Name:____________________

Due Date:______________

Touching Spirit Bear: Personal Letter

For this task, you will write a personal letter from Cole to one of the other characters in the
novel. You can choose to write from one of the following two options:
1. From the forest floor after the bear attack (end of Chapter 10) when Cole realizes He wanted to
live. Write the letter to Peter, Garvey, or Coles parents *Imagine that Cole is capable of writing
a letter at this point even though his injuries would have prevented this action
--OR-2. From the hospital (end of Chapter 12) when Cole states I am okay. Write to Peter or to Coles
Parents
How to write a personal letter - follow the format below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Make up a Street address (for the person you are writing to)
Minneapolis, MN
(this is where Cole and the other characters live)
55145
(Zip code)
Date
Dear _____ ,
Body of the letter. Written in block format paragraphs (left justified, separated by a one line
space in between each paragraph). Should include a minimum of 3 paragraphs.

Must Include:
details about setting
details about Coles current situation
details about the change in the way Cole now sees the world
how Cole might see the future
May also include details about the mauling and his injuries
Closing (Sincerely, Your Truly, etc.),
Signature (Coles signature)
Post Script (P.S.)

In addition to this letter, you will also address an envelope according to the Canada Post
Guidelines (see below for format). This activity will be good practice as a properly addressed
envelope is part of the grade 9 PAT.
COLE MATTHEWS
DRAKE POST OFFICE
DRAKE, AK 99752
PERSONS NAME
MADE UP STREET ADDRESS
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55145

This is a descriptive writing taskfocus on using words that stick (words that evoke emotions
and senses)
Also consider RAFTS as you are planning and drafting your letter:
R: Role From whose point of view are you writing?
A: Audience To whom are you writing? Is your relationship casual or formal?
F: Format What form is most appropriate? What elements go into that form?
T: Topic What are you writing about?
S: Strong Verb What is the purpose/what are you trying to achieve?
For this task, you have been assigned the following guidelines
Role Cole Matthews lying in the hospital
Audience Another character in the novel (Peter, Coles Parents, Garvey, etc.)
Format Personal Letter
The Topic and Strong Verb criteria of this letter are up to you. Imagine that you are Cole in one
of the scenarios mentioned above:
What might you be thinking?
How might you be feeling about your previous actions?
Who do you think you would want to talk to?
What would you want to say to them?

Submission: Your letter should be typed in a new Google Doc and then placed in your
Humanities 9 folder in Google Drive. Please also print a hard copy and submit it and the
envelope, as well as the self-assessment in this package at the beginning of class on the due
date.
PLAN YOUR WORK

DRAFT YOUR LETTER

Please use the following rubric to self-assess your personal letter. Provide a justification for your
assessment in the space below.
Excellent
Good
Basic
Support Required
Content
Demonstrates a
Demonstrates a
Demonstrates a
Demonstrates a
thoughtful and in- well-reasoned
basic
limited
depth
understanding of
understanding of
understanding of
understanding of
the content of the
the content of the
the content of the
the content of the
novel through
novel. Some
novel. Details
novel through
choice of details
details do not fit
chosen are
choice of details
included
with within the
inappropriate to
included
scope of the novel the scope of the
novel
Role and audience Role is seamlessly Role is conveyed
Role is attempted
No evidence of
conveyed
throughout most
but not clearly
attempt to take on
throughout.
of the work.
conveyed.
specific role.
Audience is
Audience is
Audience is
Audience is not
clearly considered considered, but
unclear due to
considered
through the tone
tone is not always inconsistent tone
of the writing
consistent
Format, Topic,
Clear and
Purpose and topic Purpose and/or
Purpose and/or
and Purpose
thoughtful
are evident.
topic are
topic are not
purpose and topic Personal letter
inconsistent.
evident.
are conveyed.
format has been
Personal letter
Personal letter
Personal letter
mostly followed
format has been
format has not
format has been
attempted, but
been attempted
accurately
with several errors
followed
Conventions

Envelope

Comments:

Few to no errors
in spelling,
grammar,
sentence structure,
etc.
Accurately
follows Canada
Post guidelines

Some errors in
conventions, but
does not affect
ability to convey
meaning
Follows Canada
Post guidelines
with minimal
errors

Multiple errors
present. Some
errors detract
from intended
meaning
Attempts to
follow guidelines,
but several errors
are present

Numerous errors
interfere with
meaning

Attempt to follow
guidelines is not
evident