Benchmark Assessment Review Throwback to Analysis and Writing

Why do we read? 1. To learn about… 1. The world 2. Facts 3. Ideas 4. Etc. 2. For enjoyment 3. To understand different perspectives 4. Why else?

What is Authorial Intention?  The author’s intention (or purpose) behind writing the piece that you are reading. (or viewing the image or artwork created, etc.)  Why is it important to understand the author’s intention?  ANSWER IN YOUR JOURNAL.  Group discussion  Can a reader’s interpretation be different than what the author intended?

To extract an author’s intention we must….  ANALYZE text! Author’s use all of the things listed below to help develop their intention in their writing!  How do we analyze text?  Plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution)  Story elements (characters, setting, conflict, foreshadowing, etc.)  Literary techniques (Think DIDLS)  Diction (word choice that reveals TONE—or the author’s attitude about something)  Imagery (alliteration, metaphors, similes, etc.)  Details (facts included or omitted)  Language (overall writing style)  Syntax (ellipses, punctuation, paragraphs, stanzas, hyphens, etc.)

What is a prompt?  A prompt is a question that you need to answer. When you create your written answer, you develop a claim that you are trying to prove.  For example:  Prompt: What is the meaning of life?  Claim: The meaning of life is to fulfill your destiny.

A claim paragraph (2 chunk)  Sentence 1:Topic Sentence or CLAIM  Sentence 2: Provide background context  Transition and Concrete Detail (EVIDENCE)  Sentence 3: Transition and COMMENTARY (connects evidence back to claim)  Sentence 4:Transition and COMMENTARY (connects evidence back to claim)  Sentence 5:Transition and Concrete Detail 2 (EVIDENCE)  Sentence 6:Transition and COMMENTARY (connects evidence back to claim)  Sentence 7:Transition and COMMENTARY (connects evidence back to claim)  Sentence 8:Conclusion Sentence

Sentence frame for creating claims:  Use the following sentence frame to create your claim for authorial intention:  Overall, the authorial intention of ___________ (author’s name) in the ______(form) is to (circle one) capture/highlight/increase awareness (circle one) for/that/of/which what is wrong with (circle one) society/government/human nature/etc. This is accomplished through/by/the ___________ (example of literary technique).

Example claim paragraph  Prompt: What was Kate Chopin’s authorial intention in “Story of an Hour”?

Upon analyzing the story, we came to the conclusion that….  This is our CLAIM. We will write a paragraph to support this:  Overall, the authorial intention of Kate Chopin in the short story, “Story of an Hour” is to increase awareness for the danger with forced gender roles and expectation in society. This is accomplished through the characterization of Mrs. Mallard.

Background Context and Concrete Detail  Chopin uses the development of her protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, to demonstrate the inner turmoil that many women during her time faced: living in a role that was defined by society’s expectations. Mrs. Mallard’s undergoes an intensive mental battle as she at first is in denial over her true feelings about the death of her husband until she finally “abandoned herself” with the words “free, free, free” escaping her lips (citation).

Commentary  This repetition of little words reveals the dynamic shift that is happening for Mrs. Mallard. At first, she struggled to accept, let alone recognize, that she was truly happy that she was no longer tied down by her marriage. Her life would no longer be controlled by her husband. She was now free from the bondage of a union: free to have her own identity.

Concrete Detail 2  Now that Mrs. Mallard’s husband was dead, she was able to live a life for herself. She would no longer be forced to obey a “powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (Citation).

Commentary  Mrs. Mallard was finally able to not only acknowledge, but also accept her resistance to the forced gender roles of her time. She would no longer be required to live in submission, but rather to live in independence. Unfortunately, this freedom was only short-lived as the shocking news that her husband was really alive ended up sending her to her own grave.

Resolution  This ending represents the ultimate irony of the danger of gender roles in a society. Chopin uses the dynamic shifts of Mrs. Mallard’s inner development to raise awareness for the struggles and dangers of suppressing a woman’s freedom. In the end, the survival of Mr. Mallard was symbolic of the omnipotent position of the male role in marriages during that time, a role that was detrimental to many wives.

Full claim paragraph  Overall, the authorial intention of Kate Chopin in the short story, “Story of an Hour” is to increase awareness for the danger with forced gender roles and expectation in society. This is accomplished through the characterization of Mrs. Mallard. Chopin uses the development of her protagonist, Mrs. Mallard, to demonstrate the inner turmoil that many women during her time faced: living in a role that was defined by society’s expectations. Mrs. Mallard’s undergoes an intensive mental battle as she at first is in denial over her true feelings about the death of her husband until she finally “abandoned herself” with the words “free, free, free” escaping her lips (citation). This repetition of little words reveals the dynamic shift that is happening for Mrs. Mallard. At first, she struggled to accept, let alone recognize, that she was truly happy that she was no longer tied down by her marriage. Her life would no longer be controlled by her husband. She was now free from the bondage of a union: free to have her own identity. Now that Mrs. Mallard’s husband was dead, she was able to live a life for herself. She would no longer be forced to obey a “powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (Citation). Mrs. Mallard was finally able to not only acknowledge, but also accept her resistance to the forced gender roles of her time. She would no longer be required to live in submission, but rather to live in independence. Unfortunately, this freedom was only short-lived as the shocking news that her husband was really alive ended up sending her to her own grave. This ending represents the ultimate irony of the danger of gender roles in a society. Chopin uses the dynamic shifts of Mrs. Mallard’s inner development to raise awareness for the struggles and dangers of suppressing a woman’s freedom. In the end, the survival of Mr. Mallard was symbolic of the omnipotent position of the male role in marriages during that time, a role that was detrimental to many wives.