Name ______

English 9/The Odyssey Essay Assignment

Balance of Contradictions

Assignment: Please write a well-developed, 5 paragraph essay about the “Balance of Contradictions” in Odysseus’ character. (You do not need to find a perfect balanceof opposites). Your essay should answer the question: How does Odysseus contradict himself?

You must use Concession/Assertion in your thesis. : Although you may think ______, ______is actually true. You will present the concession in the first body paragraph. For example: Odysseus often acts with hubris. Then you will prove what is really true in the next 2 paragraphs. For example: In reality, Odysseus mostly acts with humility. A concession/ assertion thesis statement allows you to acknowledge one side of an argument and then prove a different one.

Brainstorm contradictions in Odysseus’ character:

Hubris/Humility

Thesis:

What will be your concession? ______

What will be your assertion? ______

Thesis Outline due: ______Please submit to turnitin. (10pts.)

Include:

  1. Thesis Statement
  2. Topic sentence for each paragraph
  3. Quote for each paragraph

Essay Guidelines:

Introduction: Should move from the general to the specific.

  1. Catchy and relevant opening. (How will you draw your reader into your essay?) No questions.
  2. Background information (genre, author, title, brief , relevant plot summary)
  3. Clarify/Spin important thesis terms (prepare your reader to understand the thesis and essay the way you want her/him to)
  4. Thesis: The most important sentence in your paper. The idea you will prove.

Arguable/debatable: (Concession/Assertion) What is the argument?

Dividable: Can be broken into sub-topics. What are the sub-topics?

Understandable: Is the thesis clear? Does it make sense?

Provable: Can be supported with textual evidence (examples and quotes).

Short: The thesis should be one sentence.

Body Paragraph #1:

  • Topic sentence – Main idea of this subtopic (Concession)
  • Quote set up – Explain the relevant context to set up the quote. (Who, What , Where, When, Why)
  • Quote (include a lead in/embed the quote and citation)
  • Analysis (Explain how the author is using language to create meaning (Literary function: figurative language, characterization). Integrate these ideas.
  • Transition – this sentence should form a connection between this paragraph and the next.

Body Paragraph #2:

  • Topic Sentence – First Assertion – main idea of this subtopic
  • Quote set up
  • Quote
  • Analysis
  • Transition

Body Paragraph #3:

  • Topic Sentence – Second Assertion (this should be the strongest point and example you have)
  • Quote set up
  • Quote
  • Analysis
  • Concluding statement

Conclusion: moves from the specific to the general.

  • Recap the thesis/main idea.
  • Link your idea to another work we have read in the course. Briefly explain the connection between the two works.
  • Link your idea to a larger context. What does the text teach us about what it means to be human?

Details:

* The essay is worth 100 points.

* 1200-1400 words (Longer is not necessarily better). Be sure to edit effectively.

* Please submit to turnitin.

* Don’t forget a catchy title!

* Please proofread your paper.

* Due: ______

You will be graded on the following…

To what extent does the introduction draw in the reader and provide relevant context? To what extent does the thesis provide a clear argument of opposing character traits? (20%)

To what extent do the topic sentenceseffectively support the thesis and provide a clear concession or assertion? (20%)

To what extent do the quote set ups provide relevant context? (10%)

To what extent are the quotes effective choices to support each sub-topic? Are the quotes embedded well and does each quote have a proper citation? (10%)

To what extent is the analysiseffectively developed? (20%)

To what extent does the conclusion provide a clear recap of the main idea, a connection to another work and a link to a larger meaning? (10%)

Structure: To what extentdoes the essay flow? Does the essay show good attention to grammar and transitions? How well is it edited and how well does it stay within the word limit? Have you included a catchy title?(10 %)