AP English Literature Essay Prompt #1 Medea Salvage the Bones
Choose one of the following essay prompts. General requirements: one inch margins on all sides, double spaced, a minimum of one quotation (clearly embedded, no “floating” quotes) per body paragraph, 3 FULL pages minimum for a C, topic sentences/transitions in each body paragraph, original title for essay, submitted to turnitin.com on due date.
1. Close reading: choose ONE “representative passage” from either Medea or Salvage the Bones; in your intro., your thesis needs to address WHY this passage is significant to the meaning of the work as a whole (purpose) and HOW the author uses rhetorical/stylistic/literary devices (such as DIDLS, as well as character and theme) to achieve his/her purpose. Each paragraph must have a clear topic sentence explaining to reader how a specific device works to convey purpose; your conclusion should consider the implications to what you have been discussing or you can tie into a personal anecdote that relates to the meaning of the passage under discussion. You do not need to cover all of DIDLS; choose two of them and combine with tone or irony or character.
2. Compare and contrast: choose one or two passages from Medea and Salvage the Bones and compare/contrast the two works. For example, how are Medea and Esch similar/different, and what is the significance of this difference, ie, how does this difference reveal the meaning of both works? You can choose any aspect of either work to compare (we listed several in class) such as themes or characters. Be specific and focus on quotes – don’t generalize about the text. Also, be sure to address the implications to the comparison as well as the “so what?” in your conclusion.
3.Personal response: compare some experience or person in your life to one of the characters or experiences in Salvage the Bones. Perhaps there was a section that you “related” to the most, as Esch and her brothers are all high school age. Possible areas to consider are family, wealth/poverty, sibling relationships, death, bonds with pets (be careful with this one), heroism, survival, race/class in contemporary society. What ever you choose to write about and compare, do not oversimplify either the story or your personal anecdote; try to reflect in your comparison the complexity in both. Also, be sure to address the implications for the comparison in your conclusion, the “so what?”
4. Jesmyn Ward begins Salvage the Bones with epigraphs from Deuteronomy, Gloria Fuertes and Outkast. In an interview, she says “Hip hop, which is my generation’s blues, is important to the characters that I write about. They use Hip hop to understand the world through language.” In an essay, discuss how SOUTHERN hip hop/rap can be compared to the characters and themes expressed in the novel. In the essay, you quote the lyrics of songs, explain/explicate them, and then connect to Salvage the Bones. Begin with Outkast, as Ward did, but move on and explore other artists and the way they reflect Southern culture. Think about Ward’s words here: how does music help the characters understand the world through language (this is not explicit and must be inferred from the text).
Rubric (all essays must be submitted to turnitin.com)
A level essays: clear thesis; prompt answered; four full pages (can be more); typed and double spaced; one inch margins on all sides; original title for essay; example (quotes, specific details) used to support ideas in all body paragraphs; demonstrates understanding of how literary devices work in passage; few, if any, mechanical errors; wide vocabulary employed; varied syntax; ideas organized organically rather than mechanically. Personal voice evident. Correct MLA citation for all sources. Conclusion draws implications, addresses the “so what?”
B level essays: adequate thesis; prompt addressed; three full pages (can be more); typed; one inch margins on all sides; original title for essay; example (quotes, specific details) used to support ideas in all body paragraphs; ideas/commentary less sophisticated/persuasive/clear than A level essays; syntax/vocabulary less mature than A level essay; organization of ideas adequate. Demonstrates some understanding of literary devices. Some personal voice evident. Correct use of MLA style. Conclusion attempts to look at larger implication but only adequately.
C level essays: thesis not completely clear; prompt not always clearly addressed; less than three pages; margins not adhered to; no original title; examples not always used to support ideas; ideas not always clear; writing not always clear; syntax and vocabulary sometimes simplistic; organization not always effective. No personal voice evident. Incorrect use of MLA style. Conclusion repeats ideas in a mechanical, formulaic way; no implications. Does not demonstrate understanding of literary devices.