Analysis Key: Demonstrates the sisters' fixation on physical vanity and shallow luxuries over Maureen's art and spiritual joy.
Option B (par. 23): "‘Think of the dresses and jewelry we could have bought!’ Peg said. ‘You always think only of yourself.’"
Analysis Key: Dramatic irony. The sisters project their own extreme selfishness onto Maureen, proving greed warps empathy.
Option C (par. 34): "‘Of course we want Maureen’s reward,’ Meg said. ‘Did you think you could get away without paying her?’"
Analysis Key: Direct climax of their greed. Demanding payment for art they did not create seals their transformation into beasts.
"The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum" (Dutton)
Option A (par. 3): "‘A noise as loud as that must be made by a fowl much larger than this Hen. I will, therefore, let her go...’"
Analysis Key: Shows how greed distorts logical reasoning. The Fox abandons real, present food for an exaggerated assumption.
Option B (par. 4): "He soon had it open, only to see that it was filled with nothing more or less than empty air. The Fox hung his tail."
Analysis Key: Powerful symbolism. The empty drum represents the emptiness of greedy desires, ending in humiliation.
Option C (par. 5): "‘What a stupid wretch I am!’ he groaned. ‘Because of my own greediness, I must now go supper-less to bed.’"
Analysis Key: Direct thematic statement. The character explicitly acknowledges that greed, not bad luck, caused his starvation.
Use these models to evaluate student thesis statements in Step 2 of their handout:
Scaffolded / Approaching Grade Level: Score: 2.5 - 3.0
"In 'Maureen's Harp' by Teresa Bateman and 'The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum' by Maude Barrows Dutton, both authors develop the theme of greed by showing that characters make selfish choices to get more, which leads to punishments like turning into sheep or going hungry, teaching readers that greed causes loss."
Proficient / Target Grade Level (Meets Standard): Score: 3.5 - 4.0
"In 'Maureen's Harp' and 'The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum,' Teresa Bateman and Maude Barrows Dutton develop the theme of greed by showing how characters' uncontrolled desires drive them to abandon gratitude and pursue unearned rewards, ultimately causing them to lose the very blessings they sought to multiply."
Advanced / Exemplary (Exceeds Standard): Score: 4.0+
"Through the selfish scheming of Meg and Peg in 'Maureen's Harp' and the impulsive folly of the Fox in 'The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum,' both authors illustrate that greed blinds individuals to the value of contentment, revealing that those who exploit others or recklessly pursue illusions inevitably bring about their own ruin."
Grade 7 Writing Assessment • Teacher Answer Key Page 2 of 4
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Model Writing
Exemplar Text
In storytelling and in life, greed is a dangerous flaw that convinces individuals that what they have will never be enough. Rather than appreciating everyday gifts, greedy characters often take reckless risks or mistreat those around them. This moral lesson is central to both the Irish folk tale "Maureen's Harp" by Teresa Bateman and the classic fable "The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum" by Maude Barrows Dutton. In both passages, central characters are undone by their own selfish appetites. Ultimately, both authors develop the theme of greed by demonstrating that when characters prioritize selfish desires over honesty and gratitude, their actions lead to severe consequences that leave them with less than what they started with.
Meg & Peg Analysis
In "Maureen's Harp," Teresa Bateman develops the theme of greed through the sisters Meg and Peg, whose selfish actions directly drive the story's conflict. From the beginning, the sisters lay idle while Maureen works, constantly demanding to sell their only heirloom because they "can’t wear melodies or eat music" (par. 4). When Maureen performs for the leprechauns and accepts only the joy of playing, Meg and Peg react with furious outrage: "‘Think of the dresses and jewelry we could have bought!’ Peg said. ‘You always think only of yourself’" (par. 23). This reaction reveals the blinding nature of their greed; they hypocritically accuse the selfless Maureen of selfishness simply because she did not exploit her talent for material gold. Motivated by avarice, they march to the fairies and demand payment for work they never did. Consequently, the leprechaun king rewards them according to their character by transforming them into sheep with golden fleeces. By stripping Meg and Peg of their humanity and leaving them to shiver and cover their ears whenever Maureen plays, Bateman illustrates that unearned greed dehumanizes people and turns life's sweetest joys into unbearable misery.
The Fox Analysis
Similarly, in "The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum," Maude Barrows Dutton develops the theme of greed by showing how a single selfish decision causes an animal to lose what was already within reach. When a hungry Fox spots a plump Hen, he is about to secure a meal until he hears branches beating against a drum. Driven by greed, he reasons: "‘A noise as loud as that must be made by a fowl much larger than this Hen. I will, therefore, let her go, and will bring down that larger bird for my supper’" (par. 3). Rather than being grateful for the meal before him, the Fox's greed leads him to make a foolish gamble. His noisy, aggressive scramble startles the Hen, allowing her to fly to safety. After tearing open the drum with tooth and claw, he discovers that it contains "nothing more or less than empty air" (par. 4). Dutton uses the empty drum as a metaphor for greed itself: an alluring illusion that hollows out true satisfaction. In his own words, the Fox admits, "‘Because of my own greediness, I must now go supper-less to bed’" (par. 5). Through the Fox's hunger and shame, Dutton proves that greed blinds individuals with false promises, leaving those who refuse to be satisfied with nothing at all.
Grade 7 Writing Assessment • Teacher Answer Key Page 3 of 4
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Evaluation Guide
Conclusion Exemplar
Although "Maureen's Harp" is an Irish fairy tale about familial jealousy and "The Fox, the Hen, and the Drum" is an animal fable about predatory instinct, both authors convey identical warnings about the destructive nature of greed. In Bateman's story, Meg and Peg's greed harms their hard-working sister and results in a permanent physical transformation into beasts, punishing their refusal to appreciate Maureen's music. In Dutton's fable, the Fox's greed allows his prey to escape, punishing his impulsive impatience with acute hunger. Despite these differences in setting and character, both Bateman and Dutton show that greed creates a tragic blindness. When individuals allow greed to govern their choices, they do not gain the grandeur they imagined; instead, they destroy their present security and are left with lasting regret.
LinkIt Grade 7 Writing Standards Alignment
1. Claim & Comparative Thesis Score 1-4
States a clear, nuanced comparative thesis identifying both texts, both authors, character selfish choices, and the universal theme of greed.
2. Text Evidence & Citations Score 1-4
Integrates accurate direct quotes or specific text evidence from both stories with accurate paragraph citations and smooth introductory frames.
3. Analysis of Theme & Plot Score 1-4
Deeply analyzes how selfish actions drive the plot, impact other characters (Maureen, Hen), and develop the author's moral lesson rather than merely summarizing.
4. Organization & Conventions Score 1-4
Uses comparative transition words (Similarly, However, In contrast); maintains formal academic tone; correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
Common Student Misconceptions & Rapid Teacher Reteach:
• Misconception 1: Students write about Maureen's goodness rather than analyzing Meg & Peg's greed.
Reteach: Prompt students: "Maureen is the hero, but who makes the selfish choice that changes the plot?"
• Misconception 2: Students claim the Fox was just unlucky rather than greedy.
Reteach: Highlight paragraph 5: The Fox directly admits he is hungry because of his "own greediness."
Complete Teacher Guide & Scoring Key Page 4 of 4
