Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summative Assessment

Assignment: Now that you have read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, trace back over your annotations and
charts for examples of satire. Your assignment is to create a visual essay in which you analyze how Mark Twain
uses elements of satire to demonstrate a larger purpose or theme. Use the following steps to help guide your
project:

Step 1 (Thesis): Create your thesis. Your thesis is what you intend to argue throughout the entire essay

Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement should fit the following structure:

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain satirizes [what he satirizes] in order to
[criticize/point out/convey/expose] [Twain’s larger purpose or theme].

Step 2 (Claims/Mini-arguments): Create 3 smaller claims/arguments based on the thesis

Step 3 (Evidence): Find the best evidence to support your 3 claims. You should have a total of 9 quotes

Step 4 (CEA Paragraphs): Based on your claims and evidence, your group members need to create 3 CEA body
paragraphs

Step 5 (Concluding Statement): Examining your thesis and body paragraphs, in 3-5 sentences, discuss Mark
Twain’s overall purpose as it relates to your theme

Step 6 (Visual): Create the visuals that will accompany your essay

Structure and Organization

Your visual essay should have a thesis statement, three CEA paragraphs, and a concluding statement
examining how Twain satirizes your chosen theme(s). Each CEA paragraph should have a symbolic visual
component, and all three symbolic components should relate to one bigger, cohesive visual representation.
(Look for inspiration in nature, objects from the novel, etc…)

There are a few different organizational structures you could choose, but the two main ways to organize
your argument are:
 Three targets he satirizes with the one purpose/theme.
(For example: three targets=romanticism, class hierarchy, and superstition; one theme= moral
development)
 One target he satirizes through three different purposes/themes.
(For example: target=ignorant white slave owners; three different themes= hypocrisy of civilized
society, man’s inhumanity to man, moral development)

Analysis
 Thoughtful structuring of all paragraphs (CEA) that reveals how your topic is being satirized
and its relationship to Twain’s purpose
 Carefully-integrated evidence in the form of quote fragments that contain elements of satire
(irony, reversal, understatement, etc.).
  Close analysis that focuses on language that reveals the target, weapons of satire including an
explanation, and purpose beyond the text.
 Authentic reflection on the significance of Twain’s ideas

Formatting Conventions
 Appropriate formatting, including double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font and an MLA
heading, Title reflecting your visual essay
 Proper citation of all sources according to MLA style
 Your visual should be displayed on a poster board

Important Dates
Your assignment is due Monday, February 1st (first day of final exams). Attached is a tentative calendar so you
know what you need to work on day-by-day

~ January 2016 ~
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
11 12 13 14 15
Day 1:
-Introduce project
-Theme Activity: connect
themes and targets
-Model a thesis and one claim
(if time permits)

H.W. Final annotation

check on Tuesday
(chapters 32-43)

18 19 20 21 22
NO SCHOOL (MLK Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5:
OBSERVANCE) -Create a Google drive -Model how to peer edit -Find evidences for -Model how to craft a CEA
that needs to be shared thesis and claims claims strand with an emphasis on
with your group -Peer edit and revise the analysis
members and Ms. thesis and claims -Work on CEAs
Hinton
-Begin crafting your
thesis and claims

H.W. Finish Claims H.W. Finish compiling

(This will be checked your evidence (this
in) will be checked in)

25 26 27 28 29
Day 6: Day 7: Day 8: Day 9: Day 10:
-Work on CEAs -Model how to peer edit -Wrap up revisions and -Work on -Work on visual/finalize
body paragraphs begin to work on your visual/finalize project project
-Peer edit/revise your visual
group’s CEAs H.W. Upload your Google
Drive (outline and CEA
body paragraphs) to
www.turnitin.com by 11:59
pm on Sunday, January 31
1 2 3 4 5
Final Exam (gallery Huck Finn Movie Huck Finn Movie Huck Finn Movie NO SCHOOL (TEACHER
walk) (END OF THE INSTITUTE DAY)
QUARTER)
 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn River Project Outline
Thesis (your argument of how your chosen theme is developed throughout the novel; this should be a general
statement because you get specific in your claims as you go down the river)

I. Claim (smaller argument based on the thesis; here you may want to focus on an element of satire and
how it reveals theme through a particular character or situation)

Evidence (provide direct quotes from the text and page number; here you may want to add context and
analysis for your quote for your presentation)
a.

b.

c.

II. Claim (smaller argument based on the thesis; here you may want to focus on an element of satire and
how it reveals theme through a particular character or situation)
 Evidence (provide direct quotes from the text and page number; here you may want to add context and
analysis for your quote for your presentation)
a.

b.

c.

III. Claim (smaller argument based on the thesis; here you may want to focus on an element of satire and
how it reveals theme through a particular character or situation)
 Evidence (provide direct quotes from the text and page number; here you may want to add context and
analysis for your quote for your presentation)
a.

b.

c.

Concluding Statement: