Pueblo West High School
IB World School
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 70
661 Capistrano Avenue • Pueblo West, Colorado 81007
Telephone (719) 547-8050
Fax: (719) 547-8041
Martha Nogare
Principal
May 13, 2015
Greetings —
Welcome to Accelerated English 10 (10A)! English 10A is designed for students who
not only love to read and write, but also those who actively seek a challenge, value
academic rigor, and demonstrate a mature work ethic. At PWHS, English 10A is a
precursor to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes. As such, the
coursework for 10A will be challenging and fast-paced. All student work must be
original.
As part of our coursework this year, you must complete a summer reading assignment.
Your summer novel is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Copies are available for
checkout in my room, B223. You must also complete a brief essay and vocabulary
assignment due the first day of school.
If you have any questions about English 10A, please contact me at anytime at
jwoelfel@district70.org or visit me in room B223 before the end of the year. I look
forward to working with you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Johanna M. Woelfel
IB English 11, Accelerated English 10
Faculty Sponsor, Eye of the Storm Literary Journal
Coach, PWHS Mock Trial
F451 Essay & Vocabulary Instructions and Rubric
Part I: Essay
After reading Fahrenheit 451, please write a 3-5 page typed, double-spaced essay
following Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines*. Your essay must answer
the question: Is Fahrenheit 451 relevant to the lives of American teenagers in 2015?
To answer the question fully, you must offer specific, detailed examples from the text –
including quotations – to support your argument. Please note: All quotations must be
cited with page numbers. All papers will be submitted electronically to turnitin.com
on the first day of class.
SCORING RUBRIC
Scoring
Criteria
Ideas
Exemplary
Proficient
The argument is extraordinarily
developed and convincing
throughout the essay and is
based on the integration of
detailed examples from the
novel.
The argument is
plausible (believable/
makes sense) and uses
relevant examples from
the novel.
Ideas are original.
Organization
Ideas are original, inventive
and engaging.
Organization is exceptional.
Ideas are presented and
connected with sophisticated
transitions in an order most
conducive to a coherent
argument.
Emerging
The argument may be
less convincing, using
inadequate evidence
from the novel.
Ideas may be clichéd or
unoriginal.
Citations/
Textual
Evidence
Extensive textual evidence is
presented; citations are
carefully selected. All citations
include page numbers.
Organization is clear
and easy to follow. Ideas
are logically arranged to
support the argument
with transitions that
promote connection and
flow.
Multiple, relevant
citations are used.
Citations may include
minor errors.
Evidence of
the Writing
Process/
Effort
Miscellaneous
The writing demonstrates
thoughtful planning and careful
editing.
The writing
demonstrates planning
and editing.
Paper exceeds all requirements.
Paper meets all
requirements.
The writing lacks
evidence of planning
and/or editing. The draft
is not ready for
submission.
Paper does not meet all
requirements.
MLA formatting
standards are observed
(with some errors).
Papers are of
insufficient length/errors
impede readability.
MLA formatting standards are
observed.
*(please visit the Purdue OWL online at
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ for guidelines).
Organization does not
fully support the
argument,
demonstrating a weak
arrangement of ideas
and limited or awkward
transitions throughout.
Limited citations are
used; citations may not
be relevant to claims.
Citations include
multiple errors.
Fahrenheit 451 Vocabulary List
Part II: Vocabulary
For each word listed below, please identify part of speech, define the word, and offer a
sentence with context clues. For example:
Stolid (adj) - having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or
excited. “Her face showed nothing but stolid indifference because she did not care.”
•
•
•
•
Please be sure that your sentences include context clues. Please define any words in that you do not understand (i.e. indifference = the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care; a casual lack of concern the definition or sentence) in your vocabulary definitions. ALL VOCABULARY WORK MUST BE HANDWRITTEN! As with everything you do for 10A, please make sure your work is your own. For definitions, please consider using vocabulary.com as well as your preferred
dictionary.
Vocabulary Words
sieve
contemptible
venomous
minstrel
waft
refract
imperceptible
mausoleum
inclined
olfactory
proboscis
drone
proclivity
ravenous
fathom
cacophony
feign
pratfall
breach
incessantly
combustible
teeming
cadence
suffuse
strew
saccharine
jowl
intuitive
profusion
loam
insidious
linguist
homely
filigree
distill
hone
torrent
oracle
discourse
Dentifrice
perfunctory
vantage
phosphorescent
valise
perpetual
aesthetic
anesthetize
penance
trajectory
quarry
objectively
subjectively
stationary
juggernaut
gingerly
converge
resolve
convoluted
scythe
Disperse
VOCABULARY
RUBRIC
Scoring Criteria
Exemplary
Proficient
Emerging
Words &
Definitions
All words are present
and definitions are clear
and complete. Context
clues are present and
helpful, and additional
definitions are
presented. Work goes
above and beyond basic
requirements.
All words may not
be covered,
definitions may be
incomplete, context
clues may be
absent, and
additional
definitions are not
present.
Presentation
Student follows all
directions for
completion without
error.
All words are
present, definitions
are complete,
context clues are
present, and
additional
definitions are
presented when
needed with some
exceptions.
Student follows
general directions
for completion.
Student fails to
follow all directions
for completion