INTASC Standard #4
The teacher intern understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage student development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
NCTE Standard 4.8
Students related to a character in the play "Our Town" by writing a personal, reflective monologue.
Farewell Monologue Writing
*For this writing opportunity, you are asked to reflect upon your own time here on Earth. What would you miss if you were in the same situation as Emily? If you were among the dead, what would you miss about your life? Using the same format as Emily’s monologue in Act Three (page 108) please write your own version. Consider people, places, and feelings you treasure and would most miss if you were among the dead, like Emily.
*Then, for the second part of this assignment, do the polar opposite. Write the same monologue reflecting upon what you would NOT miss about your life.
*Each monologue (things you would miss and things you would not miss) should be at least a half a page in length. You should have a full page total at minimum.
(Short) Example:
(1) Goodbye, Goodbye world. Goodbye Northern Virginia, Virginia Tech, and all the marvelous beaches of the Caribbean… Mom and Dad, brother, and the precious dog. Goodbye to colors sparkling… and loving hugs. Goodbye delicious food and drink… and talk of religion and of life. So long high heels, caffeine, and flying through the air as a gymnast and cheerleader… Goodbye genuine friends, laughter, and memory-making. Goodbye sleeping and inspiration and the man I love. Goodbye movies, music, stargazing, and every other form of entertainment. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you.
(2) Goodbye, Goodbye world. So long slow cars and slow walkers. Good riddance long lines… and biting wind and bitter cold. Goodbye self-absorption, jealousy, and cruelty. Goodbye spiders, bees, and horrible crimes… and helplessness and anger. Goodbye sore throats… and asthma and allergies… goodbye to all diseases and to ignorance. Good riddance unnecessary rudeness, so long fear. Goodbye to people who only see black and white without the gray area. Oh, earth, you’re such a tough place to live sometimes.
Monologue Writing Rubric
I. Length (10)
The two monologues (“Thing’s I’d Miss” and “Things I Wouldn’t Miss”) are a half a page each in length at MINIMUM.
0= student did not do the assigned writing. 5= student wrote a half page total. 9= student wrote just one page. 10= student went onto the back of the page
II. Format (10)
The student has followed the monologue format given. The writing should be modeled after Emily’s monologue in Act Three.
0= the format is obscure and unrelated to the format assigned. 5= student wrote the two sections and wrote about the topic assigned, but not in the same format as Emily. 10= student wrote in the same monologue format as Emily for both sections.
III. Reflection (7)
There is evidence the student has reflected on his/her life. Student has shown depth of thought and has not made a trivial list.
0= student did not complete the assignment. 3= student lists things like favorite colors or foods but does not mention anything intangible. Some things may be repeated to fill space. 5= student lists people, places, and concrete objects that don't repeat. 7= student has considered feelings, emotions, ideas, and all the concrete things as well.
IV. Spelling (3)
The spelling is expected to be almost flawless in such a short assignment.
1= spelling has errors throughout. 2= spelling is generally good with a couple errors. 3= spelling is perfect