Character Essay

 Definition

            The purpose of a character analysis is to provide information and understanding about a character from a piece of literatures.  Writers use supporting details from the book to back up their opinions and evaluations about the character.        

Thesis Development

            Your thesis should state a stand or opinion about the character you have chosen.  Your thesis can be concerned with the character’s weaknesses or strengths, primary motivations, inner qualities, interactions with others,

Organization

            Your essay should follow the standard structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion.  In the body, the paragraphs should cover the points that you will use to support your thesis.

Tips on Prewriting

·         Survey all the details you have collected and group them in clusters that reveal some similar qualities.

·         In a single sentence, sum up what the character is like.  This summary can be the thesis or controlling idea for your entire essay.

·         Select the details that help support, explain, and illustrate your thesis.

·         Pull from your chart with material you’ve collected.  Use effective quotes and examples.

·         Plan your introduction and conclusion.

Tips on Writing the Introduction

·         The opening paragraph of your essay should introduce who this character is, briefly explaining what his/her role is in the story and why you have chosen to analyze this personality. 

·         Define your character in terms of whether he is the protagonist (hero), antagonist (villain), supporting player or a catalyst.  A catalyst character often does not participate directly in any of the action, but instead fulfills the role of inspiring the lead character.

·         Possible information to include in your introduction:

–   Make some general comments about the subject matter of the thesis.  Give background information.

–   Mention personal experiences and attitudes you and your readers might share about the character.  Do you think other people have the same opinion about this person.

–   Include thoughts about the author.  Does his life give any clues to this character?

–   Write a few general sentences about the story.

Using Quotations

·         This type of paper requires that you use quotations from the story to support your points.  Be sure that you quote accurately and that your reason for quoting is clear.  Be careful not to use long quotes for your essay will merely repeat the words of the story.

  

Writing the Conclusion

·         The final paragraph should not introduce a new idea because it cannot be developed.  The conclusion should smoothly bring the reader back to the thesis of the essay.  It is the final comment you make and is your last chance to drive home your main idea

Essay Guidelines

– Due dates:  Pre-Write February 27; Rough Draft due March 5; Final Draft due March 19.

– Essay length:  600 – 900 words (between 3 and 5 pages)

– Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced.

– Final draft format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay

Narrative Essay

Definition

In a personal narrative, you re-create an incident that happened to you over a short period of time.  This incident could be an emotional experience, a silly or serious event, or a frightening encounter.  Narrative writing requires students to think clearly about the details of an event as if it was a plot.  A narrative:

·  Presents a story with a distinct plot.  The plot includes an internal or external conflict.  It has a beginning, middle, and an end.

·  Has a setting of some sort

·  Presented in a specific point of view, usually spoken in the voice of a narrator or character

           

Thesis Development

            As you present your narrative from a certain point of view, you must consider the significance of the event.  Was there a lesson to learn?  Did it change someone’s history?  Does it reveal something insightful about a person, place or circumstance?  These are the variables that will help you form a thesis.

Organization

            Narratives are generally told in chronological order; in other words, you explain the events considering the timeline in which they happened.      

Optional Narrative prompts:

·  Write about a time when you faced a challenge and what the outcome was.  Be sure to narrate the series of events and include specific details.

·  Write a story about when you taught someone something.  It can be anything that you know better than someone else.

·  Think about an event in your life that taught you an important lesson. Write a narrative in which you tell what happened and how you learned a lesson.

·  Write a narrative about a person or character who overcomes a difficult situation.  The character must be a person from history or from literature, movies or television.

Essay Guidelines

– Due dates:  Pre-Write due January 23; Rough Draft due January 30; Final Draft due February 13

– Essay length:  500 – 700 words (between 2 and 4 pages)

– Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced.

– Final draft format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay, below your name and date

History Essay

History Essay 

Definition 

An historical essay demonstrates that you have a good knowledge about an event or a period of history and a good grasp of its importance and contributions to our world.  A typical essay will consist not only of the details surrounding the event or period but will reveal an understanding of some of the “big picture” of history. 

Thesis Development 

Writing an essay about a historical topic requires that you make some judgment about the evidence and details.  Generally, a thesis explains the “why” and the “how” of something that happened.  Your thesis should take a stand on an issue or historical problem and requires some judgment and interpretation of evidence.  Your thesis should be as clear and specific as possible. 

Organization 

Information can be presented chronologically (in a first to last sequence), in order of importance (least to most important), or in order of quantity of information (least amount to greatest amount).  Your essay can be divided by themes, geographical locations, or personalities involved.  In writing the essay, you will analyze the facts, not just describe them. 

Tips on Writing 

• Everything you write about should support or be related to your thesis. 
• Be sure that you include enough information and define any unfamiliar terms.  Assume your readers do not know as much about the topic as you do. 
• Prove your arguments:  explain how and why a thing happened. 
• Suitable evidence includes data (facts and figures) and authorities on the subject (what historians know). 
• Use a variety of transitions in the text of your paper. 

• This is not a research paper, but may require some outside reading and note taking.  Remember to take notes in your own words. 
• Keep the language simple. Remember, this is an essay, not a story.  Use good, accurate vocabulary, but not overly flowery words. 

Essay Guidelines 

• Due dates:  Pre-Write due November 14; Rough Draft due November 21; Final Draft due December 12. 
• Essay length:  500 – 700 words (between 2 and 4 pages) 
• Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced. 
• Final draft format:  
• Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know) 

• 1 inch margins 
• Name and date on the upper right hand corner 
• Number the pages on the lower right hand corner 
• Title centered above the text of the essay 

Rough Draft Rubric for Writing 1

Criterion	Incomplete	Beginning/ Developing	Competent	Advanced/ Exceptional	Comments
Thesis statement	No topic; no opinion	Topic, no opinion	Good topic & opinion	Strong topic & opinion
Introduction:  hook, thesis, road map	No elements	1 element	2 elements	3 elements
Conclusion:  summary, thesis, parting thoughts	No elements	1 element	2 elements	3 elements
Content:  subtopics & supporting details	No clear subtopics  No details	Some subtopics covered  Some specific details	Adequate subtopics covered  Appropriate details	Thorough subtopics covered  All points with strong details.
Organization: organization of ideas, paragraph construction, transitions	Random ideas  No paragraph division  Disjointed sentences	Like ideas are grouped   Not be organized logically.   Transitions may be lacking.	Clear progression of ideas   Paragraphs are organized   Smooth transitions	Strategic sequence of ideas   Paragraphs well- organized.  Excellent use of transitions.
Mechanics:  grammar, punctuation, format	Many errors impair meaning	Noticeable errors detract from meaning	Few errors don’t detract from meaning	No errors