Finding Text Complexity in a Three-Word Poem

The length of a poem does not define its text complexity. Take, for example, the world’s shortest poem: FleasAdamhadem Thats it. Three words, actually two if you consider the contraction hadem as one word. The poem’s attribution is generally given to Ogden Nash (1902-1971) although there are some who credit Shel Silverstein (1931-1999). An article by Eric Shackle, however, found the originator of the poem was Strickland Gillilan (1869-1954). The article notes: At last, after searching dozens of websites, we discovered the identity of the mystery poet. It was revealed on a US National Park Service website describing Mount Rainier National Park. The Mt Rainier Nature News Notes of July 1, 1927, contained this brief item:THE SHORTEST POEM: We like poetry but we cannot stand it in too large doses. The following, which according to its author, Strickland Gillilan, is the shortest poem existing, deals with the antiquity of bugs.It runs thus: Adam had em! This short poem would meet the three standards for measuring text complexity according to the Common Core: 1. Qualitative Evaluation of the Text: This measure refers to the levels of meaning, structure, language conventionality and clarity, and knowledge demands. Teachers can review three poetic terms in this three word poem by pointing out that despite its brevity, the structure is a rhyming couplet of iambic meter. There is even an internal rhyme with the â€Å"am† and â€Å"em† sounds. There are even more figurative devices in the poem beginning with the name Adam in the first line. This is a literary allusion from the Bible as Adam is the proper name given to the first man created by God in Genesis. His companion Eve, the first woman, is not mentioned, it’s not â€Å"Adam and Eve/ had’em.† That could place the setting of the poem earlier in the Bible than her appearance in Genesis 2:20. Despite the allusion to a religious text, the tone of the poem is casual because of the contraction, â€Å"had’em.†   The title â€Å"Fleas† associated with the character Adam is comical since it implies a certain level of uncleanliness. There is even a bit of ownership since Adam had fleas, the fleas dont â€Å"have Adam,† and the use of the past tense â€Å"had† infers that he might now be cleaner. 2. Quantitative Evaluation of the Text: This measure refers to readability measures and other scores of text complexity. Using an online readability calculator, the three word poem’s average grade level is a 0.1.    3. Matching Reader to Text and Task: This measure refers to reader variables (such as motivation, knowledge, and experiences) and task variables (the complexity generated by the task assigned and the questions posed) In reading this three word poem, students would have to activate their background knowledge about fleas, and some of them might know that that scientists   recently concluded that fleas probably fed on dinosaurs as they need to feed on warm vertebrates blood. Many students will know the role of fleas in history as the transmitters of plagues and diseases. A few students may know that they are wingless insects that jump as high and as wide as an 8.5† X 11†. Explained in the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section of The Common Core State Standards is the description that they were built to â€Å"create a staircase of increasing text complexity, so that students are expected to both develop their skills and apply them to more and more complex texts.† The three word poem â€Å"Fleas† may be a little step on the text complexity staircase, but it can provide a workout of critical thinking even for the upper grade students.

Critical Essay - 630 Words

Critical Response Essay: Nethergrave vs. A Sound of Thunder You and I live in a world were modernism is reaching new heights every day. One day that touchscreen phone is considered new, and then next week it’s old news. These two stories that I am going to compare are about the role of technology, science and how it affects me and you. Based on how it uses new technology and modern science A Sound of Thunder is a better sci-fiction story. When it comes to technology, ‘A Sound of Thunder’ uses it better than ‘Nethergrave’. In ‘Nethergrave’ the computer is the technology and it doesn’t seem like a main part in the story until the end. ‘A Sound of Thunder’ uses a time machine. This is an excerpt from the book - â€Å"†¦.-1999!†¦show more content†¦In general, ‘A Sound of Thunder’s setting is more fully developed. When it comes to the main message ‘A Sound of Thunder’ is a lot more effective. The main message I interpreted from it was â€Å"be careful what you do, it could affect everyone in the long run†. An example is when the hunter/guide, Travis said â€Å"Well, what about the foxes that’ll need those mice to survive? For want of ten mice a fox dies†¦-’’. He is explaining to the readers that every little and small thing has an effect on though you may not see it immediately. Conversely ‘Nethergrave’ didn’t have a message that you could consider in everyday life. The plot was not flowing with the story and it seemed like three different stories lines/plot. ‘A Sound of Thunder’ have the best main message overall that had a true meaning. ‘A Sound of Thunder’ is better than ‘Nethergrave’ because the use of technology, role of science and the main message. Its role of technology is unique and the role of science is unusual. Its main message was to ‘be careful’ because every little or big thing ‘has an effect on someone, somewhere’. This message is true and can be incorporated in life as well as technology. This is why I know that ‘A Sound of Thunder’ was an overall better choice of sci-fi fiction than ‘Nethergrave’. Works Cited * Skurzynski, Gloria. Nethergrave pg.313-324 * Bradbury, Ray. A Sound of Thunder pg.Show MoreRelatedCritical Assessment Of An Essay914 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Assessment When writing an essay it is essential to allow for the piece to develop and become its own organic living being. The author must allow for the paper to make mistakes therefore it can review itself and correct any confusion. This procedure of making and amending blunders can occur as many times as possible for the paper to fully evolve. Thenceforth the author must be able to look objectively at their essay and evaluate how effectively the message is being portrayed. 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The Crisis Of The Community, Its Dislocation, The Distress...

Quote: â€Å"The crisis of the community, its dislocation, the distress of most of its members, went hand in hand with technological progress and social differentiation.† ― Henri Lefebvre This quote embodies all that planning is. It can be applied and analyzed through all of the concentrations of urban planning from equity to sustainability. He is simply stating that all of the aspects of the community, from its circumstances, both emotional and physical, to its location play a part in its progress. A community cannot grow if any part of it is inadequate. All aspects should be in equilibrium, a healthy balance of crime and peace, economy and income, as well as education and available jobs. As an aspiring urban planner, this quote throws all of what we study into one sentence. We understand the aspects of a community and how it impacts its inhabitants. We understand how communities are a part of a larger collective, ultimately framing the culture of nations and countries. 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Essay on Macbeth s Ambition And Ambition Essay Example For Students

Essay on Macbeth s Ambition And Ambition Essay As explained by Marques, â€Å"The greatest evil which fortune can inflict on men to endow them with small talents and great ambition† (Marques). Ambition can be infinite. Ranging with the combination of good qualities and bad qualities. The distinction between having too much ambition and having too little all depends upon the person and is misconstrued depending on this person’s morality. It is healthy to have ambition and pushing oneself to be the best. But in the case of Macbeth, he has too much ambition and is unable to control it. When Banquo and Macbeth stumble upon the witches, Macbeth takes to prophecy to heart, while Banquo ignores it. This only increases Macbeth’s need for power, therefore his ambition. On the other hand, for Lady Macbeth, her ambition is already clearly evident, which she insists on pushing Macbeth to murder Duncan. Although the supernatural plays a crucial role in the couple’s evil doings, the real root of their evil stems from their increasing ambition. It is evident that the supernatural plays a key role in their madness, and did affect Macbeth’s choices and also affected Lady Macbeth mental health greatly, however it wasn’t the main reason. According to Macbeth’s letter he suggests, â€Å"Which fate and metaphysical did doth seem to have crowned withal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (48). Macbeth is telling his wife that the only thing that is keeping him going for the crown is the reassurance from the â€Å"supernatural aid† or the witches’ prophecy. In this instance, Macbeth assumes that his destiny is being predetermined by the supernatural impulses and helping him gain his power. As if he has a larger calling in life, then what meets the naked eye. This gives him a sense of power, and a sense of opportunity to surpass any obstacle tha. . ng to do whatever it takes for them to get on top. MacBeth was never satisfied with what he already had, neither was Lady MacBeth. Their actions lead to a domino effect of destruction, because is not only affected their mental health but affected other people’s lives as well. To add to their already evident ambition corrupting each other, the supernatural occurrences was a sign of insanity, or a sign of their uncontrollable ambition exploring the possibilities for more. Thus, pushing them to go beyond their limits of sanity, blindsiding them with greed. It is wrong on so many levels, because both sacrificed others for their own sake in order to feel more complete with themselves. But at the rate they were going, and with their last dying breath, there is no possibly way for them to ever gain, because what they wanted was so vast and practically impossible to obtain.