LITERARY ANALYSIS - WALK TWO MOONS

FINAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT
LITERARY ANALYSIS – WALK TWO MOONS BY SHARON CREECH

Select one of the writing options below.
Total Points: 60
Due Dates:

• Optional: Typed and self-edited rough draft by Monday, November 3rd.
• Final essay: Thursday, November 6th

• NOTE: ESSAYS HAVE NOW BEEN GRADED AND RETURNED. STUDENTS MAY REVISE ONE MORE TIME IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR WRITING AND THEIR GRADES. REVISIONS ARE DUE BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. ALONG WITH THE NEW AND IMPROVED DRAFT, STUDENTS MUST RESUBMIT THEIR ORIGINAL FINAL COPY AND RUBRIC (GRADING SHEET).
  

Requirements for ALL OPTIONS:

• Typed, double-spaced. Indent 5 spaces for each paragraph
• Proper heading and creative title
• Do not use 1st person POV
• Minimum 5 paragraphs
• Clear introduction is inviting and clearly states your thesis
• Minimum 3 body paragraphs with clear, well-focused topic sentence
• Analysis provides relevant, quality details that go beyond the obvious or predictable.
• Adequate, credible facts and quotes are used. Use correct format for citing quotations (see class notes)
• Conclusion is strong. Thesis is restated (reworded) and reader gets what writer is “getting at.”
• Use a variety of transitions (see “Writing Basics” for ideas).
• Sentences are well-constructed with varied structure.
• Be sure to keep your writing free of spelling and grammatical errors

Option A - Challenge
Consider what Sharon Creech achieves by paralleling Phoebe’s and Sal’s stories. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of Phoebe’s world to Sal’s and its importance in the development of Sal’s self-knowledge.

Option B:
Analyze the tone in this novel. Is this a comic novel, a sad novel, or a little of both? Your examples should support how the author achieves establishing this tone

Option C:
In the last chapter of the novel, Sal explains the importance of her trip out west. Why does she describe it as a “gift?” What does she come to understand about her mother along the way that allowed her to accept the truth?

Option D:
An important lesson that Sal learns is that things are not always what they seem to be. Choose any three characters or incidents in the novel and describe how they appear at first to Sal. Then describe what she later learns to be true.

Option E:
The Winterbottoms receive messages throughout the story. Although the sender of the messages has no purpose other than fun, the messages connect to Phoebe’s family. Choose 3 of the messages and explore their possible meanings. Analyze how the messages connect to Phoebe’s family situation.

Option F – Challenge
On one occasion, Mr. Birkway gives his class a lesson on symbols-things, people, or events that can be understood on more than one level. Explain how symbols are used in this novel by discussing the meanings of 3 of the following symbols: the singing tree, the marriage bed, the fireplace behind the wall, hair, and blackberries.