2012Final Exam EssayPrompt for English II

PROMPT:

Comparetwo characters from the works you read this year for English class. The characters cannot be from the same story. Your essay should address the following questions:

  • What do they have in common? (consider why you chose to compare them)
  • In what ways are they different?
  • What accounts for the similarities and differences?

In order to earn a high score, you need to provide a detailed and insightful analysis of the characters. You should consider points of comparison that go beyond the obvious, such as:

Page 1 of 2

  • Motivations
  • Relationships to surroundings
  • Outlook on life
  • Relationships to other individuals
  • Goals in life
  • Flaws and weaknesses
  • Sense of justice

Page 1 of 2

  • Other ideas depending on which characters you have chosen

ADVICE

Choose your characters wisely. Your essay should demonstrate a deep understanding of the complexity of the characters you have chosen.

Do NOT merely write about one character, then write about the other. This essay calls for a comparative analysis—which can get messy. Make a good outline and be organized!

Plan ahead. You will be graded based on the fact that you knew the essay topic in advance and had time to prepare.

WHAT YOU MAY USE

You may write an outline of up to 75 words. It must be written on the reverse side of this page and turned in with your exam.

You may use the texts you are analyzing. Bring them with you; do not plan on borrowing them.

You may use Diana Hacker's A Pocket Syle Manual (the green book). You must bring your own, however. You may not borrow from anyone during the exam.

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION: 50 Points.

Focus. Address the prompt thoroughly and stay on topic. Have a strong thesis statement.

Organization and Coherence. Construct an argument that moves logically from onepoint to the next. Use topics sentences, transition words, and phrases to guide the reader. Have unified paragraphs.

Support and Elaboration. Analyze your characters in detail and demonstrate a deep understanding of him or her. Back up your claims with evidence from the text (quotes).

This criterion is important. It will be weighted heavily.

Style. Show awareness of the audience and write in a style appropriate for a formal essay.

Conventions. Avoid run-on sentences, comma splices, sentence fragments and other major grammatical errors such as subject-verb agreement and unclear pronoun referents. Punctuate your essay properly.

Quotes & Mechanics of Citation. Introduce and punctuate your quotations properly. You should demonstrate your ability to make good quote sandwiches. Write a works cited entry.

Please turn over

Name ______Period ______

On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized or unacknowledged

help on this assignment. ______(Signature)

Write your outline below and provide a word count: ______(75 word limit)

Page 1 of 2