Name ______Date ______Period ______

Modern Dilemmas

The Things They Carried

The Things You Carry-The Things You Keep (Homework)

Part One:Below, make a list of the physical objects you carry with you day to day (like in your backpack or wallet) as well as the things you have chosen to keep over the years (like in your junk drawer or under your bed). Put these items in the left side column marked “Tangible Items.”

Then make a list of the intangible things you carry: memories, ideas, dreams, scars (literal or figurative), the people or places of your past. Put these in the right side column marked “Intangible Things.”

Tangible Things / Intangible Things

The Things You Carry-The Things You Keep (Creative Writing)

Part Two: You will write a 2-4 page essay that incorporates and investigates the items on each. Consider these questions:
Why do you carry the tangible items you carry with you each day? Why do you need them?
Why have you chosen to keep tangible items that you clearly no longer need?
Do the physical items relate to the mental ones?
From you list of intangible things, are there any that you want to let go of but cannot?
Are there any on that list that you are afraid you will forget?

Refer to the first short story in O’Brien’s work to help you develop your story. Consider organizing your items in a way you choose to. Use "These are the things I carry" as your opening line.
Is on Turnitin.com______Includes a complete HW sheet

Rubric

An A essay…

demonstrates a sophisticated level of understanding of the assignment

includes thoughtful, compelling, revealing insight

usesvivid details that transport the reader.

Masterfully mimics O’Brien’s style

is well organized, mechanically sound, and contains relatively few errors.

includescareful attention to syntax and diction and to MLA format

A B essay…

demonstrates an understanding of the assignment

includes some insight

usessome vivid details

Mimics O’Brien’s style

demonstrates a strong understanding of organization, structure, and mechanics, and contains a few errors.

Shows attention to syntax and diction and to MLA format with a few errors

A C essay…

demonstrates basic comprehension of assignment

is without insight

usesdetails that could be better described or developed

does not display a full understanding of O’Brien’s style

reflects a response that is either vague, superficial, or limited.

adequately conveys the writer’s thoughts, but still has errors in structure, organization, and mechanics.

Shows little attention to syntax, diction, and/or MLA format

A D essay…

contains errors in comprehension that detract from the essay.

incompletely addresses the prompt.

uses insufficient detail to support argument.

contains many errors in detail.

shows no understanding of O’Brien’s style

contains recurrent errors which show weak control over elements of grammar, word choice or structure.

Shows no attention to syntax, diction, and MLA format

An F Paper: The paper is incomplete, significantly late, or plagiarized.