Name____________________________________________________
English 10A
Date____________________
Period _________________

Name____________________________________________________
English 10A
A Separate Peace: Vocabulary Chapters 1-3
Date____________________
Period _________________
Part One Directions: Use a dictionary to look up the following words. Then, write the definition in your
own words, write the part of speech, and one synonym.
1. Tacit________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Prodigious_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Inveigle____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. Deigning___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. Commendable____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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6. Venerable__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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7. Cordial_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Part Two Directions: Write the sentence from the book in which the author, John Knowles, uses the word.
The page numbers have been provided for you.
8. Tacit (pg. 1) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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9. Prodigious (pg. 7)_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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10. Inveigle (pg. 7)___________________________________________________________________________________________________
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11. Deigning (pg. 11) _______________________________________________________________________________________________
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12. Commendable (pg. 16)_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. Venerable (pg. 25) ______________________________________________________________________________________________
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14. Cordial (pg. 27) __________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Part Three Directions: Write an original sentence using each vocabulary word. Be sure to use strong context clues to show you know what the words mean!
15. Tacit_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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16. Prodigious_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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17. Inveigle___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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18. Deigning__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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19. Commendable___________________________________________________________________________________________________
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20. Venerable________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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21. Cordial____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Name__________________________________________________________
English 10A
A Separate Peace: Part One Reading Questions
Date____________________
Period _________________
Directions: Choose four questions from each section. Then, in complete sentences, answer them using specific supporting details from the chapters on a separate sheet of paper. Be sure to staple your answers to this packet!
Chapter One
1.
Characterize the narrator's feelings about his return to Devon School's campus. How does he feel about it? How do you know this?
2.
Looking at the stairs in the First Academy Building, what surprising fact does the narrator, identified as Gene Forrester in chapter 5, realize he had overlooked about them? Why do you think this is important?
3.
When Gene visits the tree on campus, what does it resemble? Evaluate his observation?
4.
Describe the relationship between the narrator (Gene) and Phineas (Finny).
5.
Gene states that the two places he wants to see at Devon School were “fearful sights.” Why might he use this term? If they are “fearful,” why do you think Gene wants to see them?
6.
What kind of effect does Finny have on the narrator, Gene? Does Gene like it? How do you know?
Chapter Two
7.
What happens with Phineas and Mr. Prud’homme?
8.
Why is the faculty more indulgent with these boys?
9.
What is Phineas’s emblem?
10.
What happens at the traditional tea?
11.
Why is the narrator disappointed by the events at the traditional tea?
12.
What happens when the boys go out on the branch together?
13.
What society do they form?
Chapter Three
14.
Why is Gene having mixed feelings about Finny saving him in the tree?
15.
Does Finny live his life completely without rules? Explain your answer with a specific example from the chapter.
16.
Describe your reaction to Gene’s statement, “Finny could shine with everyone; he attracted everyone he met, I was glad of that too. Naturally, he was my roommate and my best friend.” Do you think he’s being sincere (means what he says)? Why or why not?
17.
Evaluate Finny’s reaction to breaking the school swimming record. Is it normal? Surprising? What does Gene think about his “best friend’s” record breaking?

Name_______________________________________________________________________
English 10A
A Separate Peace: Reading Response Journal
Date____________________
Period _________________
What is a response journal?
A response journal is a creative piece of writing that serves to enrich your reading experience, and as such, you should take advantage of this activity to explore the subtext of the novel and your feelings toward the writing and the author. Your reader response journal should be a collection of entries that keep track of the novel’s events, characters, literary elements as well as your personal response to the text. Due dates will be assigned as each group of chapters are read.
You are responsible for writing 1 page (one side of a composition book page) for each collection of chapters from the novel. Each entry should include three brief (4-5 sentence) paragraphs. The criteria for each paragraph are as follows:
1.
Summary of Events: What happened in this chapter with respect to plot, characters and setting? Did the author introduce new characters and how were they characterized? What conflicts were introduced? Were any conflicts resolved? Was there any major plot development/twist? Was there a major setting change? If so, how many? Why?
2.
Literary Elements: What literary elements caught your attention in this chapter (word choice, mood, etc.)?
Was there a strong metaphor being developed? Was there a major symbol or motif introduced? Did the author utilize any similes and to what effect? Was there a point of view change? Was the dialogue of interest? Was a theme introduced?
3.
Personal Response: Discuss anything else that you feel is worth discussing. What was your personal response to this chapter? Do you relate to any of the character’s conflicts? How did this chapter contribute to moving the novel forward? Are there any changes that you would have made to the text? What did you dislike about this chapter (if anything)? What did you enjoy most about this chapter? Does this chapter make you want to continue reading? Have your thoughts changed during your reading experience?
You are not limited by the questions above, but rather encouraged to branch out.
Consider the following prompts for your literary elements paragraph if you are unsure of what to include.
1.
Flashback: The book opens with a former Devon School student returning to campus and reminiscing. After a few pages, he flashes back to the summer school session of his junior year. Using the information from the first few pages of the novel, determine the purpose of the flashback. What do you think the narrator is trying to accomplish by having/going through this flashback? Why do you think this?
2.
Peace: In chapter 2, Gene, the narrator keeps mentioning how the junior at the Devon School, his class, represent peace to the adults around them. In what ways do these students symbolize peace? How does that contrast from the seniors? What do the seniors symbolize?
3.
Characterization: Gene introduces Finny at the end of chapter one. In chapters two and three, every event Gene describes is connected to Finny in some way. Based on the information Gene shares, how would you describe Finny? What do you think his role will be in the story?
Point Value: Each entry will be worth 20 points, divided as follows:
 Question 1: Summary of Events (5 points)
 Question 2: Literary Elements (5 points)
 Question 3: Personal Response (5 points)
 Overall: Thoroughness of Entry (5 points)
Additional grading information on back!

This assessment is a quiz grade.
The following points are based on how the student approached each particular question. For each entry, students will get a total of 20 points: 5 for each question above and 5 for the overall thoroughness of the entry. The rubric is as follows:
Journal Grading Scale
Score
5 points
4.5 points
4 points
3.5 points
3 points
Criteria
The writing demonstrates an internalized understanding of the literature; the student has worked thoughtfully to ensure that the most significant aspects have been selected. This writing is polished and clear.
The writing demonstrates a thoughtful understanding of the literature; the student has worked thoroughly to ensure that many significant aspects have been selected. This writing is controlled and focused.
The writing demonstrates an understanding of the literature. The student has included some significant aspects from the novel; however, many critical ideas are missing. This writing has many errors and words choice is sometimes poor.
The writing demonstrates a limited understand of the literature; although there is evidence of thought, the student’s writing is unfocused and relies too heavily on details from the novel and not enough on individualized thinking.
The writing demonstrates little to no understanding of the literature; the writing is unfocused and leaves the reader with too many questions.