RUSTHOF SECONDARY SCHOOL

ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

GRADE 8

TASK 6: STAGE 1

RESEARCH

SEPTEMBER 2023

TOTAL: 20 MARKS

NAME + SURNAME: ________________________________

EDUCATOR: C. STAMBOUL MODERATOR: L. KROTZ

Instructions:

● This assessment consist of 3 stages:

Stage 1: Research [20]

Stage 2: Essay [30]
Stage 3: Oral [20]

● We will complete all 3 stages throughout the term.

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 ● Provide references for your research.

Stage 1 Mark Stage 2 Mark Stage 3 Mark

20 30 20

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STAGE 1: RESEARCH
Instructions:
1. Read through the poem and informational text based on the poem, “This
is just to say”.

This Is Just To Say

by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

Background on William Carlos Williams:

William Carlos Williams (1883-1963) was an American poet, writer, and physician.
He was born in Rutherford, New Jersey, and spent most of his life in the United
States. Williams attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania and
practiced medicine as a paediatrician while pursuing his literary interests.

Williams was associated with the Modernist literary movement and played a
significant role in shaping American poetry during the early to mid-20th century. He
was a contemporary of other influential poets like Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and
Wallace Stevens.

William Carlos Williams' medical background as a physician influenced his poetic

style in several ways. He adopted a direct and straightforward approach to language,
much like a medical diagnosis, aiming for clarity and precision in his writing. His keen
observations from his medical practice translated into an acute attention to detail in
his poetry, capturing the essence of ordinary moments with vivid imagery. Themes of
health, illness, and the human body often appeared in his works, and "This Is Just To

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Say" subtly hints at his medical inclinations through the use of an apologetic tone
reminiscent of a doctor admitting to a patient's wrongdoings.

William Carlos Williams' poetic voice is characterized by simplicity, vivid imagery,

and an appreciation for the beauty found in everyday experiences. In "This Is Just To
Say," his use of a short, note-like format creates an intimate and personal
atmosphere, drawing the reader into the speaker's world. The unadorned language
and direct confession of eating the plums foster a realistic emotional connection with
readers. This approach heightens the poem's impact by capturing a common human
experience and turning it into a relatable, memorable moment.

"This Is Just To Say" explores themes of guilt and temptation through the speaker's
confession of eating the plums meant for someone else. The poem's simplicity and
focus on an everyday act enable Williams to instil significance into a seemingly minor
event. Through his skilful use of language and imagery, Williams elevates the act of
eating plums into a moment of self-examination, guilt, and appreciation for life's
fleeting pleasures. This ability to find meaning in the ordinary is a trademark of
Williams' poetic style, present in various works throughout his legacy.

William Carlos Williams' approach to simplicity and directness in "This Is Just To

Say" makes the poem highly relatable to readers. By using plain language and
straightforward expressions, Williams ensures that the poem is easily understood
without the need for extensive interpretation. This accessibility enhances the poem's
reliability, as readers can connect with the themes of temptation, apology, and
appreciation of life's small pleasures. The poem's shortness and lack of complex
metaphors also allow it to resonate with a wide audience, making it approachable
and enjoyable to both seasoned poetry fans and newcomers alike.

William Carlos Williams' use of imagery in "This Is Just To Say" plays a vital role in
the poem's impact on the reader. By describing the plums as "so sweet and so cold,"
Williams creates a vivid sensory experience, enabling readers to imagine the taste
and temperature of the fruit. This sensory imagery contributes to the poem's
emotional impact, making the speaker's confession and appreciation of the plums
more relatable and memorable.

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 Reread the text, researching the following questions. Write your answers down
on the answer sheet folio.

1. What is a Hypothesis
2. Do some research on the author of the poem. Write a short paragraph of no
more than 6 sentences. This must include where he was born, his Tertiary
educations and also mention some of his other noteworthy poems.
3. How did William Carlos Williams' medical background influence his poetry
style and themes in "This Is Just To Say"?
4. What themes of guilt, temptation, and everyday experiences can be found in
"This Is Just To Say" and other works by Williams, and how does he give
significance to ordinary moments?
5. How does the simplicity and directness in William Carlos Williams' poetry,
especially in "This Is Just To Say," make it easy for readers to connect with?
6. How does William Carlos Williams' use of imagery, particularly in describing
the plums, contribute to the emotional impact and overall meaning of "This Is
Just To Say"?
RESEARCH
DESCRIPTORS
CRITERIA /20
Comprehensiv Applicable
e research on resources
the topic given used from a The required number The learner is unable
is variety of of resources used. to relate resources
evident. More sources which Limited variety. (e.g., used to the final
resources than spoke to the topic. only Wikipedia or only Limited number and product, but the
Variety, number and required were the novel/text used in variety of resources product is still
quality of resources used. consulted. class.) used. produced.
2-1 marks
10-9 marks 8-7 marks 6-5 marks 4-3 marks
No Bibliography/
Bibliography/ Bibliography/
References/ References/Resources
Resources are given, are given but do not References/
Bibliography/ and it is relate to the topic Resources given.
References/ evident that they and/or the final product.
Resources relate to the topic and
the final product. 1 mark 0 marks
2 marks

*Evidence of Organisational Organisational Organisational Organisational

organisational techniques/ techniques/ skills techniques/ skills techniques/skills
techniques/ skills used skills resulted in resulted in a good resulted in an average resulted in an
(mind mapping/ an project. project. elementary project.
summarising excellent
/planning/drafts) to project.
arrange research 6-5 marks 4-3 marks 2-1 marks
information into the final 8-7 marks
product.

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 RUSTHOF SECONDARY SCHOOL

ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

GRADE 8

TASK 6: STAGE 2

CREATIVE WRITING

SEPTEMBER 2023

TOTAL: 30 MARKS

NAME + SURNAME: ________________________________

EDUCATOR: C. STAMBOUL MODERATOR: L. KROTZ

Instructions:

● Write an essay of 120 – 140 words

● Follow the complete writing process:

1. Planning,
2. Rough draft
3. Final draft.
Essay Topic: How does William Carlos Williams use simple language and everyday
situations in "This Is Just To Say" to portray themes of temptation and remorse?
Discuss why readers find the poem relatable.

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Use the following as a guide for the structure of your essay:
Introduction: Introduce the poem that you researched and briefly mention what
information is to be expected from the following paragraphs e.g.
Body: How does William Carlos Williams use simple language and everyday
situations in "This Is Just To Say" to portray themes of temptation and remorse?
Elaborate on why readers find the poem relatable.
Conclusion: Share the evaluation you made about the poem and what you’ve learnt
from the poem.

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 Your writing piece will be assessed according to the following rubric:

Name + Surname …………………………………………………

WRITING
Very good 5 Good Averag Elementary Poor
4 e3 2 1
/ 30
Planning/ Follow Thorough Average planning. Limited evidence of No planning done.
Good planning,
writing process planning, good Introduction, body planning. No introduction and
introduction, body and
introduction, and closing that Attempted closing.
body and closing. closing. results in a piece introduction and
of writing that is closing.
acceptable, but not
extra-ordinary.
Format and Excellent Good adherence to Average Basic adherence to No or limited
structure adherence to format used adherence to format used adherence to format
format used format used used

Adherence to Handling of topic Handling of topic Handling of topic Handling of topic Handling of topic
topic shows excellent shows good average relevance shows limited shows no
relevance and relevance and and originality relevance and relevance and
originality originality originality originality

Creative end Good figurative Figurative language Average figurative Limited figurative No figurative language
product language used and used language used and language, or imagination used.
very and imaginative. fairly imaginative. imagination. Poor language usage
imaginative. Good language usage Average language Basic language
Excellent language usage usage
usage
Language Excellent use of Good use of Average use of Basic use of Poor use of
structures and vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary, sentence
conventions sentence sentence sentence sentence structure, spelling and
structure, spelling structure, spelling and structure, spelling structure, spelling and punctuation
and punctuation punctuation and punctuation punctuation
Very good editing No
Editing and proof Good editing Average Elementary editing editing done at all
of editing
editing

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 RUSTHOF SECONDARY SCHOOL

ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

GRADE 8

TASK 7: STAGE 3

ORAL PRESENTATION

SEPTEMBER 2023

TOTAL: 20 MARKS

NAME + SURNAME: ________________________________

EDUCATOR: C. STAMBOUL MODERATOR: L. KROTZ

Instructions:
Length of time: 2-3 minutes long

Prepare an oral presentation based on the research you did on the poem “This Is
Just To Say” by William Carlos Williams

1. Your oral should:

● Use appropriate structure: introduction, body and conclusion • Present
a central idea and supporting details

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 ● Use cue cards/ A poster

● Use appropriate body language and presentation skills, e.g. make eye
contact and project your voice
2. A suggested structure for your Oral Presentation is as follows:
● An Introduction: Introduce the poem that you researched, and share
your first response to the poem, e.g. When you first heard that you
were going to do a project on the poem, what did you think / feel about
this?
● Body – Share the main findings of your research. Read your own
Creative Response to the poem. As well as the mood and tone of the
poem.
3. Conclusion: Share the evaluation you made about the poem (what you
learned).

Your Oral will be assessed according to the following rubric:

Name + Surname ……………………………………………………

Speaking
Very good Good Average Unsatisfactory Not
____/ 20 5 4 3 2 achieved 1

Very good Good introduction of the Average Unsatisfactory Poor

Introduction of
introduction of the topic and good research introduction of the introduction of the introduction of
topic and
topic and very good done topic and average topic and limited the topic and
research limited to no
research done research done research done.
research done

Very good
Pronunciation pronunciation and Good pronunciation Average Unsatisfactory Poor
and articulation very good use of and good use pronunciation and pronunciation and pronunciation
articulation relative good use of limited use of and no use of
of articulation
articulation articulation articulation

Appropriate body Body language Body language used Average use of Unsatisfactory use of Body language
language used very well well during the body language body language during inappropriate
during the presentation during the the presentation for the
presentation presentation presentation
Use of
resources, visual Limited to no
Very good use of Average use of Unsatisfactory use of
cues to create a Good use of resources use of
resources resources resources
good resources
presentation

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