Man Versus Nature

During quarter 1, we read work that pitted man versus nature time and again. Every poem, short work, and the longer work all dealt with this idea. Why? What do the authors we read want to teach us about the relationship between man and nature?

Your assignment: After participating in the writing process (brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, editing, publication, and submission), you will submit a carefully and formally written 5 paragraphessay on the relationship between man and nature.

The Prompt: What is man’s relationship to nature? Which pieces from quarter 1 help demonstrate this?

*Examine three works that help support one central theme that answers the above-written prompt. List of Works: Krakauer’sInto the Wild, Frost’s “Design,” Brontë’s “Shall Earth No More Inspire to Thee,” Dickinson’s “The Wind Begun to the Knead the Grass,” Thoreau’s excerpt from Walden, “Where I Lived […]”

Your completed essay must demonstrate your mastery of the 4 primary standards of this writing unit:

  • determine a theme or central idea 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 (RL2);
  • write and edit work so that it conforms to the guidelines in a style manual (e.g.,MLA Handbook) appropriate for the discipline and writing type (L3a);
  • develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic (W2b);
  • and establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing (W2e).

Deadlines:

--Brainstorm of possible theme, works to support it, and how they are connected due Mon., Nov. 24 (20 points)

**With the exception of the brainstorm, all assignments must be typed. Keep all drafts, outlines, brainstorms, etc.

--Thesis Statement and Outline of body paragraphs (see “How to Write an Essay” packet for format of the outline and further assistance in writing brainstorms, thesis statements, intros, etc.) due Monday, Dec. 1 (20 points)

--Draft 1 of Essay (all 5 paragraphs)due Friday, Dec. 5 (20 points)

--Draft 2 of Essay due Tuesday, Dec. 9 (20 points)

--Final Draft of Essay due Thursday, Dec. 11 (200 points)

Man versus Nature Rubric

Mastery / Emerging Mastery / Below Mastery / Insufficient Response
Determine a theme or central idea 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 (RL2) / 30-27
Determines a theme that is supported in detail by three texts, including how it emerges and is shaped by specific details from those texts. / 26-24
Determines a theme that is supported with some detail by three texts, including how it emerges and is shaped by details from those texts. / 23-21
Determines a theme that is somewhat connected to three texts, yet how it emerges and is shaped by those texts is vague. / 20-0
Does not sufficiently support a theme that is supported in detail by three texts, including how it emerges and is shaped by specific details from those texts.
Write and edit work so that it conforms to the guidelines in a style manual (e.g.,MLA Handbook) appropriate for the discipline and writing type (L3a) / 20-18
Write and edits work so that it conforms to MLA style guide for embedding quotes, citation, heading, page numbers, and margins. / 17-16
Write and edits work so that it conforms to MLA style guide for embedding quotes, citation, heading, page numbers, and margins with limited or minor errors in punctuation. / 15-14
Write and edits work so that it conforms to MLA style guide for embedding quotes, citation, heading, page numbers, and margins with errors in format or style of writing. / 13-0
Editing of work does not conform or seldom conforms to MLA style guide for embedding quotes, citation, heading, page numbers, and margins with errors in format or style of writing.
Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic (W2b) / 30-27
Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient quotes, concrete details, specific language, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic. / 26-24
Develop the topic with sufficient quotes, concrete details, specific language, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic. / 23-21
Develop the topic with too many quotes, details, specific language, or other information and examples. The audience may feel overwhelmed with the lack of focus with that topic. / 20-0
Reflects a limited knowledge of the topic because of a lack of support, language, or other information and examples. The audience is underwhelmed or unclear about the connections made.
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing (W2e). / 20-18
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. / 17-16
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing with few errors. / 15-14
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing with some errors. / 13-0
Does not establish or maintain a formal style or objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline consistently.