English 091 Essay 2

This essay is based on Ishmael and will be a comparison/contrast essay. Choose one of the topics and follow the guidelines below for the structure and content of your essay.

1. Ishmael’s main lesson for the narrator is the differences between the taker and the leaver peoples. Write an essay that explains these contrasts as they are presented in the novel. How does the way of life of takers differ from that of leavers? How do their ways of thinking differ? How else are they different?

2. Ishmael and the narrator have many differences, most obviously their species. They also have some less obvious similarities. Write an essay that explains what Ishmael and the narrator have in common.

3. Throughout the novel, Ishmael frequently describes the views and perspective of what he calls “Mother Culture,” and he just as frequently critiques the lessons that Mother Culture teaches Takers about their place in the world and the future of the world itself. Write an essay that contrasts the beliefs taught by Mother Culture (as explained by Ishmael) with the beliefs that Ishmael is trying to tell the narrator about.

4. Ishmael is not the first (or last) novel to use an imaginary situation, with imaginary characters, to teach real human beings in the real world something about their world. If you have read another novel that you think does this, you may write an essay for this assignment that compares or contrasts that novel to Ishmael. However, if you choose this topic, you do have to tell me ahead of time the title of the novel and provide a brief explanation (4-5 sentences) of how you think that novel teaches real human beings in the real world something about their world. Also, be forewarned: this is a very broad topic that is going to need a lot of limiting and focusing before you’ll have an effective thesis for a 3-page essay.

Guidelines:

· You are responsible for using all the information contained in the “How To” links on my Web page, including “Typing Conventions.”

· Your essay must be 3+ pages. Point deductions for less than 3 pages.

· In the introductory paragraph, use the general-to-specific method. Slowly “sneak up” on your thesis sentence, which is the last sentence of your introductory paragraph. If the gap between the thesis and the sentence before the thesis is too abrupt, smooth it over with some transitional words. Don’t make your introductory paragraph longer than five sentences.

· Each body paragraph needs a clear focus. The focus is achieved by the first sentence, the topic sentence. The topic sentence states what point will be made within that paragraph. Since this is a comparison/contrast essay, it is probable that your topic sentences will be something along the line of “X and Y are similar,” “X and Y are different,” or maybe some hybrid of the two. Then the rest of the paragraph—each of the support sentences—will do the work of showing the reader what those similarities and/or differences are.

· Each sentence within a body paragraph needs to specifically support the topic sentence. The only general statement in a body paragraph is the topic sentence; no other general statements (unless they are transitional sentences) should be found.

· End the essay with a concluding paragraph that gives the reader a sense of closure without repeating the thesis or summarizing the essay.

· Use as many details from the novel as you need to develop your essay properly. Remember that details may be direct quotations or paraphrases.

· You will need to cite your sources using correct MLA format, including providing a Works Cited page.

· The essay is due Oct. 21. The Turnitin due date (which determines an on-time vs. a late paper) is 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 21. Then bring your hard copy to class. Please staple your essay before bringing it in.

Here is the rubric that will be used to score your essay:

The introductory paragraph is written according to the essay prompt. (5):

Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence (a statement of the idea that paragraph will explore); the topic sentences strongly and logically support the thesis sentence; if the paragraph’s focus is a literary term, then that term should appear in the topic sentence. (10):

The body paragraphs provide intelligent, insightful information for the reader, thus helping the reader to see similarities and differences (comparisons and contrasts) more fully; the body is filled with specific support; no general statements appear within the support sentences; all sentences that appear do so because they serve a purpose, and that purpose is clear to the reader. (30):

Quotations from the selections are used and integrated gracefully. The quotations are not pointless, but serve a useful purpose; the quotations seem natural, not forced. (10):

The conclusion brings the essay to a satisfactory close without simply restating what was already said in the essay. (5):

Sentence fluency, voice, and vocabulary. (15):

Mechanics (error free) and document appearance (20):

The paper includes a Works Cited page, and the Works Cited page is formatted correctly. (5):

On-time—yes:

On-time—no: – 10% –20% –30%

Meets the minimum length requirement (3+ pages)—yes:

Meets the minimum word requirement (3+ pages)—no: