Beowulf Essay Assignment - Honors British Lit



Beowulf Essay Assignment

The first draft of your essay is due Thursday October 11th; the final draft is due Tuesday October 16h. Late essays lose 20 points a day. Essays will be collected at the beginning of class only. No essays will be accepted over email. Essays must be typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman Font. Final drafts will not be accepted without outlines and reviewed first drafts.

Part I: Choose a topic

Topic A: Hero

Use the poem and your notes to prove that Beowulf is a good example of a hero.

|Who: |Beowulf |

|What: |is a hero |

|Where: |in Beowulf |

|When: |Anglo-Saxon England |

|Why/How: 1. |he fights for a noble cause |

| 2. |he follows a code of honor |

| 3. |he possesses strength and courage |

Example thesis statement: In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf possesses the characteristics of a hero because he fights for a noble cause, he follows a code of honor, and he possesses strength and courage that is greater than anyone else.

Topic B: Vengeance

Different characters seek vengeance in the poem. Use the poem and your notes to discuss the reasons and ways that the characters seek revenge.

|Who: |characters in the poem |

|What: |exemplify vengeance |

|Where: |in Beowulf |

|When: |Anglo-Saxon England |

|Why/How: 1. |through Beowulf’s actions |

| 2.|through Hrothgar’s actions |

| 3.|through Grendel’s mother’s actions |

Example thesis statement: In the epic poem Beowulf, the idea of vengeance is exemplified through the actions of Beowulf, Hrothgar, and Grendel’s mother.

Part II: outline the Beowulf essay

A. look at the example to review the outline form

Sample thesis: In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf possesses the characteristics of a hero because he fights for a noble cause, he follows a code of honor, and he possesses strength and courage that is greater than anyone else. PTBM =s Point To Be Made

|PTBM |EX |Quotation |

| |helps the Danes when no one else could |“ |

|He fights for a noble cause |rescues Herot from Grendel | |

| |avenges Esher’s death | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | |(Beowulf, ln. ) |

| | |“ |

|He follows a code of honor | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | |(Beowulf, ln. ) |

| | |“ |

|He possesses strength and courage | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | |(Beowulf, ln. ) |

Part III: Draft the essay on the computer

A. Follow this drafting process for each support paragraph:

• Write PTBMs as the first sentences (topic sentences) using strong verbs

• Add the examples next with 2 to 3 sentences that fully explain how your PTBM supports your “what” in the thesis

• Introduce the quotations with lead-ins such as: Beowulf’s heroic legacy is shown in his introduction as “Edgetho’s brave son” (ln. 2021).

• Explain the quotation

• End each paragraph with an interpretation of how this paragraph supports your thesis

• Follow the same format for support paragraphs 2 and 3

B. Write your introduction and conclusion last by following this format:

INTRO CONCLUSION

general statement of “what” re-worded, restatement of thesis

1-2 sent. Summary

explanation of “who” review of PTBMs

thesis final analysis of “what’

C. Use standard conventions for typing as listed below:

– Write a five paragraph essay

– Type a Works Cited page using standard guides given in class

– Type the paper (no paper will be accepted unless it is typed!)

• 12 point font

• double spaced

• use default font (Times New Roman)

• black ink

• 1 inch margins

• 1 “tab” indentation to show a new paragraph

• no extra space between paragraphs

• Heading in top right corner of the first page – no cover sheet!

• Title on top line after heading – no bold, no large font, no italics except in title of poem Beowulf

Part V: Edit and Proofread

o Remove all contractions – you can’t have any

o Remove all first and second person – I, me, my, you, your, etc.

▪ Replace with: this author, this writer, one, the reader

o Refer to Beowulf as a poem and the author as the poet

o Circle all the be verbs and try to remove at lease ½ of them by using strong verbs

o Read the essay aloud to hear grammar errors

o Have the essay read aloud to you to hear errors

o read a final copy that is printed out – not just the one on the screen

o use spell check and grammar check

Part VI: Write a great title

– write down the major themes of your essay (love, hate, power, terror)

– use a thesaurus to find some alliterative words that you can use

– start with a short alliterative phrase

– put in a colon

– tell the who and what from the thesis

– end with the title

ex: For an essay about heroes –

Brave and Benevolent Men: The Hero in Beowulf

Part VII: Turn in the paper

– look at the rubric to be sure you earn full credit

– review the assignment sheet for details about late papers and absences

– the essay will not be accepted without

o approved outline

o typed first draft that I discussed with you

o typed final draft

Final Submission Order

Top Rubric

Final typed draft

Hand written or typed outline

Typed draft(s) with revisions

Bottom

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