Reviewing Text-Dependent Answers from
“The Monkey’s Paw”
The author
says….
According to
the text…
Evidence-Based Answers in “The Monkey’s Paw”
Reading between the lines and seeing
what the author was saying underneath
the surface
Going out on a limb and making a claim
that someone else might disagree with
“This shows”
“This demonstrates”
“This highlights”
“This proves”
Student Exemplars
“Better let it burn.” – Sergeant Major
Even though the paw seems that it will give you fortune, when you wish on
it, it will resort in something bad. You have to be careful with your wording
because the monkey’s paw will turn out sort of like the opposite of what
you think. Since the Sergeant Major knows that this is powerful and can
cause great fortune to people. It does something that has never happened
before. This shows that he understood the power of the paw and that it is
magical. Sergeant Major has experienced the monkey’s paw and knows
that it will bring great distress. He does not want the Whites to go through
what he did. When Sergeant Major said, “don’t blame me for what
happens,” this shows that the paw can be bad and usually causes distress.
Kennedy Ross, pd. 6/7
Student Exemplars
“Better let it burn.” – Sergeant Major
Kennedy pushes her analyses further than
Even though the paw seems that it will give Here,
you
fortune, when you wish on
just summarizing the scene. She includes
it, it will resort in something bad. You have to
be careful
with
your
wording
summarizing
sentences
so that
the reader
can
and contextualize the scene, but she
because the monkey’s paw will turn out sortunderstand
of
like
the
opposite of what
adds the extra sentences with the phrase “this
shows”this
to demonstrate
a deeper
understanding.
you think. Since the Sergeant Major knows that
is powerful
and
can
cause great fortune to people. It does something that has never happened
before. This shows that he understood the power of the paw and that it is
magical. Sergeant Major has experienced the monkey’s paw and knows
that it will bring great distress. He does not want the Whites to go through
what he did. When Sergeant Major said, “don’t blame me for what
happens,” this shows that the paw can be bad and usually causes distress.
Kennedy Ross, pd. 6/7
Student Exemplars
“Better let it burn.” – Sergeant Major
Some things deserve to be taken away from the world permanently. For
example, that is what the Sergeant Major thinks should be done to the
monkey’s paw because of all of the horrible things that happen around it.
He thinks that it should be gone so that it can’t hurt anyone anymore. I
think though when he says, “Better let it burn,” he wants it gone
completely not buried to be dug up again but gone permanently so every
last atom is gone. Also for it to get burned by the flames of destruction
like it has done the same to so many others.
Lilianne Braden, pd. 6/7
Student Exemplars
“Better let it burn.” – Sergeant Major
Here, Lilianne analyses the text on a much deeper level than just
summarizing. She answers the all-important literature question of “Why
Some
things
to be
away
this
word and
not that deserve
word?” By picking
the taken
word “burn”
out offrom
the textthe world permanently. For
and
saying why Jacobs
and not
or “crumple
up,” she thinks should be done to the
example,
thatsaidisburn
what
the“bury”
Sergeant
Major
shows the intensity with which the Sergeant Major believes in the
monkey’s
pawpaw.
because of all of the horrible things that happen around it.
danger
of the monkey’s
He thinks that it should be gone so that it can’t hurt anyone anymore. I
think though when he says, “Better let it burn,” he wants it gone
completely not buried to be dug up again but gone permanently so every
last atom is gone. Also for it to get burned by the flames of destruction
like it has done the same to so many others.
Lilianne Braden, pd. 6/7
Student Exemplars
“Better let it burn.” – Sergeant Major
When Sergeant Major says, “better let it burn,” it means that the
Sergeant knows what might happen to the family. For an
example the person who had it before made 2 wishes and it
turned out bad so for his last wish, he asked for his death. This
means that the paw could cause many bad things to the next
person who uses it. Therefore he doesn’t want that to happen so
he would rather brun it and get rid of it so it brings no more
harm.
Jenny Acuna, pd. 6/7
Student Exemplars
Here, Jenny uses a great tool to
prove a point: citing an example!
“Better letYes,
it burn.”
Sergeant
Major
her first –quote
was analyzing
why the Sergeant Major said,
“better let it burn,” but she backs
THAT quote up with another quote!
Moreitquotes
is always
better
than
let it burn,”
means
that
the
fewer quotes.
When Sergeant Major says, “better
Sergeant knows what might happen to the family. For an
example the person who had it before made 2 wishes and it
turned out bad so for his last wish, he asked for his death. This
means that the paw could cause many bad things to the next
person who uses it. Therefore he doesn’t want that to happen so
he would rather brun it and get rid of it so it brings no more
harm.
Jenny Acuna, pd. 6/7
Student Exemplars
Mr. White’s “horrible fear”
On the bottom of page 5 in “The Monkey’s Paw,” Mr.
White experiences a “horrible fear.” This fear is that their
son is going to be a horrible, mutilated thing and not his
son. This demonstrates that Mr. White is more
realistically thinking about what the monkey’s paw does
and that what’s at the door can not possible be what he
knows is his son.
Matt Bevacqua, pd. 2/3
Student Exemplars
Matt does an excellent job here at digging
into the
text. Insteadfear”
of just
Mr.deeper
White’s
“horrible
summarizing what Mr. White means and
why he says that, he describes what it
reveals about his personality. He calls Mr.
White “more realistic” than Mrs. White,
which is a great way of looking at the
couple during the last scene.
On the bottom of page 5 in “The Monkey’s Paw,” Mr.
White experiences a “horrible fear.” This fear is that their
son is going to be a horrible, mutilated thing and not his
son. This demonstrates that Mr. White is more
realistically thinking about what the monkey’s paw does
and that what’s at the door can not possible be what he
knows is his son.
Matt Bevacqua, pd. 2/3
Student Exemplars
“Don’t let it in!” – Mr. White
This is where Mrs. White wants to let Herbert in but Mr. White
doesn’t want to let Herbert in. Mr. White says, “don’t let in.”
because now instead of being Mr. and Mrs. White’s son, he is a
creative not a human. In the story Mr. White could only
recognize Herbert by his clothes and not his body. Mrs. White’s
response was, “You’re afraid of your own son.” He was afraid of
his son because his son was a monster.
Matt Erni, pd. 8/9
Student Exemplars
What Matt does well here is that he contextualizes
the scene for us by summarizing the scene. But he
doesn’t end there! He pushes it further by
“Don’t
let it in!” – Mr. White
clarifying that Mr. White was afraid of his son
because it was no longer his son. That’s the point
Jacobs wants us to take away from this text.
This is where Mrs. White wants to let Herbert in but Mr. White
doesn’t want to let Herbert in. Mr. White says, “don’t let in.”
because now instead of being Mr. and Mrs. White’s son, he is a
creature not a human. In the story Mr. White could only
recognize Herbert by his clothes and not his body. Mrs. White’s
response was, “You’re afraid of your own son.” He was afraid of
his son because his son was a monster.
Matt Erni, pd. 8/9
Student Exemplars
“Don’t let it in!” – Mr. White
The author uses two different perspectives during this scene
when Mr. White and Mrs. White wish for Herbert back. This
demonstrates how both Mr. and Mrs. White feel about making
the wish for Herbert to come back. Mr. White is refusing to let
Mrs. White open the door for, who she thinks is Herbert,
because of how Herbert will look. The author uses the word “it”
instead of “him” referring to Herbert because Mr. White knows
the person knocking won’t be Herbert, the same as before.
Lily Smith, pd. 2/3
Student Exemplars
“Don’t let it in!” – Mr. White
The author uses two different perspectives during this scene
when Mr. White and Mrs. White wish for Herbert back. This
demonstrates how both Mr. and Mrs. White feel about making
What
Lilywish
does well
here
is she pullsto
thecome
author inback. Mr. White is refusing to let
the
for
Herbert
and examines his purpose in writing things a
Mrs.way.
White
open
doorauthor
for, who she thinks is Herbert,
certain
By showing
that itthe
is a specific
who made DECISIONS in the text, Lily
because of how Herbert will look. The author uses the word “it”
demonstrates a deeper understanding of the
writing
processof
and“him”
literaturereferring
as a whole. to Herbert because Mr. White knows
instead
the person knocking won’t be Herbert, the same as before.
Lily Smith, pd. 2/3
Student Exemplars
“Don’t let it in!” – Mr. White
Mr. White tells Mrs. White, “Don’t let it in!” Mrs. White’s
response was, “You’re afraid of your own son.” This shows how
Mr. White said “it” instead of “him” because he knew his son
was no longer the same person. Mrs. White wanted to let him
in because she had no idea what he was like, unlike Mr. White
who saw him headless and could only identify him because of
his clothes. Mr. White was certain there was going to be
something wrong with his son.
Katia Castano, pd. 8/9
Student Exemplars
Katia is VERY clear about the difference
between “it” and “him” and how Jacobs
“Don’ttolet
it in!”
Mr.
White
intended
show
that–Mr.
White
no longer felt
that it would be his son at the door. She, like
Lilianne, answers the question, “Why this word
and not that word?”
Mr. White tells Mrs. White, “Don’t let it in!” Mrs. White’s
response was, “You’re afraid of your own son.” This shows how
Mr. White said “it” instead of “him” because he knew his son
was no longer the same person. Mrs. White wanted to let him
in because she had no idea what he was like, unlike Mr. White
who saw him headless and could only identify him because of
his clothes. Mr. White was certain there was going to be
something wrong with his son.
Katia Castano, pd. 8/9
Student Exemplars
“Don’t let it in!” – Mr. White
In the sentence, Jacobs’ use of the word “it”
shows that his son is now an it. “It” means
something that is not a boy or a girl. So this scene
reveals that, although is son is back alive, he
thinks it’s not really his son. Mrs. White’s response
is, “you’re afraid of your own.” This shows that
Mrs. White still thinks it’s her son.
Justin Oakes, pd. 8/9
Student Exemplars
Justin’s answer is awesome. Not only does he
break down Jacob’s use of the word “it,” but
“Don’t
let it4 in!”
– Mr.
White
he also uses
phrases
from
our textdependent list of acceptable words. It really
demonstrates his understanding of the text
and his ability to analyze it on a deeper level.
In the sentence, Jacobs’ use of the word “it”
shows that his son is now an it. “It” means
something that is not a boy or a girl. So this scene
reveals that, although is son is back alive, he
thinks it’s not really his son. Mrs. White’s response
is, “you’re afraid of your own.” This shows that
Mrs. White still thinks it’s her son.
Justin Oakes, pd. 8/9
Editing Together
“Mrs. White at the same moment placed her hands behind her, and hurriedly
unfastening the strings of her apron, put that useful article of apparel beneath the
cushion of her chair.”
This shows that Ms. White saw the
man in the window trying to figure
out whether to knock or not, so she
just hurried to see what was wrong.
How can we make this
text-dependent answer a
little more analytical and
a little less summary?
Show in 2/3 & 6/7
Editing Together
“Mrs. White at the same moment placed her hands behind her, and hurriedly
unfastening the strings of her apron, put that useful article of apparel beneath the
cushion of her chair.”
Mrs. White hurried to the door because
she thought it had to do with the money
so she wanted to go as fast as possible to
get it. This shows that Mrs. White is
greedy for the money that she gets but
not the way she wants it.
How can we push this
analysis further? Why did
Jacobs want us to see her
run to the door, and how
does it affect the outcome
when we find out what
happened to Herbert?
Show in 2/3 & 6/7
Editing Together
What is the “horrible fear” that Mr. White experiences
on the bottom of page 5?
The horrible fear is his mutilated son. I would
be scared too if this happened to me because
he would be all smashed and mashed.
Try to contextualize the
scene for us, meaning put
a sentence or two before
the quote to let us know
where it is in the short
story. And while we’re at
it, let’s think of a more
sophisticated way to say
“smashed and mashed.”
Show in 8/9
Editing Together
What is the “horrible fear” that Mr. White experiences
on the bottom of page 5?
His fear is seeing how his son will look like also
since he can’t see where he is going. This
shows that he regrets making that wish also
that his two fears are coming into one.
Let’s give this quote some
context like we did in the
previous one and also work
on elaborating a bit. “Seeing
how his son will look” is a
good start, but why is he
afraid of that? What else in
the story hints at what the
son will look like now?
Show in 8/9