Comparing Genres - Answer Keys

Grade 8 ELA | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.8.R.3.3

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Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 The novel can directly show Sarah's internal thoughts and her mental process. We know she's thinking about "the letter," "the choices she'd made," and her transformation ("This was it"). The drama can only show external actions and spoken words.
2 The poetry version creates emotional impact through compressed language ("paper truth," "turned my world to bone"), rhythm, and imagery. It evokes feeling through sound and metaphor rather than detailed description. The prose gives more context; the poetry gives more intensity.
3 A movie could show: the actual cliff and waves visually, Sarah's facial expressions and body language, the sound of the waves, the weather conditions, and dramatic camera angles. Movies use visual storytelling that written forms cannot directly provide.
4 Answers will vary. Students should identify specific changes (scenes cut, details altered, ending changed) and explain WHY (time constraints, visual medium, updated for modern audiences, different target audience, etc.).

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 The prose shows Marcus's thought process: his mental calculation of options (river, forest, wall), his specific fears (can't swim, dogs), and his internal realization/motivation. The poetry presents the same situation but abstractly, without these concrete details.
2 A. The prose - through concrete details like "three days," "couldn't swim," and "dogs"
3 The poem adds a philosophical dimension about challenging what others accept as "truth." The line "Where others saw truth" suggests that "impossible" is just an accepted belief, not reality. The poem emphasizes defying limitations, while the prose focuses more on the physical escape.
4 In drama, internal thoughts would need to be revealed through: soliloquy (speaking alone to audience), dialogue with another character, or physical acting/body language. The character might speak his thoughts aloud or the audience would infer emotions from actions.
5 KEEPS: Theme of star-crossed lovers from rival groups; the central question about names/identity ("What's in a name"); the conflict between love and family loyalty; the female character questioning why names should matter.
6 CHANGES: Setting (Athens to modern city), language (verse to contemporary prose), cultural context (family feud to "competing businesses"), medium (stage play to internal narration), character names (Juliet to Maria, Romeo to Tony), technology (adds cell phone/photo).
7 A. The drama shows more emotion through spoken language; the prose shows internal thoughts
8 The original asks the question in formal, poetic verse as part of a soliloquy. The modern version frames it as an internal thought after modern reflection. GAINED: relatability, contemporary relevance. LOST: poetic beauty, formal structure, the dramatic impact of the famous line.
9 News Report: To inform with factual data (statistics, dates, numbers). Personal Essay: To convey the human/emotional experience and make readers FEEL what the event was like.
10 Someone might choose the essay genre to help readers understand the HUMAN impact behind statistics, to create emotional connection, and to preserve personal stories that data cannot capture. The essay makes the event meaningful rather than just factual.
11 Examples: "mango tree...lay across the street like a fallen soldier" or "Power lines draped over cars like streamers from some terrible party." These communicate the devastation's human impact, the sense of loss (the tree was part of family history), and the surreal horror of the aftermath.
12 For FACTS: The news report is more useful (specific statistics, dates, damage estimates). For HUMAN EXPERIENCE: The personal essay is more useful (emotions, sensory details, personal meaning). Both serve different purposes - neither is "better," they have different goals.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question Answer
1 B. Specific details about what the character is choosing between (music, Miguel, city)
2 B. It creates rhythm and emphasis that highlight the contrast between choices
3 B. Taking risks to follow your dreams requires courage
4 B. The theme of jealousy over love and appearance
5 B. The setting, language style, and cultural references (Instagram, parties)
6 B. Contemporary readers can relate to comparing yourself to others on social media
7 A. Drama uses dialogue and soliloquy; prose can show internal thoughts directly
8 A. Facial expressions, body language, and visual contrast between characters
9 See rubric and sample response below.
10 See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric (Genre and Theme Analysis)

Score Criteria
2 Compares both texts with specific evidence, explains how genre shapes theme development differently in each
1 Addresses both texts but with limited comparison or weak evidence
0 Does not compare texts or address genre's effect on theme
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Both texts share the theme of taking risks to follow dreams, but genre affects how they develop it. The novel uses specific details - we know Elena is choosing music, there's a person named Miguel waiting, and her parents are disappointed. This makes the choice concrete and relatable through a specific situation. The poem uses abstract contrasts ("Left is easy / Right is maybe") and compressed language ("every uncharted stream") to make the theme universal - it could apply to anyone facing any choice. The novel tells ONE story of courage; the poem captures the FEELING of courage applicable to all readers.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric (Value of Adaptations)

Score Criteria
2 Explains why adaptations have value with specific evidence from passages, demonstrates understanding of how updating classics serves modern audiences
1 Provides general reasons but with limited evidence from passages
0 Does not explain value of adaptations or use evidence
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
Authors adapt classics because universal themes remain relevant even when cultural details change. Shakespeare's Helena and the modern Heather both struggle with jealousy and comparing themselves to others - a feeling that hasn't changed in 400 years. By updating the setting (Instagram instead of Athens) and language (contemporary instead of verse), modern readers can connect with the same human emotions without the barrier of unfamiliar language. The passage shows Heather scrolling Instagram feeling inadequate, which is exactly what Helena feels in Shakespeare's version. Adaptations prove that great stories address universal human experiences that transcend any specific time period.
FAST Success Kit | Grade 8 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.8.R.3.3
Answer Key - For Teacher Use Only