Teacher: Mr. Robinson & Mr. Pinsent
Toronto Prep School
ENG3U1 Culminating Performance Task: Independent Novel Study (INS)
15% of Final Mark
OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
 The Culminating Performance Task (CPT) for this course invites you to examine and
explore the novel Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Your CPT will be an analytical essay of
approximately 1200 words in length. You are to read the novel over the two week holiday
break. Through close reading, passage critiques and conferencing; you will gather the
information necessary to write an analytical essay.
 An Analytical Essay seeks to explore a central idea or question based on a text(s) and a
student's engagement with that text. Key to the analysis is breaking down the text into
components and showing the relationship between the subordinate arguments and overall
controlling ideas. It must move beyond summary, description, or narration. (For more
detail see power Point Presentation on Wiki Site or Definition at the end of the package.)
 This is a primary source essay which means that you should not use other secondary
sources. Your essay should be developed from your own idea’s, thoughts, and beliefs.
 Students will read their novels and take notes during the reading process. The reading
notes should indicate the students understanding of plot, and document information about
the characters, themes, conflict and relevant issues. Direct quotations from the novel must
be included in the notes. The quotations must be introduced, proper citation format must
be used, and the quotations must be followed by explanations. It is not acceptable to
merely list page numbers. Students should jot down notes for formulating their thesis
statements.
 Essay must be written using MLA Format. (Refer to MLA Handout)
 All students must be prepared for their conferences. Students will be selected at random
order for conference process
 A student who is not prepared for the conference when called by the teacher will receive a
mark of zero for that portion of the INS. It is the responsibility of the each student to
ensure that he or she has completed all the required parts of the ISN process of each
deadline.
1
ESSAY QUESTIONS
 After reading Cat’s Cradle, students will explore and write and analytical essay that
addresses one of the following essay questions:
o What is Bokononism? How is it different from the religion(s) you are most familiar
with? What role does Bokononism play for its adherents? Is Bokononism the same
as nihilism?
o Vonnegut’s novel focuses on both science and religion. How are the two
presented? Does the novel imply a moral stance that favors one or the other? What
does the novel conclude about the relationship between science and religion?
o Critics have accused Kurt Vonnegut of being unable to write individual characters.
Instead, it seems that he writes characters that represent social groups. Agree or
disagree with this assertion. If you disagree, show how a character in Cat’s Cradle
is allowed to fully develop as an individual. If you agree, pick one or two
characters and explain how they come to stand in for one or more social groups.
Make sure you clearly show how Vonnegut uses these characters to make a
comment about the corresponding social group(s).
o Cat’s Cradle discusses the importance of both truth and foma (harmless untruths).
What does total adherence to the truth lead to in Cat’s Cradle? What happens when
you live your life accepting foma? Does the novel seem to suggest that truth is of
the utmost importance? or foma?
TIMELINE
 Monday January 3- Discuss Book in class. Examine the themes, character, and conflict
 Thursday January 6- Individual Conference # 1/In-Class Work Period
 Friday January 7- Individual Conference # 1 CONT…/In-Class Work Period
 Wednesday January 12- Individual Conference # 2
 Friday January 14- Rough Copy Due for Peer Editing
 Wednesday January 19- Final Copy Due (with Notes)
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SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
 Conference # 1 (10 Marks) – you will lead an 6 minute discussion about :
o Your understanding of the text and your choice of essay question;
o Your approach or strategy to your essay
o Thesis and Introduction ideas
o Any other issues that you feel are significant



Conference # 2 (10 Marks)
o Students will present the Outline (See Handout) which will include a thesis
statement and arguments with evidence to support them.
Rough Copy (10 Marks)
o Essay should be in complete form for peer editing session with other students.
Final Copy (50 Marks)- Your final Submission will include:
o All Process material: Notes/Outline
o A Peer Edited Copy
o A Final Copy
 Plagiarism is defined as submitting the language, ideas, thoughts or work of another as
one's own; or assisting in the act of plagiarism by allowing one's work to be used in this
fashion. It includes the following infractions:

o
Use of ideas or thoughts of a person other than the writer without proper
acknowledgement.
o
Submission of an essay or assignment that has been written in part or in whole by
someone else as one’s own.
o
Use of direct quotations, or of material paraphrased/summarized by the writer,
without proper acknowledgement.
o
Submission of material that has been obtained from a computerized source, with
or without minor modifications, as one’s own.
o
Use of any information that is obtained from the Internet and/or other software
programs and that is incorporated into a student’s assignment without proper
documentation.
If any students plagiarize in they will receive a mark of ZERO.
3
EVALUATION
 Students work “will be evaluated in a balanced manner with respect to the
four categories, and that achievement of particular expectations is considered
within the appropriate categories. These categories are Knowledge and
Understanding, Thinking, Communication and Application. The four
categories are interrelated, reflecting the wholeness and interconnectedness of
learning” (p.22).
Independent Novel Study Evaluation
Process
o Interview 1 (Thesis and Introduction)
o Interview 2 (Outline)
o Peer Editing (Rough Copy)
o Notes (Referring to text)
50%
10 Marks
10 Marks
10 Marks
20 Marks
Essay
o
o
o
o
o
50%
Rubric
Knowledge
Thinking
Communication
Application
Complete Essay
Thesis and Introduction
Outline
Rough Copy
Notes
25 Marks
20 Marks
35 Marks
20 Marks
Works Cited
English. The Ontario Curriculum: Grades 11 and 12. Revised 2007.
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LEVEL 1
KNOWLEDGE
AND
UNDERSTANDING
- concepts, ideas,
themes, character,
relationships, facts,
literary theory
-literary forms and
terms
THINKING
-analysis, drawing
inferences, evaluating
-use of evidence,
interpreting evidence
COMMUNICATION
-use of essay form
clear expression,
logical organization,
appropriate style
-language and voice
( use of convention,
grammar, spelling,
punctuation)
APPLICATION
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 3
- shows limited
understanding of
the topic
- shows some
understanding of
the topic
- shows limited
knowledge of
relevant literary
forms & terms
- shows some
knowledge of
relevant literary
forms & terms
- develops ideas
with limited logic
and coherence
- incorporates
limited relevant
evidence
- develops ideas
with some logic
and coherence
incorporates some
well-chosen &
relevant evidence
incorporates considerable
well-chosen & relevant
evidence
- shows limited
command of the
essay form
including thesis
or controlling
idea;
organization;
conclusion
- uses
appropriate
language &
voice with
limited
effectiveness
&
consistency
- applies
grammar,
usage,
spelling, &
punctuation
with limited
accuracy &
effectiveness
- shows some
command of the
essay form
including thesis or
controlling idea;
organization;
conclusion
- shows
considerable command
of the essay form
including clear thesis or
controlling idea; effective
organization; logical
conclusion
- follows
required
style for few
citations &
references
- uses appropriate
language & voice
with some
effectiveness &
consistency
- applies
grammar,
usage,
spelling, &
punctuation
with some
accuracy &
effectiveness
- follows
required
style for
some
citations &
references
LEVEL 4
- shows considerable
- shows thorough
understanding of the topic understanding of the
topic
- shows considerable
knowledge of relevant
literary forms & terms
- shows thorough &
insightful
knowledge of
relevant literary
forms & terms
- develops ideas with
- develops ideas
considerable logic &
with a high degree
coherence
of logic &
coherence
- uses appropriate
language & voice with
some effectiveness &
consistency
- applies
grammar,
usage, spelling,
& punctuation
with
considerable
accuracy &
effectiveness
- follows
required style
for most
citations &
references
incorporates highly
effective wellchosen & relevant
evidence
- shows
extensive command
of the essay form
including clear &
engaging thesis or
controlling idea;
highly effective
organization; strong
& logical
conclusion
- uses appropriate
language & voice
with a high degree
of effectiveness &
consistency
- applies grammar,
usage, spelling, &
punctuation with a
high degree of
accuracy &
effectiveness
- follows required
style for all citations
& references
5
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