Name:__________________________________Date:______________________Period:____________________
“I Won’t Grow Up”
Writing Task: How do experiences from childhood impact adulthood? After reading a variety of texts, write an essay in
which you compare the approaches each text uses to develop the theme of growing up. Support your discussion with
evidence from the text.
Choose 2 of the texts we have read recently during our “I Won’t Grow Up” unit and complete the chart with evidence
that demonstrates how the author develops the theme of growing up. Be sure to cite line and paragraph #’s for each
piece of evidence.
“Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou
“On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins
“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros
Text #1: ___________________________________
Quote for Evidence
Commentary-student thinking and analysis (What does
this quote mean in your own words?)
Text #2: ___________________________________
Quote for Evidence
Commentary-student thinking and analysis (What does
this quote mean in your own words?)
Name: ______________________ Date:____________________________ Period:__________________
“I Won’t Grow Up”
Writing Task: How do experiences from childhood impact adulthood? After reading a variety of texts, write an essay in
which you compare the approaches each text uses to develop the theme of growing up. Support your discussion with
evidence from the text.

Introduction (4-5 sentences)
o Start with a universal statement about the theme
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Transition to introduction of the texts. (Pick 2 from “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me”, “On Turning Ten” and
“Eleven”.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o End with the thesis statement that compares/contrasts the two stories.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Ex. Everyone has to learn to “grow up” at some point in their life. Some people are ready for the challenge, while others
want time to stand still and enjoy childhood a little while longer. “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou and
“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros are very different kinds of stories. One is a poem about a young girl who isn’t afraid of
anything that comes her way in life, while “Eleven” is about a little girl who cannot deal with an embarrassing and
humiliating situation. In both these stories, the author demonstrates how the characters deal with “growing up”, one
has a positive attitude and the other takes a more negative approach.

Body Paragraph #1 (all about 1st text)-6 sentences minimum
o Topic Sentence
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Quote #1 from text with citation of line # or paragraph #
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Commentary-student analysis and thinking (what does this quote mean in your words)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Transition phrase (use keeper sheet)
_________________________________________________________
o Quote #2 from text with citation of line # or paragraph #
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Commentary-student analysis and thinking-(what does this quote mean in your
words)_______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________


_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Conclusion statement
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Body Paragraph #2 (all about 2nd text)-6 sentences minimum
o Topic Sentence
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Quote #1 from text with citation of line # or paragraph #
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Commentary-student analysis and thinking
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Transition phrase (use keeper sheet)
______________________________________________________________________
o Quote #2 from text with citation of line # or paragraph #
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Commentary-student analysis and thinking
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Conclusion statement
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion Paragraph (3-5 sentences)
o Restate the overall theme or author’s message
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
o Make a connection to a lesson you learned about theme of “growing up”. What are your thoughts about
growing up? Can you relate to the stories you discussed?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Ex. Both of these stories teach us that growing up is not always easy, but your attitude can make all the
difference in the world. I know that I want to be like the girl in “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” because when
life gets tough, I don’t want to be scared and run away. I think it’s important to be confident and face
my problems and fears. If you do that then when you become an adult you will be able to handle life’s
ups and downs.