Both of these reading
passages involve a conflict between man and animal. Both main
characters make drastically different decisions to resolve
their conflicts. Even so, with a careful reading you might
find some similarities between the boy who kills a snake and
the Grampa who saves the frogs.
Read "Birdfoot's
Grampa" and "You Can't Just Walk On
By." Focus your reading on the conflict both
characters face, the decisions they make and what they discover
or believe about life.
Read the prompt you will be answering, so that there is a place
in your brain to file away ideas as you read! Taking notes would
be an excellent idea! You might want to set up a chart like
this:
"You Can't Just Walk On By"
"Birdfoot's Grampa"
speaker's
reaction to snake_ what does he do?
Grampa's
reaction to frogs_what does he do?
reason_why
does he do that?
reason_why
does he do that?
speaker's
thoughts about nature:
Grampa's
beliefs about nature:
Extended
Response Prompt:
Birdfoot's Grampa believes the lives of all nature's
creatures are important and he does not take even the life
of a frog for granted, while the author
of the story intentionally kills a snake.
Compare and contrast the message
about nature and life in the poem and in the story. What
does the boy learn that Grampa already knows?
Explain the author's ideas
about nature in the story, and what he learns from his
terrifying encounter with the snake. Then explain Grampa's
ideas about nature in the poem, from his treatment of
the frogs. Use evidence from the text.
Ready for writing a full four point answer? Go for it!
Choose ONE of the following three options for
writing your response.
1.
If
Microsoft Word is available on your computer, this
document allows you to type your answer, use spell
check, save, copy/paste text, and/or print the page
to turn in. << Click here to open a
word form for your response.
2.
This
file can be printed, and allows you to use your best
penmanship (yes, real writing instead of typing),
and turn it in to your teacher. << Click here to open a
.pdf file for your response.
3.
If you are a student taking this class
through IA, you will need to use this document for
your response. Follow directions on your checklist
to copy/paste into an e-mail. << Click here for the text.
You've had experience at score an extended response now. Take
over! Score your own writing using this criteria:
4 - Extensive (top notch, bullseye!)
3 - Basic (good, middle of target)
thoroughly (completely) compares/contrasts ideas
of author of story, and Grampa in poem about nature and
life
interpretation of comparison/contrast ideas about nature
and life shows insight
ample (more than enough) relevant (makes sense)
examples from the passage to support ideas
compares/contrasts ideas of author of story, and Grampa
in poem about nature and life
interpretations of comparison/contrast ideas about nature
and life are thoughtful
sufficient (enough) examples from the passage
to support ideas
2 - Partial (needs practice, outer edge of
target)
1 - Minimal (try again, off target)
compares / contrasts part of the ideas of author
of story, and Grampa in poem about nature and life
interpretations of comparison / contrast of ideas about
life and nature are simple or right on the surface
tries to use evidence from the passage to support ideas,
but they may not be relevant (may not make sense).
difficulty comparing / contrasting ideas of author of
story, and Grampa in poem about nature and life
may not include interpretation of comparison / contrast
ideas about life and nature or may write, "I don't
know."
little or no evidence from the passage included
If you scored 3 or 4, print the Word
document for your teacher.
If you scored 1 or 2, figure out how to improve your writing,
what needs to be added to increase your score. Sometimes it really
helps to discuss it with a parent, friend or your teacher. Revise
your Word doc, and then when you are satisfied
with it, rescore it and print for your teacher!
What a lot of hard work! Just one more practice and you'll
be a professional comparison expert!
