Writing assessment… Grab a copy of the paragraph examples from the side shelf. These are paragraph written about the story “The Cask of Amontillado” written by 9 th graders. The story is about a murder which is accomplished by burying a man alive in a brick wall. The assignment was to identify the moment at which Fortunato knew what was happening. Read the examples and decide which is the strongest/best persuasive paragraph of the 4. Tell why it is in the margins of it.

Example 1 Fortunato realizes that he is going to die when Montresor was on his last brick to finishing the wall in the crypt. Fortunato thought it was a joke but then he realized Montresor wasn’t joking around. “But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo—the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone.” When Fortunato said that, “he was laughing,” and thinking he was going to go back and see the Lady Fortunato. Then when he said, “For the love of God,” he knew what was going on.

Example 2 Fortunato doesn’t realize that Montresor is going to kill him until it is too late. When he is bricking up the entrance to the niche. Fortunato says “For the love of God, Montresor!” (292) Only the paragraph before, he had been thinking that this was all some kind of joke after this he falls silent. Because he never answers Montresor, it seems as though he is defeated and done for but he has no chance to escape at this point.

Example 3 Fortunato does not understand what is happening to him until it is too late. After being chained down and locked behind brick walls he then sees what is going on. On page 292: “for the love of God, Montresor!” This clearly states his thoughts have changed. He figures out what is happening and changes his mood after he is locked up. He is still drunk during most of the time they are down there but you can clearly tell when he starts to sober up.

Example 4 When fortunate realizes his fate, he had discovered that his being chained was no joke. It was right after he has said, “A very good joke indeed—an excellent jest.” He then yelled, “for the love of God, Montresor!” He then went silent, realizing his fate. He had been hoping it was a joke, but after he realizes it’s not, he then knows his fate.