Have you ever identified with something in nature - like
a sunflower, a bee, a tiger, a cloud, the ocean, a tornado,
a hummingbird, an alligator, the desert, a babbling brook,
or a roaring lion? The author of this poem identifies herself
with trees. You'll soon see how and why. Soak up "Four
Skinny Trees," by Sandra Cisneros.
Although the writing looks like a story (narrative form),
it is considered a poem, and is full of figurative language.
Enjoy the personification and similes as you enjoy the strength
she gets from the skinny necked and pointy elbowed trees.
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 look for quotes to support
ideas:
Reasons (ways) trees strenthen the speaker
Comparisons speaker makes to the trees
Do the comparisons work? Do they make sense? Do they help
you understand how the trees help the speaker keep keeping?
Does the phrase "keep keeping" make sense to you
from the way it is used in the poem?
Extended
Response Prompt:
Write a paragraph to evaluate the reasons the speaker
uses the four skinny trees as a source of strength to keep
her keeping. How does the comparison of herself to the trees
get her point across? Use evidence from the poem in your
response.
Ready for writing a full four point answer? Go for it!
<<
After your review, click here to open a word form for your response. << Click here to open a .pdf file for your response.
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) evaluates the reasons
in the poem showing how the speaker gets strength from
the trees
interpretation shows insight because it relates
the reasons to her point
ample (more than enough) relevant (makes sense)
examples from the poem to support ideas
evaluates the reasons
in the poem showing how the speaker gets strength from
the trees
interpretations are thoughtful because it relates
the reasons to her point
sufficient (enough) examples from the poem to
support ideas
2 - Partial (needs practice, outer edge of
target)
1 - Minimal (try again, off target)
partial evaluation of the speaker's reasons for
gathering strength from the trees
interpretations are simple or right on the surface
tries to use evidence from the poem to support ideas,
but they may not be relevant (may not make sense).
difficulty evaluating reasons the speaker gathers strength
from the trees
may not include interpretation or may write "I don't
know."
little or no evidence from the poem included
I understand the scoring targets and I evaluated my writing
this way.
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! Let's finish up with the Self-Check.
