Honors English 2
Final Exam
Literature Based
Transcendental Gift Project
Literature Based Transcendental Gift Project
Task
Make a literature based gift for someone of your choice. While you may purchase supplies, you must actually
make the gift; ​it may not be purchased​. You will create the gift solely for this project (no double dipping). The gift
must reflect and exhibit qualities of a particular work of literature covered in this course. The gift must also include
a quotation from a writer covered this year. The quotation must fit the gift and/or recipient.
You will share your gift and required information with the class in a presentation that will take place during the
scheduled exam time for your respective class period. Exam times will be shared in the next few days.
Items to Include In Presentation
●
The gift​: what it is, what it means/represents (qualities pertinent to the literature), how you decided what to
make, kinds of materials you used
●
The quotation​: the specific quote selected and tell how it fits the gift and/or the recipient
●
The recipient​: for whom the gift is made, how/what way you connect with this person
●
The connection​: how the gift connects with the soul of the recipient, why you chose this person
●
The giving​: why you will or will not actually give the gift
Pointers and Tips:
● Look closely at the bullet points above and the scoring rubric on the back. Understanding this
rubric and working based on information provided will help you earn a good grade.
●
The purpose of really any presentation in life is to inform an audience of your peers. Therefore, It
will be in your best interest to explicitly and fully address each of the items on the rubric. You do
not want anyone in your audience (especially Mrs. Erlinger!) to miss an important component of
your presentation.
●
Make sure you speak loudly, clearly, and slowly (even if you are nervous!). Again, important
information could be missed if any of these presentation skills are not utilized.
●
There is no required time for this presentation, but approximately three minutes seems like
feasible time to reasonably cover what needs to be covered.
Honors English 2
Final Exam
Literature Based
Transcendental Gift Project
Name ___________________________________________________________ Period _______________
Rubric – KEEP THIS! REFERENCE AS YOU WORK AND HAND IT TO MRS. ERLINGER ON EXAM DAY!!
Grading scale:
High = Above and beyond = A
Decent = Above average = B
Mediocre = Average = C
Sloppy = Below average = D
Not so much = Well below average = F
Student demonstrates quality, creativity, and originality in the design and/or execution of the gift.
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student describes the gift – what the gift is, what it means and how he/she decided to make it.
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student communicates how this gift has qualities pertinent to the literary work chosen.
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student includes a quotation from a work that relates to and enhances the gift.
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student communicates how the quotation on the gift links to the gift and/or the recipient(s).
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student identifies a meaningful recipient of the gift and explains why this person/these people is/are meaningful recipient(s).
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student presents insightful reasons for either presenting or not presenting their gift to the designated recipient(s).
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student employs vocal quality (articulation, pronunciation, rate, pauses, volume) when speaking.
❑ High
❑ Decent
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Student delivers speech (eye contact, nonverbals/gestures, posture, preparedness, polish) professionally.
❑ High
❑ Decent
Overall letter grade __________
❑ Mediocre
❑ Sloppy ❑Not so much
Overall percentage __________ /100 points
Honors English 2
Final Exam
Literature Based
Transcendental Gift Project
What We Have Read This Year
Unit 1 – Introduction to Honors English 2 and Summer Reading with AP Prompts
● Summer reading books (you have your own copies)
● Zeitoun​ by Dave Eggers
Unit 2 – A Examining the American Dream
● American Dream Independent Reading Book
● Obama speech on the American Dream (available on Youtube)
● “In Search of the American Dream: Article by Eleanor Roosevelt and Others Take Up the Question of
What Constitutes the American Ideal” article by Jonas Clark (handout - ask Mrs. Erlinger for copy, if
needed)
● A Raisin in the Sun​ by Lorraine Hansberrry (available in media center)
● “Harlem” by Langston Hughes (available online)
● “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman (lyrics available online)
● “A History of the War on Drugs from Prohibition to Gold Rush” video by Jay Z
● excerpts from ​The House on Mango Street​ by Sandra Cisneros (handout – ask Mrs. Erlinger for copy, if
needed)
Unit 3 – Studying Literature
● Of Mice and Men​ by John Steinbeck (available in media center)
Unit 4 – Argumentative Essay (with Ms. Tucker)
● “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson (handout – ask Mrs. Erlinger for copy, if needed)
Unit 5 - The Great Gatsby (with Ms. Tucker)
● “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald (handout – ask Mrs. Erlinger for copy, if needed)
● The Great Gatsby​ by F. Scott Fitzgerald (available in media center)
● “The Great Fatsby” by Anthony Weiner (handout – ask Mrs. Erlinger for copy, if needed)
Unit 6 – Romanticism and Individualism
● Various poems by Romantic poets –William Cullen Bryant, Emily Dickinson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow, and Walt Whitman (see personal notes/online)
● “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving (handout – ask Mrs. Erlinger for a copy, if needed)
● “Rappaccini’s Daughter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne (available online)
● “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe (available online)
● from “Resistance to Civil Government” by Henry David Thoreau (handout - ask Mrs. Erlinger for a copy, if
needed)
● from ​Walden, or Life in the Woods ​by Henry David Thoreau (handout - ask Mrs. Erlinger for a copy, if
needed)
● from “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson (handout - ask Mrs. Erlinger for a copy, if needed)
● from “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson (handout - ask Mrs. Erlinger for a copy, if needed)
● “The Foul Reign of ‘Self-Reliance’” by Benjamin Anastas (handout - ask Mrs. Erlinger for a copy, if
needed)
Honors English 2
Final Exam
●
Literature Based
Transcendental Gift Project
“America and Americans: Is the American Dream Even Possible?” essay by John Steinbeck (handout -ask
Mrs. Erlinger for copy, if needed)