The Bluest Eye Final Project

Choose ONE of the following projects to complete for a major grade.

  1. Compare The Bluest Eye to Alice Walker’s The Color Purple

Write a 2-3 page (600-700 words) essay comparing ONE of the following elements in the novel and film. Your job is NOT to simply say, “There are many differences and similarities in the novel and the film.” Instead, focus on ONE element of both that you think are similar, and analyze the element as it appears in passages/scenes in each. You may discuss:

a theme (loss of sexual innocence, beauty, the American dream,

characters

a recurring image/symbol

2. “Theme Songs” for major characters in The Bluest Eye.

Chose 4 major characters in The Bluest Eye and pick a song for each that you think thematically connects with the character. For each character, you must write a 150-200 word paragraph with a CLEAR main idea that shows the connection between the song and the character. You must include lines from the song and examples from the book to support your ideas.

3. Poetry Explication

Choose THREE poems that you think connect thematically to The Bluest Eye and explicate them in three separate short 300-400 word essays. Each explication must include an examination of the poem’s language and themes as well as its connection to The Bluest Eye. You MUST include both lines from the poems and the novel to illustrate this connection.

4. Cover Art

Redesign the book cover for The Bluest Eye; create a cover that includes symbolic images relating directly to the themes presented in the novel. You may NOT use clip art or cut-and-pasted images from the computer. The cover must be totally original, creative, and thoughtful. Accompanying your cover, you must include a 2-page essay explaining how your cover connects to the themes and symbols in the novel. Use examples from the novel to support your ideas.

5. Symbol Analysis

Chose ONE recurring image or symbol in The Bluest Eye and discuss its underlying meaning through analysis of specific passages in the novel. Your essay must be a minimum of 4 pages (double-spaced) or 800-1000 words. You will receive an automatic 10 points extra credit for this assignment!!

You may discuss one of the following symbols/images in your essay:

Seeds/marigolds

Houses

White/light skinned girls & dolls

Loss of sexual innocence

Comparative Essay Grading Rubric

Organization (25 points):

The essay has a clear thesis with supporting details that flow in a logical order. The writer has used transition sentences and phrases to bridge from one sentence to another.

Score: ______

Content (25 points):

The essay shows evidence of deep thinking and analysis of a theme, character or symbol that are similar in both the novel and the film. Many examples from the novel are included in quotation marks with page numbers. Specific examples from the film are also included.

Score: ______

Style/Voice (25 points):

Appropriate grade-level vocabulary is used in the essay. Sentences are complex and varied. The writing style is mature, sophisticated, and creative.

Score: ______

Mechanics (25 points):

Watch spelling, punctuation, grammar & sentence structure.

Mistakes include:

  • Misspelled words
  • Improper capitalization/word not capitalized
  • Improper use of a comma
  • Comma needed
  • Improper use of a semi-colon
  • Run-ons or sentence fragments
  • Writing in 1st or 2nd person point of view (NO “you,” “I,” “me”)
  • Improper incorporation of a quote

Score: ______

Comparative Essay Outline

TOPIC: ______

I. Introduction

Grabber: ______

______

Focus Statement (introduce titles of novel author of novel, and the film title. Give general info about the plot of each). ______

______

______

______

______

______

Thesis (in what way are the two works similar?): ______

______

______

______

______

II. Body Paragraph #1

Main Idea: ______

Example From Novel: ______

Quote(with page #): ______

Explanation: ______

______

Example From Film: ______

______

Explanation: ______

______

SYNTHESIS: Show how these two examples are similar:

______

______

______

III. Body Paragraph #2

Main Idea: ______

Example From Novel: ______

Quote(with page #): ______

Explanation: ______

______

Example From Film: ______

______

Explanation: ______

______

SYNTHESIS: Show how these two examples are similar:

______

______

______

IV. Body Paragraph #3

Main Idea: ______

Example From Novel: ______

Quote(with page #): ______

Explanation: ______

______

Example from Film: ______

______

Explanation: ______

______

SYNTHESIS: Show how these two examples are similar:

______

______

______

V.Conclusion

Re-state your thesis – don’t REPEAT what you said in the beginning. Say it in a new and interesting way:

______

The “clincher”: Challenge Your Reader

This is sort of like a grabber, but it comes at the end. It is a GENERAL comment about society, people, etc.

Character Theme Song

Organization (25 points):

The paragraphs have a clear thesis with supporting details that flow in a logical order. The writer has used transition sentences and phrases to bridge from one sentence to another.

Score: ______

Content (25 points):

The paragraphs show evidence of deep thinking and analysis of the character. Many examples from the novel and song are included to support the connection between the song and the character.

Score: ______

Style/Voice (25 points):

Appropriate grade-level vocabulary is used. Sentences are complex and varied. The writing style is mature, sophisticated, and creative.

Score: ______

Mechanics (25 points):

Watch spelling, punctuation, grammar & sentence structure.

Mistakes include:

  • Misspelled words
  • Improper capitalization/word not capitalized
  • Improper use of a comma
  • Comma needed
  • Improper use of a semi-colon
  • Run-ons or sentence fragments
  • Writing in 1st or 2nd person point of view (NO “you,” “I,” “me”)
  • Improper incorporation of a quote

Score: ______

Character Theme Song Outline: Use this to construct substantial, well-written paragraphs

** Write in THIRD PERSON point of view. Do not say “I” or “you.”

  • “Song Title”(in quotation marks) and Artist (Give as a subhead)
  • Main Idea sentence: For what character does this song connect, and HOW does the song connect to this character?
  • Example from the song (lyrics):

Use quotation marks when quoting a song.

  • How this relates to the character
  • Line(s) from the novel to support this.

Use quotation marks and then cite the page number in parenthesis.

  • Another example from the song (lyrics):

Use quotation marks when quoting a song

  • How this relates to the character:
  • Line(s) from the novel to support this.

Use quotation marks and then cite page number in parenthesis.

Poetry Explication

Organization (25 points):

The explications have includes three paragraphs, one analyzing the poem’s language, one analyzing the poem’s themes, and one explaining the connection between the poem and the novel. Each paragraph begins with a main idea sentence. The writer uses many transitions to move from one idea to another.

Score: ______

Content (25 points):

The essay shows evidence of deep thinking and analysis of a theme, character or symbol that are similar in both the novel and the film. Many examples from the novel are included in quotation marks with page numbers. Specific examples from the film are also included.

Score: ______

Style/Voice (25 points):

Appropriate grade-level vocabulary is used in the essay. Sentences are complex and varied. The writing style is mature, sophisticated, and creative.

Score: ______

Mechanics (25 points):

Watch spelling, punctuation, grammar & sentence structure.

Mistakes include:

  • Misspelled words
  • Improper capitalization/word not capitalized
  • Improper use of a comma
  • Comma needed
  • Improper use of a semi-colon
  • Run-ons or sentence fragments
  • Writing in 1st or 2nd person point of view (NO “you,” “I,” “me”)
  • Improper incorporation of a quote

Score: ______