Compare/Contrast Exemplar 2
“The Story of My Life” and “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” share many
ideas about the human character. What is a major central idea that is shared by both passages? Explain
the importance of the shared central idea for each narrator. Discuss similarities and differences in the
role of shared central idea for each narrator. Use details from both passages to support your response.
In your response, be sure to:
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identify a central idea shared by both passages, “The Story of My Life” and “Narrative of the Life
of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”
explain the importance of the central idea to each narrator
explain the similarities and differences in the importance of the central idea for each narrator
use details from both passages to support your response
Write your answer in complete sentences.
** This exemplar was provided by NYS and given a score of 4 on the rubric.
“The Story of My Life” and “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” share
many ideas about human condition/character. The central idea that these stories share is that
anyone can read, write, or learn words in the hardest times of their lives. This central idea is
important to the narrators in each passage.
For Helen Keller, the hardest time of her life was being both blind and deaf. That made it more
difficult for her to learn how to read and write, especially if you can’t hear how to pronounce the
words or see what the words look like written. It was also difficult for Frederick Douglass to learn.
He was a slave and you would get punished if you were caught learning how to read and write.
Douglass had to sneak around to learn. He would get his errands done as quickly as possible and
have the children teach him to read. He would give them bread in exchange for reading lessons.
Frederick took his book with him everywhere just in case he had some extra time or could find a
teacher.
There are some similarities to the central idea in the passages. Both narrators want to learn.
Both narrators faced hard times, but still managed to overcome their obstacles. Helen and Frederick
learned even though it was a task that was very hard to accomplish.
There are also some differences to the central idea in the passages. Helen Keller is blind and
deaf and Frederick Douglass is a slave. Helen is being encouraged to learn while Frederick is being
discouraged to learn to read. Frederick always wanted to learn to read and write while Helen had a
brief time where she didn’t want to learn. Helen had one teacher who worked with her every day.
Frederick had many teachers. He started learning from his mistress and when she stopped,
Frederick went out and learned from anyone he could find who was willing to teach him. Helen
learned by having the words traced in her hands. Frederick learned to read by starting with the
sounds of the alphabet.
The passages “The Story of My Life” and “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an
American Slave” share a common central idea. The central idea that these stories share is that
anyone can read, write, or learn words in the hardest times of their lives. Although their stories are
very different, both of these narrators overcame their obstacles and achieved their goal.