The Things They Carried Essay



The Things They Carried Essay Due _________________

You will write a 2- 3 page essay using one of the prompts provided. Do your own work and remember to document/cite any words or ideas that are not your own. (See below for citation method.)

Requirements:

- introduction paragraph (inverted pyramid with a good hook—be creative and captivating)

- author and title of novel are mentioned in introduction paragraph

- thesis (controlling idea) is the last sentence in the introduction paragraph

- body paragraphs with ample evidence and copious analysis.

- You decide how to organize.

- you must use a combination of direct quotes and paraphrased excerpts

- all direct quotes must be accompanied by an effective lead-in or be tagged with accompanying thought.

- you must weave throughout the body paragraphs (skillfully incorporate quotes)

- conclusion paragraph restates the thesis and leaves me thinking

- you must use present tense! (Tim was shocked. = NO! Tim is shocked. = YES!)

- you must follow all formal, academic writing rules (no 1st/2nd person, no contractions, no “dead” words, no rhetorical questions)

- Get specific. Use concrete words. Avoid the abstract. (Use words you can drop on your foot.)

- Be thorough and detailed.

- Feel free to opine and stretch your analytical wings—but stay focused.

- Dare to impress. Submit only your most polished, fully edited draft.

- This is a real chance to prove you can handle college-level writing tasks.

- Citation: (author’s name page number) Example: (O’Brien 67)

▪ Citation of direct quotes:

o O’Brien recalls this irony when he writes, “I was a coward. I went to war” (58).

o Although O’Brien emphasizes war’s most awful consequences, he argues that “war wasn’t all terror and violence” (30) and that it even offered moments of beauty—something simplistic as “elephant grass . . . blowing under the stir of a helicopter’s blades” (35)—and such moments help counterbalance the more gruesome events, juxtaposing war’s essential contradiction: horror and beauty.

o Throughout the book, the notion that a “true war story is never moral” is explored repeatedly through self-referential anecdotes (O’Brien 65).

▪ Citation of paraphrased material:

o War time, and the Vietnam war time in particular, was specifically frightening for draft-aged males, who might be snatched from their regular lives and be dropped in a jungle to fight an unclear war. When O’Brien recounts his decisive moment on the boat near Canada’s border, he is exploring this pervasive fear, using his personal crisis to relay those of millions of others (54-58).

- type the essay prompt at the top of the page

- type in Times/Times New Roman font, size 12

- double space the essay

- turn in a print copy OR an electronic copy through Google Docs

Prompts (choose one):

1. As shown in this novel, which is more effective in dealing with psychological trauma, fact “truth” or story “truth”? Limit your discussion to the events in the text.

2. Although a war is between nations, it is really fought by individuals who stand to lose everything in the process. Discuss this statement as illustrated by the novel.

3. Who/what is truly to blame for Kiowa’s death?

4. Compare/contrast Mary Ann Bell with Tim O’Brien, focusing on their transformation during the war.

5. Choose three symbols from The Things They Carried. What do these items represent and how/why are they integral to the novel?

6. Explore the theme of change in The Things They Carried. Choose two characters to analyze and discuss how/why one changes for the better and one changes for the worse.

7. Is Norman Bowker “murdered” by his memories or by post-war society? Support your opinion with examples from the text.

8. Is Jimmy Cross an effective or an ineffective leader? Select facts from the novel that prove your position.

9. In your opinion, which character possesses the healthiest attitude toward the death and loss experienced in the war? Use examples from the novel to justify your choice.

10. Top Three Moments: Select the most resonantly powerful three moments from the book and thoroughly discuss them within the context of the book’s thematic arcs.

Worth 100 writing points . . .

You may also create your own essay topic related to our study of The Things They Carried. Consider exploring “truth” in more detail, its emotional reality; consider the many examples of irony; consider how O’Brien uses the power and nature of story itself to relay his experience.

Tip: Make time to see Mr. DiLeo for help composing your essay.

Essay Rubric

|Standard |4 |3 |2 |1 |0 |

|Ideas |Outstanding support of |Strong support of |Adequate support of |Minimal support of |Thesis/prompt given NOT |

|& |thesis/prompt |thesis/prompt |thesis/prompt OR some plot|thesis/prompt AND/OR |addressed OR all plot |

|Content | | |summary |significant plot summary |summary |

|Organization & Voice|Commentary is insightful, |Commentary is insightful and |Commentary relates to |Commentary consists of plot|Commentary and concrete |

| |meaningful & consistently |occasionally finds |issues but may judge or be|summary, is weak with |details are indiscernible |

| |finds connections between |connections between |obvious, superficial, |little opinions expressed |or nonexistent. |

| |characters, events themes or|characters, events or themes.|simple, generic or |or is illogical. | |

| |global perspectives. |Concrete details are well |irrelevant. Concrete |Concrete details are weak | |

| |Concrete details are |chosen for topic. |details fit topic. |or have factual errors. | |

| |excellent choices for topic.| | | | |

|Format |Fully adheres to format |Mostly adheres to format |Adheres to only some of |Does not adhere to format |Required format not |

| |required for essay |required for essay |the format required for |required for the essay. |apparent. |

| | | |essay | | |

|Conventions |Minimal convention errors. |Some convention errors but |Convention errors begin to|Convention errors |Convention errors make |

| | |does not impede reader. |impede reader. |significantly detract from |essay near |

| | | | |meaning. |incomprehensible. |

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download