Annotation Scoring Rubric

Revised Annotation Scoring Rubric

	Insufficient 1	Developing 2	Proficient 3	Exemplary 4
Thorough Annotation	Limited/rare annotation or does not annotate full text	Frequent, but inconsistent annotation -- elements that clearly need discussion are not always addressed	Frequent, but inconsistent annotation -- most significant elements always addressed	Abundant annotation throughout the selection; no gaps or oversights
Balance of Comprehension and Analysis	Annotation limited exclusively to comprehension	Annotation focuses mostly on comprehension with little evidence of analysis OR on analysis with little evidence of plot comprehension	Demonstrates attention to both comprehension and analysis, but one of these needs development	Balances thorough comprehension notes and analysis notes; discussion goes beyond the literal & provides insight, interpretation, questions, connections and comparisons within & between texts
Attention to Detail	Comments develop insight or detailed commentary only on assigned items	Shows occasional insight into the complexities of the play and the implications of words, details, and events, but usually generalizes	Shows frequent but inconsistent insight into the complexities of the play and the implications of words, details, and events,	Demonstrates thorough insight into and clear description of the significance of specific words, details, and events with regard to development of the  play’s plot, theme and literary elements
Application of Key Concepts	Fails to make specific connections to other texts or concepts discussed in class	Makes few connections to other texts or concepts discussed in class	Makes occasional connections to other texts and  concepts discussed in class	Makes frequent, specific connections to concepts discussed in class, such as characterization, internal&external conflict, symbolism, imagery, irony, figurative language, connotation, motif, elements of tragic characters/drama, etc

King Lear Act 3 Scenes 1,2,3: Shared Theme

Read the first three scenes of Act Three. Then, identify a theme, motif, or shared conflict developed in these scenes. Begin by simply identifying and briefly describing the shared concept you will be discussing.

Ex: The events at the beginning of Act Three give further insight into the importance of bananas, and a person's ability to clearly understand the nature of fruit.

Ex: In scenes 1-3 the reader sees repeated references to the pancake motif established earlier in the play. The use of this motif supports reader understanding of the significance of the events as they unfold in these three scenes. 

King Lear Acts One and Two Review

1. Identify the conflicts established in the first two acts

*Struggle by Goneril and Regan to strip Lear of his power and identity (King)

*Cordelia banished / estranged from her father due to her refusal to flatter

*Edmund's resistance to tradition of inheritance

*Conflicting morals / beliefs between Kent and Oswald

*Kent's banishment for his attempt to help lear

*Division of England -- Civil War between Cornwall and Albany

*Fool's confrontation of Kent and Lear with the uncomfortable truth

*Dishonor of Lear and his servants by Cornwall and Regan and Oswald/Goneril

*Who will lead England?

*Edmund's attempt to have his brother killed and inherit the land/wealth/title of Gloucester

2. Describe / summarize the situation faced by significant characters at the end of act two

 *Edgar disguised as a naked, filth-covered, insane beggar "Tom o' Bedlam"

*Cordelia Queen of France in exile

*Lear insane in a hurricane, locked out of the castle, no knights

*Kent banished, cannot be his true identity, but CAN serve the king

*Edmund is successful with his lies -- convinced his father Edgar is guilty, true heir in hiding has been promised inheritance and legitimate title

*Goneril and Regan are going to begin a civil war, have successfully gotten rid of their father and any threat he could pose, each rule half of England

*Oswald rewarded for his disloyal conduct

*Fool aware of his position and out with the king in the cold stormy weather. 

3. Identify some of the questions / themes that have been raised by the play so far
*What makes you who you are? What is your identity and how is it determined?
*Corruption of those who hold power
*Can manipulation be used for good
*People are blinded by the power they have
*What are the effects of breaking tradition
*What makes a king (or any leader?)
*Loyalty to family vs. Loyalty to self
*What are you willing to do to achieve your goals? Do the ends justify the means?
*What does a person really need? Why does the difference between needs and wants matter?
*What does trust signify or mean What does it mean to be loyal
*What makes you a "man" or what makes you powerful
*What are the duties or requirements of a king?
*Needs vs. Desires
*Is exiling you problem a solution?
*What is the nature of wisdom? Foolishness? Who is qualified to judge?
*What does it take to earn the respect of others (loyalty and obedience)
*What sacrifices do you make for the ones you love?
*Does loyalty only bring decline of status or well-being
*What laws control human behavior
*Is the world just?
*Is there such a thing as too much loyalty?
*The true nature of people can be seen by their response to power and greed
*Who is good? Evil?

King Lear Acts One and Two Review

1. Identify the conflicts established in the first two acts
*Kent is exiled due to his advice to the king. His good counsel is punished
*Cordelia is banished because of her refusal to flatter the King
*Edmund frames his brother for the attempted murder of Gloucester
*Lear acts rashly, but still has the power of the king.
*Insubordination of Lear's daughters and his mistreatment by the children (and servants)
*Between Kent and Oswald -- due to lack of respect and difference in morality
*Between Gloucester and Edgar -- manipulated into giving a death warrant, Edgar running for his life in disguise
*Who will rule England?
*The mistreatment of the king's servants
*Civil war in England between Albany and Cornwall
2. Describe / summarize the situation faced by significant characters at the end of act two
*Lear: Betrayed by daughters, now aware of their connivance, stripped of his last power, locked out of castle in a hurricane -- going mad
*Goneril and Regan are united against father, but divided in quest for ultimate power - each have 1/2 of England
*Edgar now in hiding, Tom o' Bedlam, filthy naked beggar.
*Kent in "exile" but still serving the King. In contact with Cordelia
*Corn and Alb: Like sisters, rich, powerful, looking for more.
*Edmund had folled his father -- and Cornwall/Regan. Now stands to inherit, promised to be held close to Cornwall in time of crisis.

3. Identify some of the questions / themes that have been raised by the play so far. 

*Can betrayal lead to power? Is it justified or rewarded?
*What limits should there be on the pursuit of power and wealth?
*How are trust and manipulation used for good and evil? Who should we trust and why?
*What are the rewards or punishments for using your words to be honest or be manipulative? 
*Who should you trust and what should be the basis for this decision?
*What should be the basis for loyalty?
*Wisdom and folly
*Sight and blindness
*Reality and appearance
*Human laws and natural laws
*What do people need vs. what do people want?
*What is the basis for a ruler's power? What makes a King a King?

Lesson for Tuesday, December 15

Hi! I'm at the vet with my cat, who seems to have a large, infected wound from a cat fight. Yay!

Today, I need you to finish your work on the Act One questions. Make sure you make a clear, coherent statement about each issue, and then provide two pieces of supporting evidence. Make sure you explain how the evidence you provide supports the claims you have made.

If you finish before class is over, continue your reading/annotation of Act Two.

King Lear Theme Discussion Questions: End of Act One

Here are several of the main ideas raised by in Act I. Work individually to answer each of these questions, providing at least two specific examples to support your answer.

In Antigone, tragedy was the result of competing priorities of different characters. Though these characters disagreed in their priorities and understandings of justice, each was attempting to do what was best for Thebes and its citizens. To what extent does this also seem to be the case in King Lear?

Who do you believe bears ultimate responsibility for the conflicts in Lear's and Gloucester's families?

These first two acts raise questions about the nature and exercise of royal power. What is this power based upon? To what extent can this play be seen as questioning monarchy?

What different kinds of loyalty are addressed in the first act of the play? How do different expressions of loyalty or disloyalty reveal character and cause conflict?

How is deception used in this first act of the play? What causes this deception?

Work for Thursday, 12/10

Today, we will be working on a variety of different tasks:

1. We'll look at some test-taking strategies for multiple-choice questions
2. We'll re-take the first two section quizzes for King Lear
3. We will finish Lear Act 1 (only one short scene)
4. We will make sure we have line numbers up to this point in the play
5. You will have any remaining time to work on annotations.