Essay Instructions: I need a book evaluation on the book called The Midwife''s Apprentice by Karen Cushman. It is a very hard paper to do for my Children''s Lituature Class. The concepts have to be universal were everyone can understand them. I have done three of these papers and recieved a grade of an D. Could you help. Here are the teachers notes and she is very specific. There is also a sample.
Instructor''s comments:
You will notice that the assignments are asking you to examine each reading
assignment in greater depth. At first, you read picture books, looked for
basic concepts and/or values in the story. You were to create effective
open-ended questions that would help children understand the deeper
meaning behind the story and relate it to their lives.
As you began your introduction into children''s novels, particularly the
world of fantasy and science fiction, you were asked to explore various
aspects of the genre and identify them.
For the remainder of the semester, you will be reading full-length novels:
modern realism, the "problem novel," historical, multi-cultural, and
Newbery winners. (You will also be reading a biography, but you will
receive specific information on that assignment later.) This time, in
your evaluations, you will go one step further. Not only will you read
and identify the concepts, but you are being asked to show how the
author addresses the concepts. You are to identify a particular place
in the novel where the concept is fulfilled, met, resolved (whatever the
situation may be). It will take understanding and insight on your part.
If it cannot be done, then perhaps your novel selection was not wisely
chosen. Perhaps the book is not one of quality. Again, I urge you to
consider my recommendations. Remember that you are not to submit
an evaluation of any book which I have evaluated.
The evaluation sheets are now worth fifty (50) points:
bibliography 5 points
plot summary 10 points
(Note: the summaries are longer than before because the novels
contain more pages than previous books read. You still are
not to tell the ending. You don''t tell specific information in the
plot summary. You save the particulars for the section in which
the concepts are met. Look in the sample that will follow.)
major concepts 15 points
(Note: you must have a minimum of three (3). Each is worth
five (5) points each. If you have more concepts, I will divide
the points accordingly. Keep in mind that I say "major concepts."
Do not select trivial ones like "wanting a sister." The concepts
should universal appeal, ones that anyone can relate to regardless
of gender, religion, nationality, language or color of one''s skin.)
I will give a section containing samples of concepts. They are
not complete. You must not confine yourself to them, nor use
my particular wording. There certainly are other concepts. The
ones listed below are being offered to give you an idea should
your reading comprehension skills not be up to college level.
The concepts must be specific. Do NOT list topics like "death"
or "sibling rivalry." Contact me if you still have difficulty.)
evaluation of how concepts are met 15 points
(The examples are to be specific. You''ll received more credit
by citing situations in the novel.)
personal comments 5 points
(Note that these comments should have some substance. Don''t
just say, "I liked this book. It reminded me of when I was
young."
Assignment:
1. You are to read a modern/realistic novel for children. You may
select one from "instructor''s recommendations," use your data
base, or ask a librarian. This is an opportunity to discover some
of the quality books available to children today. I suggest
you not go back and read a book you read years ago or one on
your shelf which you never "got around to reading."
2. You are to write a full-length evaluation sheet on the novel.
3. When you finish, prepare a booktalk to be submitted via telephone
message when given the assignment. Remember TALK. You
will not read. Review the class notes on booktalk preparation
Sample assignment:
Lowry, Lois. A Summer To Die. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977.
Plot Summary: Thirteen year old Meg Chalmers and her family move to a small
country town, where in the relative peace and quiet, her professor dad can complete
the writing of his novel. Meg has been jealous of her fifteen year old sister who is
blond, pretty, popular, and so full of smiles and life. Just as Meg?s jealousy for
her sister wanes and allows the ever-present love to emerge, her sister becomes
seriously ill and eventually dies. With the help of a seventy year old man and
a young married college couple and their unborn baby, Meg learns to deal
with the complex emotions she experiences. Meg''s unique talents and beauty
unfold and blossom as she faces the unfairness of life and learns to fill up
the sadness with beautiful memories.
Major concepts:
1. Sibling rivalry
2. Guilt over the serious illness of a sibling
3. Leaming about the process of dying
4. Pain of losing a loved one
Evaluation of how concepts are met:
1. When the family moves to a new town, Meg is jealous over her sister''s quick
acceptance and popularity, especially with boys. Meg eventually realizes
she and her sister have different needs and want different things from life.
As she develops her own unique skills (in photography), she has less time
to compare herself to her sister.
2. After an argument with her sister, Meg refuses not only to apologize but to speak.
During the night her sister is stricken and is rushed to the hospital. Meg blames
herself. It is easier than blaming the darkness, the unknown. In the loving concern
bestowed by her parents, she realizes she is not to blame.
3. As Meg watches her sister in the hospital waiting to die, she is filled with
helplessness and anger. She learns that "dying is a very solitary thing and
that all one can do is offer love."
4. Meg says, "Time goes on, and your life is still there,, and you have to live it.
After awhile you remember the good things more often than the bad. Then,
gradually, the empty silent parts of you fill up with sounds of talking and
laughter again, and the jagged edges of sadness are softened by memories."
Personal comments:
This is a very moving story handled with gentleness, understanding, and hope.
Sample concepts:
1. Need to find space of one''s own
2. Need to look at life through eyes of others
3. Desire to seek revenge
4. Plight of being an unwanted child
5. Adjusting to or pain inherent in being an outsider in a
different culture or race or generation
6. Coping with the death of a parent or sibling
7. Fear of losing a parent
8. Need to feel valued
9. Importance of being an individual
10. Accepting responsibility for one''s actions
11. Overcoming the generation gap in a relationship
12. Coping with anger
12. Coping with betrayal
13. Resolving sibling rivalry
14. Coming of age
15. Being poor or deprived in some way
16, Overcoming or acknowledging racism and or prejudice
17. Need to belong
19. Need to feel worthwhile
20. Need to love and or be loved
21. Need to dream
22. Need to believe the world is a good place
23. Realization that one is not alone in the world
24. Leaming to let go of ---------
25. Confronting the end of a relationship or accepting such
