story, poem, TV show, song)
ü You have spelled all titles, character names, and the author’s name correctly.
ü You have MLA heading (Name, Date, Ms. Fennelly, Class name—double spaced, upper left hand corner)
ü You have MLA page numbers (your last name and # appear in the header in right corner)
ü Your essay has a title, and it is not underlined or in bold. The title should be the same size as the rest of the paper, in the same font, and centered.
ü The paper is double-spaced, including the heading. No extra spaces between paragraphs.
ü There are one-inch margins on every page.
ü Each direct quote is followed by an MLA citation in the correct format. “xxxxxx” (42).
ü You have no spelling errors/typos that spell-check didn’t catch (i.e. ‘shoes” instead of “shows”)
ü No homophone mistakes. Two/to/too, Their/They’re/There, Which/witch, affect/effect, its/it’s
Beach 1
Sandy Beach
February 10, 2018
Ms. Fennelly
Humanities
Seamus Heaney: A Yeats Enthusiast