Individual Theme Unit 2011
English 10 Advanced
Eiserman
Throughout this year, you have studied the concept of the universality of themes in two large units.
Each unit identified themes and pieces of literature, and we then looked for evidence of each theme
in each piece of literature. Now that you have had all this practice, you get to design a unit of your
own. In this unit, you will demonstrate that you can:
 Read literature carefully
 independently determine the theme(s) that the author is trying to express
 show how a theme is exemplified by choosing well considered and insightful examples and
providing clear and cogent analysis of those examples
 Write a strong essay which shows how a theme (or themes) is(are) universal and evident in
at least three pieces of literature
Required Activities
Unit Contract – write a contract which identifies the literature you will read, as well as
deadlines for each required activity. Part of your grade will be your commitment
in meeting the deadlines you set. Due
Personal Response essay #1 – a 1-2 page essay which reflects on some point of interest to you
regarding the first book in your unit. This will receive an informal essay grade and will be
evaluated on essay structure as well as quality and depth of thought. (This essay should be
written about ½ to 2/3 of the way through the book.)
Personal Response Essay #2 – a 1-2 page essay which reflects your opinion of the first book in
your unit. Your thesis should state whether you would recommend this book to others and
why. This will receive an informal essay grade and will be evaluated on essay structure as
well as the quality of your evidence and analysis.
Personal Response essay #3 – a 1-2 page essay which reflects on some point of interest to you
regarding the second book in your unit. This will receive an informal essay grade and will
be evaluated on essay structure as well as quality and depth of thought. (This essay should
be written about ½ to 2/3 of the way through the book.)
Personal Response Essay #4 – a 1-2 page essay which reflects your opinion of the second book in
your unit. Your thesis should state whether you would recommend this book to others and
why. This will receive an informal essay grade and will be evaluated on essay structure as
well as the quality of your evidence and analysis.
Graphic Depiction of Theme – create a graphic depiction which helps the rest of the class see how
the theme(s) you have chosen is (are) exemplified in the literature you have chosen. This
will be used in your class presentation. This graphic depiction may take any number of
forms; for instance, a series of illustrations, a chart or a power point slide show. It should
include the two novels you have read, and at least two of the novels we have read this
year. You will receive additional credit for also including references to any other literature
– short stories, non-fiction, film, etc.
Class Presentation of Theme – You will participate in a series of round-robin presentations where
you will prove that the theme(s) you selected is (are) universal because it (they) appear in all
the literature you selected. Give a brief synopsis of the literary selections, then show how
the themes are exemplified in each. 10 minutes.
Final Assessment: Using the works you have read, identify a universal theme and defend its
universality by showing how it is evident in all the pieces of literature you chose. (This essay will
be written in Computer Lab during your Exam block; you may bring books and *notes with you.)
* Notes refer to your notes or previously written essays regarding the books we have read. You
may also have excerpts from texts to use as textual support. You may NOT bring in an outline.
Graphic Depiction Evaluation Rubric
A
Graphic depiction is clearly pertinent to the presentation; it aids the audience in
understanding the presenter’s main points by providing clarity and detail. The design
itself shows strong evidence of careful design (use of space and color, organization),
thoughtfulness (in terms of what will aid the audience in greater understanding) and
careful editing (the design is clean, neat and without many mechanical errors).
B
Graphic depiction is aids the audience in understanding the presenter’s main points
by providing clarity and detail. The design itself shows evidence of careful design
(use of space and color, organization), thoughtfulness (in terms of what will aid the
audience in greater understanding) and careful editing (the design is clean, neat and
without many mechanical errors).
C
Graphic depiction makes a strong attempt to aid the audience in understanding the
presenter’s main points; however, not all information is clear or pertinant. The
design itself shows some evidence of careful design (use of space and color,
organization), thoughtfulness (in terms of what will aid the audience in greater
understanding) and careful editing (the design is clean, neat and without many
mechanical errors) but may not be consistently strong in all areas.
D
Graphic depiction is questionable in how it aids the audience in understanding the
presenter’s main points. The design itself limited or little evidence of careful design
(use of space and color, organization), thoughtfulness (in terms of what will aid the
audience in greater understanding) or careful editing (the design is clean, neat and
without many mechanical errors).
Class Presentation of Theme Evaluation Rubric
A
Two themes are identified; these are insightful and especially pertinent to the
literature selected. Evidence chosen to support the theme(s) is especially clear,
appropriate and insightful. Analysis is especially good at explaining how the
examples support the theme. Presenter is evidently knowledgable and enthusiastic
about his/her literature and is well organized, loud enough to be heard and clear
enough to be understood.
B
Two themes are identified; these are obviously appropriate for the literature selected.
Strong attempt has been made to choose evidence which is clear and appropriate and
show this in analysis. Presenter is enthusiastic about his/her literature and is
organized, loud enough to be heard and clear enough to be understood.
C
One theme is identified; this theme is appropriate for the literature selected. Strong
attempt has been made to choose evidence which is clear and appropriate and show
this in analysis. Presenter is organized, loud enough to be heard and clear enough to
be understood.
D
One theme is identified; this theme is appropriate for the literature selected. Some
attempt has been made to choose evidence which is clear and appropriate and show
this in analysis; however, analysis may be weak in showing how the evidence
supports the theme. Presenter may lack enthusiasm about his/her literature and/or
organization; volume and/or clarity of expression may be poor.
E
No attempt
Final Assessment Evaluation
A
Essay shows how one theme is exemplified throughout the literature the student has chosen.
Evidence to support the theme is especially clear, well organized, appropriate and insightful.
Essay receives a combination of Exemplary and Accomplished scores in most categories of
the standard essay evaluation rubric.
B
Essay shows a strong attempt to demonstrate how one theme is exemplified throughout the
literature the student has chosen. Evidence to support the theme is clear and appropriate,
and may be insightful; there may be some problems with organization. Essay receives
Accomplished scores in most of the categories of the standard essay evaluation rubric.
C.
Essay shows how one theme is exemplified throughout the literature the student has chosen.
Evidence is appropriate, but may lack clarity or effective organization. Essay receives
Accomplished scores in many of the categories of the standard essay evaluation rubric.
D
Essay attempts to show how one theme is exemplified throughout the literature the student
has chosen. However, writer may not clearly show how the evidence to support the theme is
appropriate or pertinent. Essay also receives a number of Developing or Weak scores in
many categories of the standard essay evaluation rubric.
E
No attempt
Suggested Titles (in no particular order)
The Killer Angels
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Rebecca
Dracula
Frankenstein
The Red Tent
Pillars of the Earth
Water for Elephants
A Lesson Before Dying
The Kite Runner
The Secret Life of Bees
Wicked
The Book Thief
The Golden Compass
Catch 22
A Farewell to Arms
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Chosen
The Joy Luck Club
Slaughterhouse Five
The Color Purple
Native Son
Things Fall Apart
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Like Water for Chocolate
A Passage to India
Siddhartha
Cry, The Beloved Country
Ivanhoe
The Time Machine
The Three Musketeers
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Crying of Lot 48
The Hunt for Red October
The Name of the Rose
The Help
Authors
Kurt Vonnegut
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Oscar Wilde
Michael Shaara
Charlotte Bronte
Emily Bronte
Daphne du Maurier
Bram Stoker
Mary Shelley
Anita Diamante
Ken Follet
Sara Gruen
Earnest Gaines
Khalid Hosseini
Sue Monk Kidd
Gregory Maguire
Marcus Zusak
Philip Pullman
Joseph Heller
Ernest Hemingway
Ken Kesey
Chaim Potok
Amy Tan
Kurt Vonnegut
Alice Walker
Richard Wright
Chinua Achebe
Carroll, Lewis
Laura Esquivel
E. M. Forest
Hermann Hesse
Alan Paton
Sir Walter Scott
H.G. Wells
Alexandre Dumas
Victor Hugo
Thomas Pynchon
Tom Clancy
Umberto Eco
Kathryn Stockett