ELA/Literacy Released Item 2017 Grade 09 Literary Analysis

ELA/Literacy Released Item 2017

Grade 09 Literary Analysis Task

Developing a Common Theme VH037763_2T

English Language Arts/Literacy

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Today you will analyze the passage from The Song of the Lark and

the passage from My Home Is Far Away. As you read these texts,

you will gather information and answer questions about complex

characterization so you can write an essay.

Read the passage from The Song of the Lark. Then answer the questions.

from The Song of the Lark

by Willa Cather

1 Mr. Kronborg considered Thea a remarkable child; but so were all his

children remarkable. If one of the business men downtown remarked to

him that he “had a mighty bright little girl, there,” he admitted it, and at

once began to explain what a “long head for business” his son Gus had,

or that Charley was “a natural electrician,” and had put in a telephone

from the house to the preacher’s study behind the church.

2 Mrs. Kronborg watched her daughter thoughtfully. She found her more

interesting than her other children, and she took her more seriously,

without thinking much about why she did so. The other children had to be

guided, directed, kept from conflicting with one another. Charley and Gus

were likely to want the same thing, and to quarrel about it. Anna often

demanded unreasonable service from her older brothers; that they should

sit up until after midnight to bring her home from parties when she did

not like the youth who had offered himself as her escort; or that they

should drive twelve miles into the country, on a winter night, to take her

to a ranch dance, after they had been working hard all day. Gunner often

got bored with his own clothes or stilts or sled, and wanted Axel’s. But

Thea, from the time she was a little thing, had her own routine. She kept

out of everyone’s way, and was hard to manage only when the other

children interfered with her. Then there was trouble indeed: bursts of

temper which used to alarm Mrs. Kronborg. “You ought to know enough

to let Thea alone. She lets you alone,” she often said to the other

children.


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3 One may have staunch friends in one’s own family, but one seldom has

admirers. Thea, however, had one in the person of her addle-pated aunt,

Tillie Kronborg. In older countries, where dress and opinions and manners

are not so thoroughly standardized as in our own West, there is a belief

that people who are foolish about the more obvious things of life are apt

to have peculiar insight into what lies beyond the obvious. The old woman

who can never learn not to put the kerosene can on the stove may yet be

able to tell fortunes, to persuade a backward child to grow, to cure warts,

or to tell people what to do with a young girl who has gone melancholy.

Tillie’s mind was a curious machine; when she was awake it went round

like a wheel when the belt has slipped off, and when she was asleep she

dreamed follies. But she had intuitions. She knew, for instance, that Thea

was different from the other Kronborgs, worthy though they all were. Her

romantic imagination found possibilities in her niece. When she was

sweeping or ironing, or turning the ice-cream freezer at a furious rate,

she often built up brilliant futures for Thea, adapting freely the latest

novel she had read. Tillie made enemies for her niece among the church

people because, at sewing societies and church suppers, she sometimes

spoke vauntingly, with a toss of her head, just as if Thea’s

“wonderfulness” were an accepted fact in Moonstone, like Mrs. Archie’s

stinginess, or Mrs. Livery Johnson’s duplicity. People declared that, on

this subject, Tillie made them tired.

4 Tillie belonged to a dramatic club that once a year performed in the

Moonstone Opera House such plays as “Among the Breakers,” and “The

Veteran of 1812.” Tillie played character parts, the flirtatious old maid or

the spiteful intrigante. She used to study her parts up in the attic at

home. While she was committing the lines, she got Gunner or Anna to

hold the book for her, but when she began “to bring out the expression,”

as she said, she used, very timorously, to ask Thea to hold the book.

Thea was usually—not always—agreeable about it. Her mother had told

her that, since she had some influence with Tillie, it would be a good

thing for them all if she could tone her down a shade and “keep her from

taking on any worse than need be.” Thea would sit on the foot of Tillie’s

bed, her feet tucked under her, and stare at the silly text. “I wouldn’t

make so much fuss, there, Tillie,” she would remark occasionally; “I don’t


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see the point in it”; or, “What do you pitch your voice so high for? It don’t

carry half as well.”

5 “I don’t see how it comes Thea is so patient with Tillie,” Mrs. Kronborg

more than once remarked to her husband. “She ain’t patient with most

people, but it seems like she’s got a peculiar patience for Tillie.”

6 Tillie always coaxed Thea to go “behind the scenes” with her when the

club presented a play, and help her with her make-up. Thea hated it, but

she always went. She felt as if she had to do it. There was something in

Tillie’s adoration of her that compelled her. There was no family

impropriety that Thea was so much ashamed of as Tillie’s “acting,” and

yet she was always being dragged in to assist her. Tillie simply had her,

there. She didn’t know why, but it was so. There was a string in her

somewhere that Tillie could pull; a sense of obligation to Tillie’s misguided

aspirations. The saloon-keepers had some such feeling of responsibility

toward Spanish Johnny.

7 The dramatic club was the pride of Tillie’s heart, and her enthusiasm was

the principal factor in keeping it together. Sick or well, Tillie always

attended rehearsals, and was always urging the young people, who took

rehearsals lightly, to “stop fooling and begin now.” The young men—bank

clerks, grocery clerks, insurance agents—played tricks, laughed at Tillie,

and “put it up on each other” about seeing her home; but they often went

to tiresome rehearsals just to oblige her. They were good-natured young

fellows. Their trainer and stage-manager was young Upping, the jeweller

who ordered Thea’s music for her. Though barely thirty, he had followed

half a dozen professions, and had once been a violinist in the orchestra of

the Andrews Opera Company, then well known in little towns throughout

Colorado and Nebraska.

8 By one amazing indiscretion Tillie very nearly lost her hold upon the

Moonstone Drama Club. The club had decided to put on “The Drummer

Boy of Shiloh,” a very ambitious undertaking because of the many supers

needed and the scenic difficulties of the act which took place in

Andersonville Prison. The members of the club consulted together in

Tillie’s absence as to who should play the part of the drummer boy. It


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must be taken by a very young person, and village boys of that age are

self-conscious and are not apt at memorizing. The part was a long one,

and clearly it must be given to a girl. Some members of the club

suggested Thea Kronborg, others advocated Lily Fisher. Lily’s partisans

urged that she was much prettier than Thea, and had a much “sweeter

disposition.” Nobody denied these facts. But there was nothing in the

least boyish about Lily, and she sang all songs and played all parts alike.

Lily’s simper was popular, but it seemed not quite the right thing for the

heroic drummer boy.

9 Upping, the trainer, talked to one and another: “Lily’s all right for girl

parts,” he insisted, “but you’ve got to get a girl with some ginger in her

for this. Thea’s got the voice, too. When she sings, ‘Just Before the

Battle, Mother,’ she’ll bring down the house.”

10 When all the members of the club had been privately consulted, they

announced their decision to Tillie at the first regular meeting that was

called to cast the parts. They expected Tillie to be overcome with joy,

but, on the contrary, she seemed embarrassed. “I’m afraid Thea hasn’t

got time for that,” she said jerkily. “She is always so busy with her music.

Guess you’ll have to get somebody else.”

11 The club lifted its eyebrows. Several of Lily Fisher’s friends coughed.

Mr. Upping flushed. The stout woman who always played the injured wife

called Tillie’s attention to the fact that this would be a fine opportunity for

her niece to show what she could do. Her tone was condescending.

12 Tillie threw up her head and laughed; there was something sharp and

wild about Tillie’s laugh—when it was not a giggle. “Oh, I guess Thea

hasn’t got time to do any showing off. Her time to show off ain’t come

yet. I expect she’ll make us all sit up when it does. No use asking her to

take the part. She’d turn her nose up at it. I guess they’d be glad to get

her in the Denver Dramatics, if they could.”

13 The company broke up into groups and expressed their amazement. Of

course all Swedes were conceited, but they would never have believed

that all the conceit of all the Swedes put together would reach such a


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pitch as this. They confided to each other that Tillie was “just a little off,

on the subject of her niece,” and agreed that it would be as well not to

excite her further. Tillie got a cold reception at rehearsals for a long while

afterward, and Thea had a new crop of enemies without even knowing it.

From THE SONG OF THE LARK by Willa Cather—Public Domain


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Read the passage from My Home Is Far Away. Then answer the questions.

from My Home Is Far Away

by Dawn Powell

1 Marcia was five years old now, fifteen months younger than Lena, but she

was half an inch taller because she took after the Willards instead of the

Reeds. It was an understood thing that Lena was the pretty one, with her

yellow curls and rosy cheeks, but Marcia was proud of having bigger feet

so she got new shoes first, and the fact that she could hold her breath

longer. She did admire Lena’s social poise, her not being afraid of boys

but stalking past them, nose calmly in air, and she desperately envied

Lena’s birthmark, a strawberry basket on her neck, caused, it was said,

by her mother’s passion for strawberries. Lena, for her part, was envious

of grown-up solicitude over Marcia’s health, remarks that she looked

“peaked” and sickly. Marcia had a memory, too, though this was a matter

of wonder and pride to Lena more than envy. Marcia could remember

everything that ever happened, almost from her first tooth. She could

remember knowing what people were saying before she could talk and

she could remember bitterly the humiliation of being helpless. She

remembered being carried in her mother’s arms to a family reunion and

given ice cream for the first time. She had cried over its being too cold

and her mother said, “Here, Baby, I’ll put it on a stove to warm it.” Any

fool of even less than two could see it was a table and not a stove, but for

some philosophic reason Baby Marcia decided to let the thing pass

without protest. If her mother wanted to think a table was a stove, she

would just have to wait for a bigger vocabulary to argue the matter. This

was the beginning of a series of disillusioning experiences with adult

intelligence, and the recurrent question of whether adults were playing a

constant game of insulting trickery, or whether they just didn’t know

much. Lena was gravely shocked by Marcia’s spoken doubts, so Marcia

kept her thoughts to herself.

2 Lena went to Primary School in London Junction now and no longer

considered Marcia a fit companion in public, but walked home with a


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girlfriend her own age named Mary Evelyn Stewart. The double name was

very fascinating so Marcia changed her own name to Marcia Lily and Lena

took the name of Lena Gladys. They tried to make Florrie use her full

elegant name of Florence Adeline, but with her customary obstinacy she

yelled defiantly, “Me Florrie! Me Florrie!”

3 “All right, then, be Florrie,” Lena Gladys said contemptuously. “But Mary

Evelyn and I won’t ride you around any more in your go-cart after

school.”

4 Lena and Mary Evelyn had a glamorous life in Primary that set them far

above Marcia. They had to learn pieces to speak on Exercise Day once a

month. Since Mary Evelyn’s mother worked in the Fair Store, both

children learned in the Willard sitting room, while Marcia, burning with

jealousy, played by herself in a corner, cutting out lady paper dolls all

with two names. Marcia couldn’t go to school till next term, although she

had read and written almost as soon as she walked and talked. This, like

her memory, was a dubious talent, for it was not healthy to be different

from other children. It wasn’t healthy to learn Lena’s and Mary Evelyn’s

pieces the second time she heard them laboriously spelled out, and it was

certainly not tactful. Her mother, with a little schoolgirl on each knee,

looked down at Marcia helplessly.

5 “Marcia, you’re supposed to be playing paper dolls!” she protested. “If the

girls haven’t begun to know their pieces by this time, there’s no reason

why you should.”

6 “She isn’t even six,” Lena Gladys said coldly to her personal friend, Mary

Evelyn. “Now, I’ll begin mine again. ‘The gingerbread dog and the calico

cat-’”

7 “‘Side by side on the table sat,’” Marcia shrieked, and ran out into the

yard yelling the rest of the piece until her mother caught her and boxed

her ears.

8 This correction, not being understood, was forgotten on Exercise Day the

next month, when Lena (and of course Marcia) had learned “Little Orphan

Annie” with gestures. Mama left Florrie at Grandma’s and took Marcia to


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visit the First Grade. It was an exciting day with the rustle of mothers’

best silks, the smell of chalk dust and newly scrubbed halls, and the

squirming of the children sitting two at a desk to make room for the

Second Graders. Marcia and her mother sat with the visiting mothers and

smaller children in folding chairs on one side of the room. The teacher

had drawn a flag in colors on the blackboard, and there were pussy

willows and autumn leaves on her desk. She tapped a little silver gong on

her desk when everyone was seated, and she said, “Before we begin the

Exercises, perhaps some of our little visitors have a piece they would like

to recite for us.” Without further urging, Marcia slid off her mother’s lap

and marched over to the platform, where she recited at terrific speed with

glib gestures “Little Orphan Annie.” The performance was marked by her

mother’s horrified face and the sound of Lena sobbing softly into her

Reader, “That’s my piece! Now I haven’t got any piece!”

9 Even after a punishment for this breach of etiquette and her stout

defense, “But Lena didn’t know it anyway!” Marcia continued to steal

Lena’s arithmetic or reader and run easily through the homework while

Lena was patiently working over one word in her Speller. Marcia could not

understand why it took her sister or Mary Evelyn so long to learn things

when they were like candy—you saw them, ate them, and that was the

end. Nor could she understand why it was bad for her to find the books so

simple, just because she wasn’t in school yet. It was confusing to be

scolded for doing Lena’s lessons, and then overhear her father chuckling

about it to Mr. Friend. These were all matters that would clear up

certainly when she started going to school so there was no use puzzling

about them.

From MY HOME IS FAR AWAY by Dawn Powell. Copyright © 1995 by Dawn Powell.

Reprinted by permission of Steerforth Press LLC.


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7. Write an essay analyzing how the characters of Thea in the passage from

The Song of the Lark and Marcia in the passage from My Home Is Far Away

develop a theme common to both pieces. Use examples from both passages to support your response.

VH037763-2T

Anchor Set

A1 – A10

With Annotations

A1

Score Point 4

In society, children are generally expected to act a certain way, play with certain toys, and learn and grow

at the same rate as all other children. However, many children do not identify with these stereotypes, and

experience difficulty because of it. In both Song of the Lark and My Home is Far Away, the main

characters show in both pieces that being different as a child is challenging.

The general expectation of most of society when it comes to the behavior of children is an image painted

with rough housing, running wild in the backyard, or playing with toys. For example, in My Home is Far

Away, Marcia's mother says to Marcia, "You're supposed to be playing paper dolls!" This shows Marcia's

mother's expectation for how Marcia should be acting. Instead of learning and growing, she wants Marcia

to be like all the other little girls of her age and play with dolls. Also, in Song of the Lark, the narrator

states, "The other children had to be guided, directed, kept from conflicting with one another." This shows

the generally accepted belief that all children will quarrel and fight, and will need discipline and

correction because of it. In both My Home is Far Away and Song of the Lark, certain social expectations

for the behavior of children are expressed, but the main characters in these stories do not adhere to these

stereotypes.

In Song of the Lark, the main character, Thea Kronborg, is exceptional and different from other children.

Thea's mother thought, "she kept out of everyone's way, and was hard to manage only when te other

children interfered with her." This is different from the generalization that all children fight and argue and

all need discipline. Thea is different from all the other children, just like Marcia in My Home is Far

Away.

In the excerpt from My Home is Far Away, the main character, Marcia, differs from the generally

accepted beliefs of how children should act. The narrator states, "She had read and written almost as soon

as she walked and talked." This is different from most children, who learn to read and write during their

first years in school. Also, Marcia had an exceptionally good memory, which set her apart from the rest of

the children. She could memorize pieces long before her older sister, even though it was not her

assignment. Both Marcia and Thea differed from the stereotypes of how children should act, and they

faced difficulty because of it.

A common theme in both My Home is Far Away and Song of the Lark is that being different as a child is

difficult. This is expressed by Marcia when the narrator says, "This, like her memory, was a dubious

talent, for it was not healthy to be differen from other children." Marcia was an exceptionally bright child,

but her intelligence was seen as bad and unhealthy. This confused her, as the narrator states, "Nor could

she understand why it was bad for her to find the books so simple, just because she wasn't in school yet."

Marcia was different from the other children, and faced punishment and confusion because of it. Thea

was also different from the stereotypical child, and she too experienced hardship because of her

uniquities. In The Song of the Lark, Thea makes many unknown enemies because of her difference from

other children. Her Aunt Tillie, "made enemies for her niece...as if Thea's "wonderfulness" were an

accepted fact..." Thea's Aunt Tillie boasts about Thea's being different from other children, but the rest of

the townspeople find these uniquities unnatural and unsettling; Thea does not adhere to their opinion of

how a child should act. Therefore, in both Song of the Lark and My Home is Far Away, the main

characters face social difficulty because they are different from other children.

Every society has a stereotype for how children should act. In My Home is Far Away and Song of the

Lark, neither Thea nor Marcia adhere to these stereotypes. Because of their differences, they face

hardship with thier friends, families, and communities.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 1

Reading Comprehension and Written Expression

Score Point 4

The response demonstrates full comprehension of ideas by providing an accurate analysis how the characters of Thea and Marcia develop the

common theme that “being different as a child is challenging” (. . . Marcia’s

mother says to Marcia, “You’re supposed to be playing paper dolls!” This shows Marcia’s mother’s expectation for how Marcia should be acting.

Instead of learning and growing, she wants Marcia to be like all the other little girls of her age and play with dolls. . . . “The other children had to be

guided, directed, kept from conflicting with one another.” This shows the generally accepted belief that all children will quarrel and fight, and will need

discipline and correction because of it. In both My Home is Far Away and Song of the Lark, certain social expectations for the behavior of children are

expressed, but the main characters in these stories do not adhere to these stereotypes). The response provides effective and comprehensive

development of claims that are consistently appropriate to the task. The response is effectively organized with clear and coherent writing which

includes the logical arrangement of ideas so that development of one idea provides a foundation for the next, building towards the ultimate fulfillment

of the central claim set forth in the effective introduction that “being different

as a child is challenging.” The response first develops the idea that each passage establishes societal expectations for children; this development is

then followed by evidence to show that both Marcia and Thea operate outside of those expectations; this is followed by evidence of how this has made their

lives difficult. The concluding statement follows from and reemphasizes the main points of the essay (Every society has a stereotype for how children

should act. In My Home is Far Away and Song of the Lark, neither Thea nor Marcia adhere to these stereotypes. Because of their differences, they face

hardship with thier friends. families. and communities). Strong vocabulary (stereotypes, adhere, exceptional, boasts, hardship) and varied sentence

structures contribute to an effective style that is appropriate to the discipline.

A2

Score Point 4

In the novels My Home Is Faraway and The Song of the Lark we are introduced to two

eccentric female characters, who seems to be different from "normal" girls. These differences

seem to affect not only themselves but also the people around them. This duo of dynamic

characters develop a common theme, that can show how society accepts or rejects these

differences.

In My Home is Faraway by Dawn Powell, the character Marcia is described as a young

intellectual girl who seems to have a different view of the world, then most six year olds. Marcia

is shown to be "unusual" or "different" which brings about challenges throughout her life. In

Paragraph 1 , the author states " ...could remember everything that ever happened." This shows,

that Marcia has this amazing ability of memory, automatically making her differ from the

majority of kids in her age group. Also, in the text Dawn Powell exclaims " Marcia couldn't go

to school until next term, although she had read and written almost as soon as she walked and

talked." This exerp describes how this incredible talent of her's is now affecting her life. She is

an infant, with these amazing abilities but yet she is stuck at home, like a "normal" kid her age

would be. It is similar to the idea of a plant not getting enough nutrients to stay healthy. With

Marcia, she has so much potential , yet her mother is embarrased to really show everyone

Marcia's rare talents. Overall, there is this complex conflict of society not being acceptant of

things that are "different".

In The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather , we are presented with a dynamic, yet mature girl

named Thea. Thea is young, but she is just an incredible and very grown up child. Just like

Marcia, Thea is different then girls her age. In paragraph 2, the author states " She kept out of

everyone's way." For a girl her age, this is rare in a child, and just shows us how Thea had a

calm and reserved personality. In addition to that, in paragraph 2 , Thea was shown to "have her

own routine." Most people who have routines are mature folks who have there life together. It

really shows how developed Thea is mentally compared to others. In contrast to the character

Marcia, in My Home is Far Away , Thea is praised by the people around her. In paragraph 1 the

author includes " Mr. Kronborg considered Thea a remarkable child." This shows acceptance

from the people around her, and they are shown to be proud of the young girl. Overall, unlike

Marcia, Thea is well accepted by society and those around her.

In conclusion, both novels deal with this idea of these girls being different than "normal" girls.

While Marcia was more looked down upon for her incredible talent, Thea was more accepted,

and even praised by society . To finish off, both of their differences seemed to affect not only

them and their perspective on the world but also the people around them.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 2


Score Point 4 The response provides an accurate analysis that the two “eccentric”

characters from the two passages develop a common theme of being different with respect to societal expectations of what is “normal.” The

analysis is effectively extended to show how the characters also develop divergent, but related, themes that society’s acceptance of such differences

has an important effect (While Marcia was more looked down upon for her

incredible talent, Thea was more accepted, and even praised by society. . . both of their differences seemed to affect not only them and their perspective

of the world but also the people around them). The response provides development of its claims that is based on clear reasoning and relevant

textual evidence. The organizational structure includes logically placed ideas to compare the characters’ relative uniqueness (. . . Marcia has this amazing

ability of memory . . . making her differ from the majority of kids in her age group. . . . Thea is different then girls her age. . . .”She kept out of

everyone’s way.” For a girl her age, this is rare in a child) and contrast society’s reactions to these differences (In contrast to . . . Marcia . . . Thea is

praised by the people around her. . . . Overall, unlike Marcia, Thea is well accepted by society and those around her). Precise language contributes to

the effective style (two eccentric female characters, duo of dynamic characters) along with purposeful, descriptive language (It is similar to the

idea of a plant not getting enough nutrients to stay healthy). The use of

transitional words and phrases contribute to clear and coherent writing (This shows, Also, It is similar, Overall, Just like Marcia, In addition to that, It

really shows, In contrast, In conclusion).

A3

Score Point 3

The characters of Thea from the excerpt of Song of the Lark and Marcia from the excerpt of My

Home is Far Away are both very unique characters that develop a common theme in both stories.

The theme exhibited in both stories is one of great importance; being different, although it may be

difficult, has advantages, and that uniqueness is important. Both characters find themselves different

than their peers in their stories. They also show a more mature and understanding view of life.

Thea is "considered a remarkable child" by her father. She is described as more interesting than

other children, and she is said to b more interesting. It shows that she is more mature than her

siblings, and abstains from fighting like a child. Thea also has her own agenda about things. From

the time she was young, she let her siblings alone and carried on her activites independently.

Although her personality is a little distant, she is very popular and has many admirers, including her

Aunt Tillie, who considers her exceptional, but also brags about her a little too much and gains them

both some enemies.

Marcia also shows some of the same uniqueness that Thea does. From the time Marcia was ust a

baby, she had an exceptional understanding of what was going on in addition to what others were

doing. She is not as socially consioius as her older sister, Lena, and longs to be accepted but has not

gotten the hang of the social order. She is an observant young girl, and is not content with just sitting

in the corner playing with dolls. Marcia strives for knowledge, and is very bright and willing to

learn. She even memorized her sister's excercise, much to the dismay of her family. She is also very

gutsy, and had the courage to recite her sister's exercise of "Little Orphan Annie."

It is human nature to want to be accepted by one's peers and fit in with society. The character's of

Thea and Marcia defy that norm and pursue things that really are not of interest to those that they are

with. They are both very unique in their own ways. Both My Home is Far Away and The Song of

the Lark share a common theme expressed by both children; uniqueness is a gift, although it may

sometimes get one into trouble.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 3


Score Point 3

This response demonstrates comprehension of a common theme developed through the characters of Thea and Marcia (. . . being different, although it

may be difficult, has advantages . . . . uniqueness is a gift, although it may

sometimes get one into trouble). The analysis shows how the two characters are different from those around them (Thea is “considered a remarkable

child” by her father. She is described as more interesting than other children . . . . From the time she was young, she let her siblings alone and carried on

her activites independently. . . . [Marcia] is an observant young girl, and is not content with just sitting in the corner playing with dolls) and how their

unique characteristics sometimes make their lives difficult ([Thea’s] Aunt Tillie, who considers her exceptional . . . also brags about her a little too

much and gains them both some enemies. . . . [Marcia] is not as socially consioius as her older sister, Lena, and longs to be accepted but has not

gotten the hang of the social order. . . . She even memorized her sister’s excercise, much to the dismay of her family). While this analysis is not

comprehensive enough to achieve a higher score point, development of the claims is mostly effective and based on clear reasoning and relevant textual

evidence. The response is organized with mostly clear and coherent writing

that is aided by an introduction that establishes the common theme and a strong conclusion that reemphasizes it (The character’s of Thea and Marcia

defy that norm and pursue things that really are not of interest to those that they are with. They are both very unique in their own ways. Both My Home is

Far Away and The Song of the Lark share a common theme expressed by both children; uniqueness is a gift, although it may sometimes get one into

trouble). The style is mostly effective and appropriate, including varied sentence structures, mostly effective transitions, and precise language (She

is an observant young girl, and is not content with just sitting in the corner playing with dolls. It is human nature to want to be accepted by one’s peers

and fit in with society).

A4

Score Point 3

Thea, as well as Lena, are both young children who are jealous of their family memeber's talents.

Lena is furious that the young Marcia is much smarter than she. Thea competes with the young

Tillie, who seems to not show as much interest in the Drama department, but is picked as the

lead role.

Both excerpts show the theme that you should keep furthering yourself and become the best you

can be, not better than someone else. In My Home is Far Away, Marcia is a younger, better

version of her sister Lena. Lena knows she is prettier, but because Marcia is at a level of

intelligence that is much higher than Lena, therefore she is envious. Lena gets very angry about

this advancement in Marcia's intelligence. Because Marcia takes her performance peices and

does Lena's homework easily, Lena is angry. In Song of the Lark, Tillie is the aunt of young

Thea. Thea is not as interested in acting as her aunt seems to be, but Tillie still makes her attend

due to her strong admiration for her. Tillie loves her Drama club very much. When Thea was

suggested to be the lead role in the play, Tillie rudly says she is better than that. Tillie says she

is, "...so busy with her music..." Before Thea could even accept the part, Tillie had given off the

impression that Thea thought she was better than everyone else, giving her several enimies.

The jealously coming from both family memebers shows a reoccuring theme which is family's

jealousy of each other. Being in the same family as someone who has greater talents than you is

heart breaking becuase all you can think is, "Why did I not get that gene," or, "How come she is

so much better than I," and so forth.

Both Characters, Tillie and Lena, are jealous of their younger decendents and cannot accept it.

Tillie savotages Thea's chances of getting a lead role, and Lena angerily puts down her sister.

Both characters share the same disposition regaurding their family memebers, creating a

remarkably similar theme among stories.

The overall theme of both stories is to be the best you can be, despite your family memebers

dominance over your talents. You should not become discouraged or heart broken if someone is

better than you at something such as Marcia being smarter than the older Lena. Song of the Lark

and My Home is Far Away, have a common theme among them that consists of family rivilary.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 4


Score Point 3

The response demonstrates comprehension that character interactions in the two stories, including those involving Thea and Tillie from The Song of the

Lark and Marcia and Lena from My Home is Far Away, develop the common

theme of family rivalry and jealousy (Thea, as well as Lena, are both young children who are jealous of their family memeber’s talents). While the

names of Thea and Tillie are reversed in the first paragraph, the second paragraph clarifies the two roles, so that the analysis is still mostly accurate.

While it is a somewhat unique interpretation of the text, the idea that Tillie is jealous of her niece, Thea, is certainly viable and is supported with textual

evidence (Tillie loves her Drama club very much. When Thea was suggested to be the lead role in the play, Tillie rudly says she is better than that. Tillie

says she is, “…so busy with her music…” Before Thea could even accept the part, Tillie had given off the impression that Thea thought she was better

than everyone else, giving her several enimies), as is the jealousy that Lena feels towards her sister, Marcia (Lena knows she is prettier, but because

Marcia is at a level of intelligence that is much higher than Lena, . . . she is envious. . . . Because Marcia takes her performance peices and does Lena’s

homework easily, Lena is angry). Support is based on both mostly clear

reasoning and relevant textual evidence (Being in the same family as someone who has greater talents than you is heart breaking becuase all you

can think is, “Why did I not get that gene,” or, “How come she is so much better than I,” and so forth. . . . Tillie and Lena, are jealous of their younger

decendents and cannot accept it. Tillie savotages Thea’s chances of getting a lead role, and Lena angerily puts down her sister). The response does not

achieve a higher score point partially due to not fully developing and integrating the claim (Both excerpts show the theme that you should keep

furthering yourself and become the best you can be, not better than someone else) more clearly into the body paragraphs of the response.

Overall, despite this and the confusing mix-up of names in the introductory paragraph, the response is mostly clear with coherent writing and establishes

and maintains a mostly effective style.

A5

Score Point 2

The stories Song of the Lark and My Home is Far Away, both developed the theme of being

different. In the story Song of the Lark, Thea played the role of the differnent child. While in

the book, My Home Is Far Away, Marcia played the role of the diiferent child.

In the story Song of the Lark, Thea was the child that was most sought after. She was the child

that wouldn't get into fights with her silbling, as her older brothers, Charley and Gus would, and

she was also the child that wouldn't demand anything from her older brothers, how her older

sister Anna would. She was also found most interesting by her mother, and was most admired

by her aunt Tillie. But Thea wasn't well liked by everyone, when she got the part of the drummer

boy in the play The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, and her aunt rejected the part for her, the other

members of the theater coughed in amusement. Even though Thea didn't fit in with freinds or

with the rest of her family, she was most liked, as was Marcia.

In the story My Home is Far Away, Marcia was born the yougest and the smartest. She could

remember anything that came her way, from being carried in her mother's arms to losing her first

tooth. Her readiness for everything, helped her in being able to recite peoms and stories in an

instient. But this was not liked by her sister who couldn't do the same. And at the moment

Marcia took Lena piece it was certain that that fact she was different would be a problem for her

in the future. But this differnce didn't stop Marcia. neither did it Thea.

In conclusion, not everybody is the same, and everyone has their differences. Though being

different could have its benefits, it could also have its negatives. Both Thea and Marcia found

the people that didnt appreciate them as much as others did. The lesson they both learned was

not everyone will chose to like you, you just have to learn to accept yourself.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 5


Score Point 2

The response demonstrates basic comprehension of how the characters of Thea and Marcia develop the common theme of “being different.” The

generally accurate analysis shows the two characters’ differences (Thea was

the child that was most sought after. . . . that wouldn’t get into fights with her silbling, as her older brothers, Charley and Gus would, and she was also

the child that wouldn’t demand anything from her older brothers, how her older sister Anna would. . . . [Marcia] could remember anything that came

her way, from being carried in her mother’s arms to losing her first tooth. Her readiness for everything, helped her in being able to recite peoms and

stories in an instient). The analysis of each character’s differences is also somewhat extended to show how the characters’ differences do not always

lead to others liking them, but this part of the analysis is slightly contradictory and includes ideas that are not adequately supported (Even

though Thea didn’t fit in with freinds or with the rest of her family, she was most liked, as was Marcia). The response provides some development of the

claim that is somewhat appropriate to the task. The introduction is basic, and the response at times is unclear (. . . at the moment Marcia took Lena piece

it was certain that that fact she was different would be a problem for her in

the future. But this differnce didn’t stop Marcia. neither did it Thea). The latter idea is undeveloped, as is the idea that Marcia is “most liked.” The

response demonstrates some organization and has a sense of closure (Both Thea and Marcia found the people that didnt appreciate them as much as

others did. The lesson they both learned was not everyone will chose to like you, you just have to learn to accept yourself). Overall, the somewhat

coherent writing has a style that is somewhat effective.

A6

Score Point 2

I think the theme of these stories is jealousy. Jealousy is a bad trait to have especially inside your

own family. I'm going to demonstrate how jelousy occurs in both of these stories. The green

eyed monster affected both of these characters.

First I want to talk about how jealousy is a major theme in My Home is Far Away. In this story

jealousy occurs between Lena and Marcia. You can tell this because of the way that Marcia acts

and feels toward Lena. For example, in paragraph four it states " Since Mary Evelyn's mother

worked in the Fair Store, both children learned in the Willard sitting room, while Marcia,

burning with jealousy, played by herself in a corner." Also Marcia stole Lena's piece from her

and recited it at Exercise Day leaving Lena with no piece to recite. These are two examples that

jealousy has affected these characters tremendously.

Now I am going to talk about how jealousy affects the characters in the Song of the Lark. In this

story jealousy occurs between Tillie and her niece Thea. You can tell this because Tillie is very

hostile towards Thea and she talks about her to all her friends about it. In paragraph ten, it states

" They expected Tillie to be overcome with joy, but, on the contrary, she seemed embarrassed.

I'm afraid Tillie hasn't got time for that, you'll have to find someone else." Also in paragraph

three it states, " Tillie made enemies for her niece among the church people because, at sewing

societies and church suppers, she sometimes spoke vauntingly about Thea." These are two

examples that show Tillie is jealous of Thea.

In conclusion, I hope you realize that jealousy is a major theme in this story. I think that jealousy

is a terrible thing to have or feel towards someone. Jealousy is the thief of joy and happiness. I

hope that you never feel jealousy towards anyone.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 6


Score Point 2

This response demonstrates basic comprehension of the ideas in the two passages by providing a somewhat accurate analysis of a common theme

developed by the characters of Thea and Marcia (jealousy). The analysis is

supported through specifically chosen examples from the texts; from My Home is Far Away (. . . in paragraph four it states “ Since Mary Evelyn’s

mother worked in the Fair Store, both children learned in the Willard sitting room, while Marcia, burning with jealousy, played by herself in a corner.”

Also Marcia stole Lena’s piece from her and recited it at Exercise Day leaving Lena with no piece to recite) and with only somewhat accurate evidence from

The Song of the Lark (...Tillie is very hostile towards Thea and she talks about her to all her friends about it. In paragraph ten, it states “ They

expected Tillie to be overcome with joy, but, on the contrary, she seemed embarrassed. . . .” Also in paragraph three it states, “ Tillie made enemies

for her niece among the church people because, at sewing societies and church suppers, she sometimes spoke vauntingly about Thea.” These are two

examples that show Tillie is jealous of Thea). The response provides some development of an appropriate claim, using basic reasoning, some of which is

flawed (“. . . she sometimes spoke vauntingly about Thea. . . . [which]

show[s] Tillie is jealous of Thea), and some textual evidence from each passage. Language is sometimes precise and chosen for effect (The green

eyed monster affected both of these characters. . . . Jealousy is the thief of joy and happiness), but is more often functional (I think the theme of these

stories is jealousy. . . . I’m going to demonstrate how jelousy occurs in both of these stories. . . . First I want to talk about how jealousy is a major theme

in My Home is Far Away. . . . Now I am going to talk about how jealousy affects the characters in the Song of the Lark. . . . These are two examples

that show Tillie is jealous of Thea. . . . In conclusion, I hope you realize that jealousy is a major theme in this story), with a somewhat inappropriate

personal reflection (I think that jealousy is a terrible thing to have or feel towards someone. . . . I hope that you never feel jealousy towards anyone).

Overall, the writer’s style is somewhat effective and attends to some of the norms and conventions of the discipline.

A7

Score Point 1

The texts Song of the Lark and My Home Is Far Away both have characters that represent a

common theme. This theme is the idea of being different and unique compared to the common

crowd surrounded by them. An example of this is in My Home is Far Away. When it states

"Marcia could remember everything that ever happened", which shows she is unlike her peers,

due to her steller memory. Another example in Song of the Lark, is when it explains how Thea

enjoys being alone. Mrs. Kronborg says "You ought to know enough to let Thea alone. She lets

you alone,". This simply states that Thea would go out of her way to seperate herself from

everyone around her. That is how both characters from My Home Is Far Away and Song of the

Lark both have characters that represent utter and true uniqueness.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 7


Score Point 1

This response demonstrates limited comprehension of ideas through a cursory explanation that the characters of Thea and Marcia develop a

common theme (the idea of being different and unique compared to the

common crowd). The minimally accurate analysis is supported with limited textual evidence that is very literal in its interpretation from each of the

passages (. . . in My Home is Far Away. . . . it states “Marcia could remember everything that ever happened”, which shows she is unlike her peers, due to

her steller memory. . . . in Song of the Lark . . . it explains how Thea enjoys being alone. Mrs. Kronborg says “You ought to know enough to let Thea

alone. She lets you alone,”. This simply states that Thea would go out of her way to seperate herself from everyone around her). The response

demonstrates limited organization; though it does include a skeletal organizational structure, including an introduction (The texts Song of the

Lark and My Home Is Far Away both have characters that represent a common theme), linking words and phrases (An example of this, Another

example), and a simple conclusion (That is how both characters from My Home Is Far Away and Song of the Lark both have characters that represent

utter and true uniqueness). Overall, the response has a minimally effective

style and is limited in its appropriateness to the task.

A8

Score Point 1

The theme revealed in both story excerpts is concietedness often hurts many people's feelings.

In The Song of the Lark, Tillie is very proud of Thea and she often talks very highly of her.

When Tillie rejects the offer for Thea to play the drummer boy, laughing and saying that there's

"No use asking her to take the part. She'd turn her nose up at it," she upsets the club members

who offered Thea the part. In My Home is Far Away, Marcia was very concieted about her

ability to learn so fast. When Marcia steals Lena's piece, it upset Lena and her mother.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 8


Score Point 1

This response demonstrates limited comprehension of the ideas in the two passages by providing a minimally accurate analysis of a common theme

(concietedness often hurts many people’s feelings) and supporting the

analysis with limited textual evidence (In The Song of the Lark, Tillie is very proud of Thea and she often talks very highly of her. When Tillie rejects the

offer for Thea to play the drummer boy, laughing and saying that there’s “No use asking her to take the part. She’d turn her nose up at it,” she upsets the

club members who offered Thea the part. In My Home is Far Away, Marcia was very concieted about her ability to learn so fast. When Marcia steals

Lena’s piece, it upset Lena and her mother). The evidence presented supports that Tillie was perhaps conceited regarding Thea’s abilities, but not

that Thea was conceited about her own abilities (When Tillie rejects the offer for Thea to play the drummer boy, laughing and saying that there’s “No use

asking her to take the part. She’d turn her nose up at it,” she upsets the club members who offered Thea the part). Furthermore, additional limited

reasoning and text-based evidence was presented to support that Marcia was conceited about her abilities (. . . Marcia was . . . concieted about her ability

to learn so fast. When Marcia steals Lena’s piece, it upset Lena and her

mother). As a whole, the response is limited in its appropriateness to the task and has a style that is minimally effective.

A9

Score Point 0

Thea and Marcia are both young girls. Thea, even though she is young she didn't have to be

guided. The story says "she kept out of everone's way and was hard to manage only when the

other children interfered with her." Marcia kept her thoughts to herself. Marcia could remember

everything that happened. The story says that Marcia admired her sisters social poise.

Annotation

Anchor Paper 9


Score Point 0

This response provides no analysis of a common theme developed by the characters of Thea and Marcia. While the response does include details from

the two texts, they have no apparent relevance to any analysis, and

therefore the response demonstrates no comprehension. The response is inappropriate to the task and lacks overall development. Furthermore, the

response lacks organization and coherence (Thea and Marcia are both young girls. . . . Marcia kept her thoughts to herself. Marcia could remember

everything that happened. The story says that Marcia admired her sisters social poise). The response has an inappropriate style.

A10

Score Point 0

they are both students in the both of the sroy in the second story ''my home is far away'' one of

the girls are jelouse because one of thr sisters get more attenchen than the other and in the other

story'' the song of the lark'' a young girl is to determone if she wants to go to curch clubs or stay

were she is now

Annotation

Anchor Paper 10


Score Point 0 This response includes no analysis of how the two characters develop a

common theme, instead providing only a vague textual reference to one passage (. . . in the second story “my home is far away” one of the girls are

jelouse because one of thr sisters get more attenchen than the other) and an

inaccurate statement about the other (. . . in the other story” the song of the lark” a young girl is to determone if she wants to go to curch clubs or stay

were she is now). Therefore, the response demonstrates no comprehension of the ideas in the passages. The response is undeveloped and inappropriate

to the task. It lacks any evidence of organization and coherence and has an inappropriate style.

Practice Set

P101 - P105

No Annotations Included

P101

P102

P103a

P103b

P104

P105

Practice Set

(Order of Scores: Reading Comprehension and Written Expression, Conventions)

Paper Score

P101 1,1

P102 2,2

P103 4,3

P104 3,3

P105 0,0

Documents

ELA/Literacy Released Item 2017 Grade 09 Literary Analysis