CRITICAL LENS ESSAY

Regents #28

English

REFLECTING ON PAST
PERFORMANCE

Essay
#1

FEEDBACK FROM ESSAY #1

You may find comments on your essay (any page), and either side of
yellow sheet
If all body paragraphs were similarly constructed, you will only find 1 -2
marked up

Yellow sheet front (Regents rubric)

Yellow sheet back (comments)
Review terms what do they mean?

FEEDBACK FROM ESSAY #1

Common issues/errors:
Be concise, deliberate, succinct
Be direct and deliberate in word and sentence choice
Precision of language
Only use if I is when you agree or disagree
Must properly format titles
*use/uses* = EWWWWWW
Develops, focuses on, presents, conveys, confirms, etc.
Use correct genre
Avoid plot summary (the play -by-play)
Be careful with penmanship
Improve the sophistication of your vocabulary and elevate your
language

TASK - WHAT TO FOCUS ON

Read all comments and EVERY THING checked on yellow sheet
thoroughly
Select one paragraph to revise/rewrite
Review the graphic organizer for format
Do rewrite on a clean sheet of paper and staple to the front of all
your other sheets in this order:

Rewrite
Yellow sheet
Essay
Organizer

Read silently when finished

HOW TO WRITE THE

CRITICAL LENS ESSAY

QUESTION
First, thoroughly
read the task!

Then, identify and circle/underline

important words you need to remember!
(two, agree or disagree, support, specific
references, literary elements).

GUIDELINES

The
Quote

REMINDERS
Construct an organizer quickly
Make sure the texts you select relate to the quote
Select literary elements/techniques that you can
use to support the text you selected and for which
you can provide SPECIFIC related details
Be focused and organized
Compose your essay in the literary present
Avoid plot summary

LIT. ELEMENTS AND TECHNIQUES

( I DE A S YOU CA N C H OOSE M A NY M ORE )
Characterization
Setting
Symbolism
Irony
Mood
Conflict
Foreshadowing
Theme
Imagery
Motif

P1) Intro
Opening statement
o According to.
OR
o ____ once said.
Quote
Meaning or interpretation (2-3 sentences)
Agree or disagree with quote
Work #1 and author
o How it relates to quote
Work #2 and author
o How it relates to quote
P2) Body paragraph 1
Topic sentence for work #1
o Literary element/technique #1
Textual detail #1
Textual detail #2
Textual detail #3
Closing statement

GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER

P3) Body paragraph 2

Topic sentence for work #1
o Literary element/technique #2
Textual detail #1
Textual detail #2
Textual detail #3
Closing statement
P4) Body paragraph 3
Topic sentence for work #2
o Literary element/technique #1
Textual detail #1
Textual detail #2
Textual detail #3
Closing statement

GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER

P5) Body paragraph 4

Topic sentence for work #2
o Literary element/technique #2
Textual detail #1
Textual detail #2
Textual detail #3
Closing statement

P6) Conclusion
Refer back to the quote and
summarize how the texts you
selected relate to it.
Draw a conclusion related to your
interpretation of the quote and
wrap it up!

GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER

MAJOR TEXTS ENGLISH 11R

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien

The Crucible by Arthur Miller
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TEXTS

(FROM 9 TH AND 10 TH GRADE)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
1984 by George Orwell
Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

CL / #28 SCORING RUBRIC

Helpful words and

phrases to ensure
variety