Of Mice and Men

Preparing for the Open Response

Of Mice and MenOpen Response

• Read each prompt carefully.

• Using the planning sheet, complete the steps to plan your response effectively.

Discuss

Planning Sheet

Although plot drives a novel, characters can be driving forces as well. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck provides a number of interesting characters without which the story is not possible. Choose three characters in the novel, describe them, and evaluate their role and connection to a primary theme of the novel: “Our best plans are often disrupted by events and experiences outside our control.”

Power Verbs

Choose: pick, select, identify…

Describe: tell about, summarize, give details

Evaluate: judge, determine the worth of, decide upon the significance of

Critical Vocabulary

Of Mice and Men

Steinbeck

Characters

Role and Connection

Theme

“Theme Statement”

Organization

What is the best way for me to organize my response?

Paragraphs

Lists

Charts and Graphs

Organization for Prompt #1Example 1 – Using a List

I. Introduction

II. List of Characters

A. Character 1 – Description

B. Character 2 – Description

C. Character 3 – Description

III. Evaluation

IV. Conclusion

Organization for Prompt #1Example 2 – Using Paragraphs

I. Introduction

II. Character 1

III. Character 2

IV. Character 3

V. Evaluation

VI. Conclusion

Rubric - 100

•You complete all important components of the prompt and communicate ideas completely

•You demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the novel

•Where appropriate you offer insightful interpretations or extension of ideas

Rubric - 85

•You complete most of the important components of the prompt and communicate clearly

•You demonstrate an understanding of the novel even though you overlook or misunderstand some ideas

Rubric - 70

•You complete some of the important components of the prompt and communicate clearly

•You demonstrate gaps in your understanding of the novel

Rubric - 50

•You show minimal understanding of the prompt

•You demonstrate a lack of understanding of the novel

Rubric - 0

•Your answer is irrelevant to the prompt, incorrect in ideas, or you failed to give any answer at all

A very important event in Of Mice and Men occurs when Candy must decide to allow Carlson to shoot his dog. This event becomes even more significant at the end of the novel when George is faced with a similar decision. Describe the scene in which Candy decides to allow Carlson to take his dog outside and then describe the events that lead into the scene in which George must decide whether he should shoot Lennie or not. Finally, evaluate George’s decision and actions: how is George’s decision similar or different from Candy’s? Are George’s decision and actions justified?

Power Verbs

Describe

Describe

Evaluate

Critical Vocabulary

Of Mice and Men

Candy, Carlson

George, Lennie

Event

Decision, Actions

Similar, Different

Justified

Organization

What is the best way for me to organize my response?

Paragraphs

Lists

Charts and Graphs

An important theme in the novel concerns alienation and loneliness. Although Lennie is mentally challenged, he provides companionship, briefly, for Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife. Outline how each of these characters is lonely, and then describe how Lennie becomes a companion for them. Finally, evaluate Lennie’s ability to meet the character’s needs and how their relationships leads to tragedy.

Practice

Power Verbs

Critical Vocabulary

Organization

Let’s review the scoring rubric one more time

Rubric - 100

•You complete all important components of the prompt and communicate ideas completely

•You demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the novel

•Where appropriate you offer insightful interpretations or extension of ideas

Rubric - 85

•You complete most of the important components of the prompt and communicate clearly

•You demonstrate an understanding of the novel even though you overlook or misunderstand some ideas

Rubric - 70

•You complete some of the important components of the prompt and communicate clearly

•You demonstrate gaps in your understanding of the novel

Rubric - 50

•You show minimal understanding of the prompt

•You demonstrate a lack of understanding of the novel

Rubric - 0

•Your answer is irrelevant to the prompt, incorrect in ideas, or you failed to give any answer at all