Proficiency Essay 1 Pre-Writing Directions

PROFICIENCY ESSAY 1PRE-WRITING DIRECTIONSWSI English 9Barbara Tollison

The PromptChoose any three short stories that we have read during this unit and write an essay in which you analyze for each one of these stories a character’s conflict and his or her change as a result of the conflict.

Attack the Prompt:Circle the verbs that tell you what

to do.Underline the words that explain

the verbs.

We have read The Most Dangerous Game, The Sniper, and The Scarlet Ibis.

By Essay we mean at least five analytical paragraphs.

How a character changes or what he/she learns is always a reflection of the THEME.

To get started: T-ChartsCharacter at the Beginning: Character at the End:Rainsford: Rainsford:

“

The Sniper: The Sniper:

The Narrator (Doodle’s Brother): The Narrator (Doodle’s Brother):

To get started: T-ChartsCharacter at the Beginning: Character at the End:Rainsford:“The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters” (IR7).“…I'm a hunter, not a murderer“ (IR26).

Rainsford:“Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror” (IR 32). “’I am still a beast at bay,’he said, in a low,hoarse voice. ‘Get ready, General Zaroff’”(IR 34).

The Sniper: The Sniper:


Don’t just copy what I write!These are examples for you to emulate, not imitate!!!

To get started: T-ChartsCharacter at the Beginning: Character at the End:

Rainsford:“The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters” (IR7).“…I'm a hunter, not a murderer“ (IR26).

Rainsford:“Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror” (IR 32). “’I am still a beast at bay,’he said, in a low,hoarse voice. ‘Get ready, General Zaroff’”(IR ).

The Sniper:“He had been too excited to eat” (IR111). “The sniper fired again. The woman whirled round and fell with a shriek into the gutter” (IR 112).

The Sniper:“The lust of battle died in him. He became bitten by remorse” (IR 114).“Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brother's face” (114).





Rainsford:“Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror” (IR 32). “’I am still a beast at bay, ’he said, in a low,hoarse voice. ‘Get ready, General Zaroff’”(IR ).



The Narrator (Doodle’s Brother):“When Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk . . .” (IR170).The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened”(IR ).

The Narrator (Doodle’s Brother):“. . . the grindstone begins to turn, and time with all its changes is ground away—and I remember Doodle” (IR168).“. I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death” (IR ).




Rainsford:“Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror” (IR 32). “’I am still a beast at bay, ’he said, in a low,hoarse voice. ‘Get ready, General Zaroff’”(IR ).



The Narrator (Doodle’s Brother):“When Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk . . .” (IR170).The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened”(IR ).

The Narrator (Doodle’s Brother):“. . . the grindstone begins to turn, and time with all its changes is ground away—and I remember Doodle” (IR168).“. I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death” (IR ).

Foreshadowing

Imagery

Metaphor

Metaphor

SymbolismTheme

Personification

Sit. Irony


Continuing T-ChartsHow the Character Changed/what he learned:

Connect to Theme:

Rainsford:

The Sniper:

The Narrator (Doodle’s Brother):

Rainsford learned what an animal might feel when it is hunted. He also learned that people can be savages.

Hunting is a cruel sport.People can be very dangerous and savage, even when they seem civilized.

He learned that war has terrible effects on people/ is brutal

War is a terrible thing that hurts everyone involved.

Pride can make us do things that are cruel/dangerous/unwise.

Pride can be good, but also can be very destructive.


Plugging in to OutlineII. Body Paragraph 1:

A. Topic Sentence with title, literary element and theme:

In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, the protagonist Rainsford learns that ___________________________________OR

Richard Connell explores the theme of savagery when his protagonist Rainsford discovers __________________ __________________ in the adventure story “The Most Dangerous Game”(This one is higher level

academically)


Plugging Into OutlineIII. Body Paragraph 2:


In the short story “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty, the young protagonist learns about how war is _______________________________.OR

The young protagonist in Liam O’Flaherty’s realistic war story “The Sniper” learns _______________

_________________________________________


(This one is higher level academically)

Plugging Into OutlineIV. Body Paragraph 3:


In the allegory “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, Doodle’s brother learns that _______________________________.

With the memory of his young brother’s death lingering into adulthood, the narrator of James Hurst’s allegory “The Scarlet Ibis” reflects on how ___________________________________________

___________________________________.(This one is higher level academically)


Continuing Body Paragraph 1B. Example from story, introduced, in quotation marks with page

number cited: _____________________As he and his friend Whitney talk about hunting early in the story, Rainsford says, “The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters” (IR7).C. Explanation of the example, including what kind of literary device it is:

This statement foreshadows the situational irony that happens when the conflict develops and Rainsford later becomes the prey of General Zaroff.D. Further explanation of how the example shows the author’s purpose and fits in to the theme:

At the beginning of the story, Rainsford only sees hunting from the perspective of a hunter, and does not think about or care about the cruelty of the sport. Don’t just copy what I write!

These are examples for you to emulate, not imitate!!!

Second Half of Paragraph:E. Second example from story, introduced, in quotation marks

with page number cited: By the time he is being hunted by the crazed General, Rainsford

has had a change of heart as, “Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror” (IR 32). F. Explanation of the example, including what kind of literary device it is:

The conflict he now finds himself in fulfills the foreshadowing from the beginning, which is the irony that the hunter has become the hunted.G. Further explanation of how the example shows the author’s purpose and fits in to the theme: Thematically, it tells the audience that a change in perspective because of a conflict can change how someone feels about cruelty and savagery.


Finishing the ParagraphH. Concluding Sentence of Paragraph

showing how the character changed/learned because of the conflict expressed through the examples:

The story’s theme of savagery and danger is expressed by the changes in Rainsford’s character because of his conflict.


The Paragraph Completed:In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell,

the protagonist Rainsford learns that As he and his friend Whitney talk about hunting early in the story, Rainsford says, “The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters” (IR7). This statement foreshadows the situational irony that happens when Rainsford later becomes the prey of General Zaroff. At the beginning of the story, Rainsford only sees hunting from the perspective of a hunter, and does not think about or care the cruelty of the sport. By the time he is being hunted by the crazed General, Rainsford has had a change of heart as, “Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror” (IR 32). The conflict he now finds himself in fulfills the foreshadowing from the beginning, which is the irony that the hunter has become the hunted. Thematically, it tells the audience that a change in perspective because of a conflict can change how someone feels about cruelty and savagery. The story’s theme of savagery and danger is expressed by the changes in Rainsford’s character because of his conflict.


Thesis Statements for Literary Analysis

What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is the controlling idea of a paper. It expresses succinctly the idea that the body of the paper will prove. Other names for the thesis statement are "main idea," "controlling idea," and "thesis." If the paper is a literary analysis, your thesis statement will make a debatable claim about one or more works of literature. Usually, thesis statements appear in the first paragraph of the paper.

Can any statement be a thesis statement?

No. A thesis statement should be a fresh idea or opinion that is supportable based on facts or evidence taken from the story, poem or play discussed in the literary analysis. That is, a paper's thesis cannot be a restatement of

fact or an unsupportable opinion. A thesis statement must also be interesting and not immediately obvious. It must elaborate an idea that most readers would find new and refreshing, rather than unduly familiar or self-evident. A thesis statement often suggests a particular way of reading or understanding a story, an interpretation that the average reader wouldn't see right away. The best thesis statements are specific rather than general.

Why does a paper need a strong thesis statement?

A paper needs a strong thesis statement so that it can make a strong argument. Weak thesis statements can result in papers with no clear direction or in papers that rely on plot summary to fill their pages. A good thesis statement predicts limits and organizes the content of the essay. In other words, it notifies your reader about the scope of the paper, telling him or her exactly what your paper will cover and in what order.

Can a thesis statement be more than one sentence?

Yes. Often the best thesis statements are complex enough to require two or even three sentences. If you need several sentences to express your idea, use them!

What would be an example of an excellent thesis statement?

Look at the statements below about "Sonny's Blues" and decide whether each would work as a thesis statement.

Because we sympathize with Sonny, the drug addict in the story, rather than with his brother, the narrator, "Sonny's Blues" presents a complex picture of drug use as a means of coping with sorrow and fear.

In "Sonny's Blues," James Baldwin writes about two brothers attempting to repair their relationship.

Both of the characters in "Sonny's Blues" -- Sonny and the narrator -- change over the course of the story.

In "Sonny's Blues" Baldwin uses four female characters, three of whom are mothers and one of whom is an artist, to establish his theme that there's no way to avoid suffering in life.

By the end of "Sonny's Blues," the narrator is liberated from his warped personality; he finally begins to feel, which means he will be freed from his fear and sadness.

Good – we know the argument

Just plot, not good

Just plot, not good

Weak – obvious argument, not good

Strong – argument and explanation

Now try it on your own: Based on the proficiency essay prompt,

write a sentence or two that clearly states your ideas about how the changes in the characters (what they learn) are tied to theme and literary devices.

Take about five minutes. I’ll come by and see how you have done.

Planning OrganizerTitle: The Sniper

Author:Liam O’Flaherty

Genre: Short Story

Theme: War is devastating to everyone

Literary Elements

Example or Quote:

Author’s Purpose

How it Fits Theme

Figurative Language

1.

2.

Imagery 1.

2.

Irony 1.

2.

Planning OrganizerTitle: The Most Dangerous Game

Author:Richard Connell

Genre: Short Story

Theme: People can be dangerous

Literary Elements

Example or Quote:

Author’s Purpose

How it Fits Theme

Foreshadowing 1.

2.

Imagery 1.

2.

Irony 1.

2.

Planning OrganizerTitle: The Scarlet Ibis

Author:James Hurst

Genre: Short Story

Theme: Pride can cause us to destroy things we love.

Literary Elements

Example or Quote:

Author’s Purpose

How it Fits Theme

Foreshadowing 1.

2.

Imagery 1.

2.

Symbolism 1.

2.

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Proficiency Essay 1 Pre-Writing Directions