Essays+-+English+1+Honors


 * Honors English 1 - Exposuasive Essay on //Life of Pi//**Assigned: __10/13__ Due: **__11/7__**


 * Assignment**: Write and share (on GoogleDocs) a well-written, five paragraph essay addressing Pi’s two different stories about his lifeboat trip. Each paragraph should be a minimum of five sentences and should cover the information detailed below. A rough draft of your essay should be written on the back side of this page for full credit. Also, the outline and the graphic organizer on the third and fourth pages of this packet should be completed for next week’s homework points.
 * Paragraph Breakdown**
 * 1) (Intro) What sort of question and/or statement would summarize Pi’s journey and grab a reader’s attention? What sort of ordeal does Pi go though on his journey? How could his first story of his journey be summarized **briefly**? How could his second story of his journey be summarized **briefly**? Which story is more believable or is closest to the truth about what really happens on his journey? Which story would you rather believe?
 * 2) (Body 1) What does Pi’s first story involve? Who are his fellow passengers in the lifeboat? Which passengers kill which other passenegers? Why do these passengers kill the other passengers? How does Pi feel about these deaths? What is his role in these deaths? How does this version of his journey impact Pi?
 * 3) (Body 2) What does Pi’s second story involve? Who are his fellow passengers in the lifeboat? Which passengers kill which other passenegers? Why do these passengers kill the other passengers? How does Pi feel about these deaths? What is his role in these deaths? How does this version of his journey impact Pi?
 * 4) (Body 3) Which story seems closer to the actual truth? What elements make it seem true? What elements in the other story make the other story seem less true? Why does Pi have two different stories about what happened? Which story do the Japanese Maritime Department investigators believe? Why do they seem to believe this story over the other?
 * 5) (Conclusion) Which story would would you rather believe? Why would you rather believe this story? What does your belief say about you as a person? How does your belief relate to your outlook on life? How could you apply anything that you learned from Pi’s stories or his journey to your own life?

**__Honors English 1 Persuasive Essay__** (due: 12/17) What character is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Write a five-paragraph essay explaining why you think a particular character is the most responsible and why another character isn’t responsible. Submit your final draft on GoogleDocs. __**Paragraph 1: Intro (five sentences minimum)**__ **__Example__**: Sampson is the character who is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare’s play. Sampson has the greatest responsibility because he is the one who starts the fight at the beginning of the play. He’s also responsible because he doesn’t try to break up the anguish once it starts. Some people might think that another servant, Peter, is actually more responsible for the deaths due to his close relationship with the nurse and his apparent illiteracy, but Sampson is more influential when it comes to promoting violence. Due to his part in inciting bloodshed, Sampson should be brought up on charges by the Prince. **__Paragraph 2: First Reason Paragraph__** (five sentences minimum) **__Example__**: Sampson is the one character who could be considered the biggest instigator of the fight in Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, because he bites his thumb at some Montagues. After biting his thumb, he provokes the fight with the rival family by responding to Abram's question about a quarrel with, " 'But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as good as a man as you.' " (I.i.52-3,13) This fight initiates much of the trouble between the Capulets and the Montagues. If this conflict doesn’t happen, Tybalt probably wouldn’t become so angry at Romeo. Still seething over the fight, he recognizes Romeo's voice at the Capulet masque and--after being held in check by Lord Capulet--Tybalt seethes, " 'I will withdraw; but this intrusion shall, / Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall.' " (I.v.100-101,57-9) Juliet’s cousin wouldn’t challenge the young Montague without the original disturbance. If he doesn’t rely on malice, Sampson could promote peace between the families. **__Paragraph 3: Second Reason Paragraph__** (five sentences minimum) __**Example**__: The Capulet servant is also responsible for the deaths because he doesn’t try to stop the violence between the two families once it starts. During the original fight, Benvolio is the only one who tries to break things up. Romeo's cousin says, " ' Part fools! Put up your swords. You know not what you do.' " (I.i.66-67,15) The other combatants involved, including Sampson and Tybalt--" 'Turn thee, Benvolio! look upon thy death' " (I.i.69,15)--don’t try to stop the fighting. Although it seems like much of the trouble is inexorable, Sampson could at least try to stop the violence. Like everyone else, he probably feels horrible about his inaction once Romeo and Juliet are found dead in the Capulet tomb. **__Paragraph 4: Antithesis Paragraph__** (five sentences minimum) __**Example**__: Some readers believe that Peter is actually most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, but this is simply not the case. Since Peter is the nurse’s servant, some might assume that he should have a predominant impact on steering Juliet in the right direction. Like the nurse, Peter should be looking out for Juliet’s best interests. This argument doesn’t hold water because Juliet doesn’t have a close relationship with Peter. " 'Send thy man away' " (II.v.19,107) is the only thing that Juliet ever says to or about the servant. She clearly wants nothing to do with him. Even if Peter is knowledgeable about Juliet’s situation and is able to give her good advice, she probably won’t take tips from someone she doesn’t really know or respect. Some would also argue that Peter is the unnamed servant in Act I who lets Romeo and Benvolio know about the Capulet party by asking Romeo to read the list of invitees. His " 'I pray, sir, can you read?' "(I.ii.62,31) gets Romeo to peruse a list including his beloved Rosaline. Without seeing the list, Romeo and Benvolio never would have known of the costume ball, an occasion that Benvolio sees as an opportunity to have his cousin see " 'the admired beauties of Verona' " (I.ii.91,33) who will make Romeo " 'think thy swan a crow.' " (I.ii.94,33) Surely, Benvolio has more of a role in getting his cousin to the Capulet masque than Peter does. Once there, the star-crossed love affair that ends in disaster is set into motion. Even so, it is Peter's illiteracy that helps to initiate the trip to the ball, not Peter himself. **__Paragraph 5: Conclusion Paragraph__** (five sentences minimum) __**Example**__: Although many characters in Romeo and Juliet could be held responsible for the ultimate deaths, one person is the most culpable. Sampson is the character who should be blamed for the deaths because he could have played a significant role in eliminating the formidable hatred shared by the families. Since he only increased the amount of hate, he should be held accountable for its results. The only appropriate punishment would be charges for starting the original altercation. Certainly, Sampson’s role might seem like a petty crime, but—considering the ultimate results—his actions are devastating.
 * indicate which character is most responsible for Romeo’s and Juliet’s deaths
 * list (briefly) two reasons why a character is most responsible for the deaths
 * list (briefly) one reason another character isn’t responsible for the deaths
 * conclude by indicating (briefly) what the consequences should be for this character
 * restate a first reason why a chosen character is most responsible for the deaths
 * go into more details about why this character is most responsible
 * include at least one quoted passage from the play that supports your assertion
 * restate a second reason why a chosen character is most responsible for the deaths
 * go into more details about why this character is most responsible
 * include at least one quoted passage from the play that supports your assertion
 * restate reasons why a character is not responsible for the deaths
 * go into more details about why this character is not responsible
 * include at least one quoted passage from the play that supports your assertion
 * restate the reason why a character is responsible for the deaths
 * restate the appropriate consequences for this character
 * indicate why this character should be punished
 * __REMEMBER__**
 * The essay is worth five (5) points (one point per paragraph).
 * Each five errors (grammatical, spelling, etc) equal one point off your score.
 * Your final draft must be shared with Mr. Fornnarino on GoogleDocs by 12/17.

__**Honors English 1 Compare & Contrast Essay (due 3/21)**__ Directions: In a well-written, six-paragraph essay, compare and contrast our class novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, with one of the short stories we’ve read out of the Language of Literature book (“The Utterly Perfect Murder “– pg. 17, “A Christmas Memory” – pg. 62, or “Marigolds” – pg. 106). The following elements can be compared or contrasted in your essay: · character traits (characteristics) and development · narrative (story or plot) elements · setting (time and place) · tone/mood (emotional feeling of story) · primary conflict (person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. nature, person vs. society, or person vs. fate) · writing style (believability, difficulty, voice) · point-of-view (first person, second person, or third person) · symbolism/imagery · foreshadowing/flashbacks · theme · similar to · both · also · too · as well · like ·  in addition · additionally · similarly || Differences · on the other hand · however · but · although · unlike · while ·  in contrast · whereas · contrarily || You will be given time to write your essay during class using school computers and to submit it electronically. Paragraph Structure (each should be a minimum of five sentences long) First Paragraph – introduction of works, brief listing of similarities and differences (3 total) Second Paragraph – greater detail about a single similarity or a single difference Third Paragraph – greater detail about a single similarity or a single difference Fourth Paragraph – greater detail about a single similarity or a single difference Fifth Paragraph– greater detail about a single similarity or a single difference Sixth Paragraph – judgment of which work you’ve enjoyed more based upon similarities and differences. Remember, you need at least two similarities, at least two differences, and a total of four.
 * Cue Words || (Try to integrate these cue words at into your essay.) ||
 * Similarities

**Honors English 1 - Exposuasive Essay on //Life of Pi//** Assigned: __10/15__ Due: **__10/26__**
 * Assignment**: Write and share (on GoogleDocs) a well-written, five paragraph essay addressing Pi’s two different stories about his lifeboat trip. Each paragraph should be a minimum of five sentences and should cover the information detailed below. A rough draft of your essay should be written on the back side of this page for full credit. Also, the outline and the graphic organizer on the third and fourth pages of this packet should be completed for next week’s homework points.
 * Paragraph Breakdown**
 * 1) (Intro) What sort of question and/or statement would summarize Pi’s journey and grab a reader’s attention? What sort of ordeal does Pi go though on his journey? How could his first story of his journey be summarized **briefly**? How could his second story of his journey be summarized **briefly**? Which story is more believable or is closest to the truth about what really happens on his journey? Which story would you rather believe?
 * 2) (Body 1) What does Pi’s first story involve? Who are his fellow passengers in the lifeboat? Which passengers kill which other passenegers? Why do these passengers kill the other passengers? How does Pi feel about these deaths? What is his role in these deaths? How does this version of his journey impact Pi?
 * 3) (Body 2) What does Pi’s second story involve? Who are his fellow passengers in the lifeboat? Which passengers kill which other passenegers? Why do these passengers kill the other passengers? How does Pi feel about these deaths? What is his role in these deaths? How does this version of his journey impact Pi?
 * 4) (Body 3) Which story seems closer to the actual truth? What elements make it seem true? What elements in the other story make the other story seem less true? Why does Pi have two different stories about what happened? Which story do the Japanese Maritime Department investigators believe? Why do they seem to believe this story over the other?
 * 5) (Conclusion) Which story would would you rather believe? Why would you rather believe this story? What does your belief say about you as a person? How does your belief relate to your outlook on life? How could you apply anything that you learned from Pi’s stories or his journey to your own life?