Beginning Writing/Level A
WRITING FROM NOTES:
Magnificent Lodges
By N. A.
Quickly beavers construct marvelous homes. They build dams in rivers. They build their wonderful winter homes in ponds. They build at night, so enemies can’t see them. They build these lodges with mud, stones, and branches. The beavers neatly stack trees out of the water, on top of their homes, over and over, so it becomes stronger. They dig tunnels under the water into the mounds. They use their tails to flatten the mud and sticks. Beavers’ homes, which are amazing, are safe. They live in lodge for the whole winter. Beavers build magnificent lodges.
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Intermediate Writing/Level B
LITERARY CRITIQUE:
Hera
By Andrew
“Hera” is a Greek myth was written by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire and published by Delacorte Press in 1962. She is the goddess of Olympus and jealous of Zeus’ many, many wives. The setting is in Greece’s rocky mountains, valleys, and hills.
The main characters are Hera, Zeus, Io, and Argos. Hera was jealous and powerful and not tricked by Zeus. Zeus was afraid of Hera and had many mortal wives. Io is Zeus’ wife and is very lovely. Argos is Hera’s faithful servant.
The conflict of the story is man vs. man, or in this case, Hera versus Zeus. Zeus marries Io, but he has to change her to a cow to protect her from Hera’s wrath. Hera was not deceived but acted like she didn’t know and wanted the cow from Zeus. Hera tied Io to a tree, and Argos, with his 100 eyes, looked at her all the time. Io was not helped by Zeus. Zeus sent Hermes, disguised as a shepherd, to free Io. Hermes played on a shepherd’s pipe, and Argos was bored to death.
The climax occurs when Hermes sets Io free. Io went home, but her father did not recognize her. So, she scratched I – O in the sand. Her father, Inachos, wanted revenge on Zeus. Zeus, to save himself, threw a thunderbolt. Hera was furious when she discovered that Argos was dead and that Io was set free. To make sure he was not forgotten, she put his 100 eyes on the tail of her favorite bird, the peacock.
This myth about Hera was exciting. The reader liked Hera and Zeus, King and Queen of Olympus. This is also the legend of the peacock’s tail. The reader disliked the part in the story where Argos had to die. His 100 eyes were imagery, which is a literary device. This tale of “Hera” is top notch.
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Advanced Writing/Level C
MULTIPLE-SOURCE RESEARCH (written 9/2015 before current MLA changes):
Alexander the Great
by Alex
Alexander the Great, taught by Aristotle, endured fifteen long years in conquest and died at age thirty three. His father, taking into consideration that Alexander was the son of a military commander, asked Leonidas and Aristotle to teach him (Gill). Years later he entered a fifteen-year conquest and never lost a battle. Later in life, Alexander the Great died at age thirty-three in Babylon. Alexander the Great, who was one of the greatest military generals of his time, was important because his achievements made changes that still have an effect today.
At age seventeen Alexander the Great entered a world-altering, fifteen-year conquest that covered 11,000 miles (Carroll 197). Some of his achievements included being appointed a commander at age eighteen.(History.com Staff) Then he became a king at age twenty. Eight years later, he conquered the Persian Empire. (History.com Staff) At age thirty, three years before his death, Alexander the Great explored India (History.com Staff). Alexander the Great’s notable achievements in his vast domain brought about changes in the ancient world.
Alexander the Great brought about changes because of his achievements. For example, once he conquered Persia, it allowed the spread of Greek settlements, which brought Hellenistic civilization with it. Greek culture expanded, which created unity between the cultures (Carroll 207). Alexander the Great brought Greek language, culture, learning, and reasoning to all his empire through the Hellenistic civilization (Carroll 197). The changes he brought have benefitted the world then and now through the spread of the Hellenistic civilization. This effect allowed the Greek culture to continue to the Jews, the Greek laws became foundation for other laws, Saul changed his name to Paul, and missionaries had safe roads to travel on (Got Questions Ministries).
Alexander the Great’s achievements have greatly affected the modern world. Because he conquered Persia, the block not allowing the spread of Greek settlements, was removed, which started the spread of Hellenistic civilization. (History.com Staff) Because of the removal of the block started the spread of the Hellenistic civilization, this caused major advances in science, philosophy, and drama (History.com Staff). Hellenistic civilization still has an effect on the modern world today since students are still studying the great Greek writings, buildings still use Greek architecture, and epic plays are still being performed.
Alexander the Great’s achievements and the changes they brought about during his short life still affect the world today. He was a king at age eighteen and conquered the Persian Empire at age twenty six. Because of his ambition he cleared the way for Greek settlements, which formed Hellenistic civilization (History.com Staff). That caused significant advances in science, philosophy, and drama. Even in the short time Alexander the Great had, he permanently changed the world with these achievements that are part of the modern world.
Works Cited
Barksdale, Nate. “8 Surprising Facts about Alexander the Great.” History Channel. May 13, 2014. Web. 12 September 2015.
Biography.com Editors. “Alexander the Great.” Biography.com. Web. September 12, 2015.
Carroll, Warren H. The Founding of Christendom. Virginia: Christendom Press. 1985. Print.
Dowling, Mike. “Alexander the Great.” Mrdowling.com. July 15, 2015. Web. September 12, 2015.
Gill, N.S. “13 Facts About Alexander the Great.” Ancienthistory.com. Web. September 12, 2015.
Got Questions Ministries. “What is Hellenism, and How Did it Influence the Early Church?” GotQuestions.org. n.d. Web. September 22, 2015.
History.com Staff. “Alexander the Great.” History Channel. 2009. Web. September 12, 2015.
(Formatting may be off from actual student document.)
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The following was written by an eighth grader after three years of instruction through the classes offered through RC History. The assignment was to write about a person without doing any research:
A Heavenly Flower
In the history of the Church, Mary, the Mother of God, has been recognized in various devotions, her many apparitions, and her joyful feast days. There are many beautiful and unique devotions to our Blessed Mother. Likely the most popular is the Holy Rosary, which has twenty mysteries. The Joyful, Luminous, which Pope John Paul II added later, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries clearly reflect upon the sacred life of Jesus and Mary. Presenting us with that devotion in the Middle Ages, Mary has offered us a smooth path to her Son. Because the Middle Ages was a period of art and literature, other beautiful prayers, such as the Hail Holy Queen, originated in that era. A third devotion is the thirty-three-day Marian consecration, which helps us totally surrender our life to her obsequious care. Many saints have supported it. Concludingly, the devotions to Mary are powerful and unique as she is an irreplaceable intercessor who passionately draws us closer to Jesus.
Demonstrating her motherly love for us, Mary appeared to many humble people and gave them messages of repentance, hope, and love. When the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was established, she appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes. Our Lady of Lourdes assiduously affirmed this recent, infallible teaching made by the Church. Another popular apparition took place at Fatima when Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children. Firmly she insisted on the importance of the Rosary and gave us the first Saturday devotions. In France she visited St. Catherine Laboure, who was a young nun. Mary confidently instructed her to have medals cast with the vision Mary showed Catherine. Through the grace of God, the miraculous medals have brought about innumerable conversions and healings. They are sacramentals now. Through her numerous apparitions, Mary has shown us her love while demonstrating that she can use the east of us to accomplish God’s work in the world.
In addition to devotions and her apparitions, Mary has many joyful feasts throughout the calendar year. Gloriously, January first is the wonderful solemnity of the Mother of God. That feast is a wonderful way to welcome the new year. Appearing to Mary with a life-changing message, Gabriel triumphantly announced her mission from God. We assiduously celebrate the Annunciation on March twenty-fifth. Next, we remember her miraculous Assumption on August fifteenth. Although most feasts reflect joy, Our Lady of Sorrows, which we solemnly remember in September, is one of the sadder days. It marks Mary’s seven sorrows. December eighth is another joyful day in the Church when we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Thus, Marian feast days, like other feasts Holy Mother Church gives us, are a cause to happily rejoice and reflect on the life of a holy member in the Body of Christ. In conclusion, we should all participate in Mary’s devotions, study her apparitions, and celebrate her many feasts because in doing so we can become closer to Christ, and our hearts become like blooming flowers.
Stylistic Scribe 