English 12 Introduction Assignment This assignment is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to conduct a close reading of a text, and to respond to the text effectively. Student Name Student No. Address Date Postal Code Based on the instructions provided by your school, complete the following English 12 assignment independently and return it to your teacher. There are three parts to this assignment: Part A: Multiple Choice Part B: Short Answer Part C: Paragraph Composition 4 marks 15 marks 6 marks Contents: 8 pages Assignment time: 1 hour ENGLISH 12 1
Before you start, read these important tips. 1. 2. 3. 4. Read each question carefully before answering. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. Take your time. Check your work before handing in the assignment. Write neatly and check your spelling. Now read the following short story and answer the questions at the end. (25 marks) 2 ENGLISH 12
It Was The Strangest Thing It was the strangest thing. One minute my sister Stacy and I stood by the ocean arguing about what we were going to do that morning, and the next minute there was no ocean. The water drained out of the bay so fast it was like somebody took an invisible straw and sucked it up in one big gulp. Where there was water, pink coral reefs now gleamed in the sun. Fish flailed on dark, wet sand. Hey, Jason, is that weird or what? Stacy said. It was weird, but I was too angry to agree. Day three of our family holiday in Thailand and I was already tired of my ten-year-old sister tagging along. I was fifteen; I wanted to have my own kind of fun. Without her. Just as I was about to crack a joke about her being the weird one, I saw the wave. It was a wall of frothing, angry water and it was coming right for us. For a second, I couldn t move... or even breathe. Everything seemed to slow down. A monstrous roar filled the air. I heard screams. Then the mist hit my cheeks and adrenalin kicked in. I grabbed Stacy s hand. Run fast! I yelled, yanking her up the hill towards the hotel. Mom and Dad were at the top, gesturing frantically for us to hurry. We didn t get very far. The wave picked us up and smashed us against the wall of the hotel restaurant. I gripped Stacy s hand tighter than I d ever gripped anything in my life. It didn t matter. The water flung us apart like we were nothing more than paper dolls. I went one way, she went the other. Jason! Stacy cried. Her face was white with terror; she lunged for me. Help! I tried to reach her but the water sucked me under. I hadn t taken a breath and my lungs felt squashed, like there was a semi-trailer sitting on top of them. I wondered, Am I going to die? No, I had too much living left to do! The answer gave me the strength to fight my way to the top. Clothes and chairs and bits of debris swirled on the surface of the water. A watch and wallet sailed by. I hardly noticed. I was looking for Stacy. For Mom or Dad. I didn t know where they were, which way they d gone. ENGLISH 12 3
Panicked, I tried to swim, but the water was in control. It carried me around the side of the hotel to the lobby. Glass shattered, people screamed. A piece of counter smashed into my arm. The pain was so bad I almost passed out. I felt myself being pushed through the hotel to the parking lot. There were people everywhere, but no parents. No Stacy. Then, just before my tears started, I heard her call. Jason, I m here! Stacy had grabbed hold of a palm tree and climbed to the top. It took us a long time, but we finally made it up the hill away from the water. Mom and Dad made it too. We were all scraped and battered but we were alive. Since that happened, I ve never felt the same way about life. Or about little sisters. Both are gifts. You think that s corny? Try living through a tsunami and then talk to me. 4 ENGLISH 12
Marks Part A: Multiple Choice Put the letter of the correct answer in the parentheses to the right. (4 marks) 1. Telling the story from the first person point of view provides: a. b. access to Jason s thoughts and feelings. access to Stacy s thoughts and feelings. c. access to both Jason and Stacy s thoughts and feelings. ( a ) 2. Jason s resentment towards Stacy and his appreciation of her at the end of the story both suggest that: a. b. Jason is unreasonably emotionally imbalanced and insecure. Jason has a strong sense of responsibility towards Stacy. c. Jason is indifferent towards Stacy. ( b ) 3. The last line of the story suggests that as a result of the tsunami, a. b. c. Stacy s attitude towards Jason has changed. Jason s attitude towards Stacy has changed. Stacy s attitude towards Jason has not changed. d. Jason s attitude towards Stacy has not changed. ( b ) 4. The line No, I had too much living left to do! indicates that: a. b. c. d. Jason felt helpless in the tsunami, and regretted not being able to live his life for longer. Jason s lungs felt squashed, like there was a semi-trailer on top of them. Jason wondered whether he was going to die. even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, Jason realized he had a choice to try and survive. ( d ) ENGLISH 12 5
Marks Part B: Short Answer 1. Who is the narrator of the story? (3 marks) The narrator of the story is Jason, a fifteen year old boy. 2. What is the setting of the story? (3 marks) The story is set on a beach in Thailand. 3. Who or what is the antagonist of the story? (3 marks) The antagonist of the story is the tsunami, which puts the lives of the narrator, his sister, and his parents in danger of being killed. 4. Identify what you think is a central theme of the story. (3 marks) Answers may vary. One possible central theme of the story is Always appreciate the company of your loved ones, because you never know when they may leave you. 5. How does the natural world act as both a friend and a foe in the story? (3 marks) Stacy manages not to be swept away in the tsunami because she is able to grab a palm tree and climb to the top. 6 ENGLISH 12
Marks Part C: Paragraph Composition Answer the following writing prompt in a well constructed paragraph. (6 marks) Using at least one example from the story, explain how the author uses language that describes the ocean as though it is alive. Possible examples include: It was a wall of frothing, angry water and it was coming right for us. Panicked, I tried to swim but the water was in control. The wave picked us up and smashed us against the wall of the hotel restaurant. A monstrous roar filled the air. The water flung us apart like we were nothing more than paper dolls. I tried to reach her but the water sucked me under. ENGLISH 12 7
Marks /4 Part A: Multiple Choice /15 Part B: Short Answer /6 Part C: Paragraph Composition /25 Total 8 ENGLISH 12
SHORT ANSWER SCORING GUIDE Content 6 WOW! Your answer shows a thorough understanding of the question. Analysis and presentation of information is consistent and very logically sequenced Ideas are tightly focused, on topic, and fully developed 5 STRONG! Your answer effectively answers the question. Analysis and presentation of information is well organized and well sequenced Ideas are well focused, on topic, and well developed 4 GOOD Your answer adequately answers the question. Analysis and presentation of information is satisfactorally organized and sequenced Ideas are generally focused and adequately developed 3 A PASS You have answered the question at a basic level. Analysis and presentation are at times difficult to follow An answer to the question is present, though not clearly stated The answer has a loose focus, may stray off topic, and is minimally developed 2 ALMOST Your have not sufficiently answered the question. The presentation or analysis of information in the answer is illogical or insufficient Language use in the answer is weak The answer lacks focus, purpose, and development 1 NOT YET Your answer is incomplete. The answer may be limited in scope The answer does not address the question clearly, lacks focus and purpose Vocabulary is immature or vague; word choice is not appropriate Sentence structure is incoherent Frequent grammar or spelling errors affect understanding 0 NOT AT ALL Answer is too brief to evaluate or not attempted at all.
PARAGRAPH SCORING GUIDE Content what is said: Written Expression how it s said: 6 WOW! Your paragraph is insightful, engaging, and focused; it shows a thorough understanding of the task. Analyses or presents the topic in an engaging and logical manner Focused topic sentence Body is developed with interesting and convincing support Concluding sentence makes a strong final statement of the main idea Tightly focused, on topic, and fully developed Sophisticated vocabulary, word choice, and transitions Sentence structure is varied and controlled Few mechanical or spelling errors 5 STRONG! Your paragraph effectively accomplishes the requirements of the task. Analyses or presents the topic in a well-organized manner Focused topic sentence uses active language Body is developed with appropriate support Concluding sentence affirms the main idea of the paragraph Focused, on topic, and developed Appropriate vocabulary, word choice, and transitions Sentence structure is varied and competent but uneven in places Minor mechanical or spelling errors 4 GOOD Your paragraph adequately fulfils the requirements of the task. Analyses or presents the topic in a predictable manner Topic sentence is clearly stated Body is developed with some effective support Concluding sentence completes the paragraph Generally focused; may stray off topic; adequate development Vocabulary, word choice and transitions are simple but correct Sentence structure is correct, but simple sentences predominate Some mechanical or spelling errors are present but do not affect understanding 3 A PASS Your paragraph accomplishes the task at a basic level. Analyses or presents the topic in a manner which is difficult to follow A topic sentence is present, though not clearly stated Body is developed with thin or repetitive support Concluding sentence attempts to complete the paragraph Loose focus; may stray off topic; limited development Vocabulary is basic and repetitive; transitions may be ineffective Sentence structure is awkward or simplistic Mechanical or spelling errors are present but do not impact meaning 2 ALMOST Your paragraph does not accomplish the basic task. Analyses or presents the topic in a manner which is illogical or insufficient Paragraph structure and development is weak Topic sentence is vague or not present Concluding sentence may not be present or may add new, unrelated information Simple sentence forms predominate Numerous mechanical or spelling errors disrupt the flow of the writing Lacks focus, purpose, and development Vocabulary is informal and often colloquial; transitions are not present 1 NOT YET Your paragraph is incomplete Paragraph may be limited to one to two sentences A topic sentence is not present or does not introduce the topic Structure and development are not present Paragraph lacks a concluding sentence Lacks focus, purpose, or does not have a single, clear topic Vocabulary is immature or vague; word choice is not appropriate Sentence structure is incoherent Frequent grammar or spelling errors affect understanding 0 NOT AT ALL Paragraph is too brief to evaluate or not attempted at all