Summative Assessment

Unit Paper: Transcendentalism

Overview: At the end of the unit, you will demonstrate what you learned by
writing a paper about two authors of your choice that published literature
during the 19th century. You may choose two authors listed below. You will
notice two different lists: You must choose one from each side. We have
studied Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson extensively and
therefore, cannot pick both to discuss. Prior to turning in the paper, you will
present your outline. I will present a rubric for that later. But for now, I would
like you to brainstorm. You can get up to 100 points on this paper.

Step One: You must pick one author from the left-hand side, and one from
the right.

Step Two: Pick any work (whether we have discussed it in class or not) by
each author to focus on in your paper. This piece of literature can be of any
kind depending on the prompt you pick, such as a poem, article, etc.

Step Three: Pick a prompt you are more interested in. If you are interested
in adjusting a prompt, you may do so and present the changes during the
presentation. If you have a completely different prompt in mind, you are
more than welcome to introduce it to me, and we can further discuss your
ideas. We will have one on ones during research time to make your prompt
more concrete.

Step Four: Research!!! Make sure you use at LEAST three scholarly sources
beyond the texts you are examining. Sparknotes and Wikipedia are not
acceptable sites.

Step Five: Proofread your paper. A friend, classmate, or family member can
really give you some good tips and critiques. Also, edit your paper by
keeping in mind the rubric on the next page.

Essential Factors
1. Cite all your sources, including the works of the authors you choose
2. Use proper MLA format
3. Times New Roman, 12 font, double spaced
4. Turn in the paper on: _____________
5. 4-6 papers
Author Choices:
Pick One Pick One
Henry David Thoreau Theodore Parker
Ralph Waldo Emerson Elizabeth Peabody
Margaret Fuller John Sullivan Dwight
Amos Bronson Alcott Walt Whitman
Louisa May Alcott Caroline Healey Dall
Prompts
1. Using two of the authors, choose one (or more) theme and compare
and contrast how the authors explore similar themes.
2. Pick a poem from each author and annotate their work. Compare the
same literary devices both authors use in their poems that explore the
main themes in Transcendentalism.
3. Using more outside sources, discuss the transition of Romanticism and
Transcendentalism in their relationship to their native development (for
example, Romanticism being in Europe, Transcendentalism being in
America during the 1800s). You may compare them, but mostly,
discuss the history of the written traditions and how America was
influenced by European Literature. Pick two authors from your list and
any two from the Romantic Period (that I must approve).
4. Much of the time, many works were created in response to one
another. Choose one author who responded to another, and discuss the
rhetorical, literary, and creative aspects of this. Using your own
research, confer their personal relationships and attitudes, as well as
their personal philosophies.
5. Create or edit one of these and present it to me!
 Transcendentalism Paper Rubric
Scale Content (40 Format (30 Execution (30
points) points) points)
Excellent -Information -Transitions are -Information is
correctly smooth expressed with
introduced -use of paragraph enthusiasm and
-Research cited breaks at appropriate
correctly appropriate language
-Names, authors, moments -Grammar is
texts, referred to -double spaced correct
correctly -Editing clearly
shows that it has
been proofread
Above -Information is -Transitions can -Information is
Expectati discussed use some work, organized with
ons accurately but still clean, formal
-research is demonstrate writing
cited correctly organization -Grammar can
-choice of -paragraph use more
authors and breaks utilized editing, but
information at almost nothing
presented perfect times unfavorable
accurately -double spaced
Meets -Some of the -Transitions need -Information is
Expectatio information more work: presented with
ns presented is not language does organization and
accurate, but is not flow, and clarity
satisfactory information is
-Some authors sometimes
works not broken at wrong
presented in a points
clear fashion -double spaced
Needs -less than -may not be -Grammar
Improvem three outside double spaced mistakes are
ent sources were or 12 font frequent
utilized -paper is not in -language is
-information is MLA formatting informal
repetitive/redu -may be -Clearly was
ndant missing a not proofread
Works Cited or edited
Unsatisfact -less to no -MLA formatting -Not proofread;
ory outside sources and expectations there are
were used have not been numerous
-information is followed grammar
repetitive and -Works Cited is mistakes
inaccurate missing -Information is
-No flow in informal,
transition; unorganized, and
paragraph breaks unclear
not appropriate