World Events Research Comparison Essay

English 10English 10

Sometimes authors use fiction as a way of teaching history or telling greater truths about the world around them. To Kill a Mockingbird for example, while a work of fiction, gives the reader great insights as to the institution of racism and bigotry during The Great Depression. Similarly, Luisa Valenzuela and Naguib Mahfouz, authors of “The Censors” and “The Norwegian Rat,” respectively, use their fiction to tell greater truths about the world around them.

Can you think of any other stories that accomplish this?

Use class conversation to identify the purpose & message of each work:

The Censors

 

 

The Norwegian

Rat 

 

In a 5 body paragraph essay you will compare and contrast these stories to three world events (2 may be from the class articles, 1 must be by research in the computer lab). Like the group presentations, your focus should be on the author’s word choice and how the situations relate to the real world. See the point for point graphic organizer below for an idea of how to organize your paper.

Brain Storm: Brain Storm: Choose the article you presented and write some notes for a comparison below. Next read 1 more article for comparison. After writing your notes, circle the column in which you will highlight for your paper.

Name of Article Similarities to Stories Differences from Stories

Instructions:Instructions:In a 5 body paragraph essay you will compare and contrast these stories to three world events (2 may be from the class articles, 1 must be by research in the computer lab). Like the group presentations, your focus should be on the author’s word choice and how the situations relate to the real world. See the point for point graphic organizer below for an idea of how to organize your paper.

Point by Point Comparison Model

1 Introduction in which you state your purpose & give Background info. Next give your thesis statement:There are more differences than similarities between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach.

2 One similarity between mountains and beaches as they are both tourist destinations

3 First difference between mountains and beaches is climateA.  MountainsB.  Beach

4 Second difference between mountains and beaches are types of activitiesA.  MountainsB.  Beach

5 Conclusion

Your Essay Outline:Your Essay Outline: 1 Introduction =Intro to topic (comparing stories to real life)

+summaries of the stories + Thesis statement

Article 1 Name:

    

Article 2 Name:

   

Research Article:

    

5 Conclusion

Stars = What you should write today

Topic SentenceTopic SentenceTopic sentence Topic sentence ==

Title of short story (in quotes), Title of short story (in quotes),

+ author + author

+ summary of the novel.+ summary of the novel.

Intro paragraph

ExamplesExamples The Giver, by Lois Lowry is a story about a

boy who begins to questions the world around him; and when he does he learns that nothing in his world is what it seems.

“The Tell-tale Heart”, by Edgar Allen Poe is a story about a criminal who’s guilt becomes so great that he eventually goes mad and turns himself in.

Try creating an introductory background statement about either or both of the short stories.

“The Censors” by Luisa Valenzuela is a short story about a man named Juan is trying to trying to capture a letter he wrote to avoid the penalty of death if his coded language is caught by the censorship bureau.

Step 2 - Answer the question:Step 2 - Answer the question:How do the stories tell greaterHow do the stories tell greatertruths?truths?

Watch out for “I” statementsWatch out for “I” statements

Step 3 (Thesis Statement)- Step 3 (Thesis Statement)- Choose your EvidenceChoose your Evidence

Choose the names of the Choose the names of the articles you will compare the articles you will compare the stories to. stories to.

Overall you should make a claim Overall you should make a claim as to whether there are more as to whether there are more similarities or differences to be similarities or differences to be found. found.

Example paragraph:Example paragraph:(Topic Sentence) (Topic Sentence) Sometimes works of fiction are solely warn us about Sometimes works of fiction are solely warn us about consequences for choices we make in the world around us. consequences for choices we make in the world around us.

(Summarize Story)(Summarize Story)“The Censors,” by Luisa Valenzuela for example, is “The Censors,” by Luisa Valenzuela for example, is a short story about a man named Juan who is trying to trying to a short story about a man named Juan who is trying to trying to capture a letter he wrote the breaks the censorship laws in his country. capture a letter he wrote the breaks the censorship laws in his country. To avoid the penalty of death, Juan joins a the censorship bureau and To avoid the penalty of death, Juan joins a the censorship bureau and begins to censor letters of others in order to retrieve his letter. In the begins to censor letters of others in order to retrieve his letter. In the end Juan falls victim to a society controlled by fear, and himself as he end Juan falls victim to a society controlled by fear, and himself as he turns himself into the censorship bureau. turns himself into the censorship bureau.

(Thesis Statement) (Thesis Statement) Overall, “The Censors” when taking a look at the Overall, “The Censors” when taking a look at the modern world has more similarities than differences when comparing it modern world has more similarities than differences when comparing it to censorship problems in to censorship problems in Russia,Russia, China,China, and and North Korea. North Korea.

Note: In your thesis statement you should name three countries you Note: In your thesis statement you should name three countries you will compare the story to. Save the titles of your articles for your work will compare the story to. Save the titles of your articles for your work citations.citations.

Your Essay Outline:Your Essay Outline: 1 Introduction =Intro to topic (comparing stories to real life)

+summaries of the stories + Thesis statement

Article 1

Russia "If I am found innocent, it will prove that there is a certain freedom to express oneself. If I am found guilty, it means we are approaching a critical time for art and artists in this country."  (Russia Cracks Down on Political Art) 

Article 2 China

   

Research North Korea

    

5 Conclusion

Stars = What you should write today

Anatomy of a body Paragraph: Consider the following model of a typical

literary analysis paragraph:

Supporting

Detail*

Supporting

Detail*

Supporting

Detail*

Concluding Sentence

Body Paragraph Checklist: Consider the following when using supporting quotes and

passages in your writing:

Lead into or set up your quote/passage with speaker (character/narrator) and occasion (context, or what’s happening in the plot

Follow up a quote with at least two sentences of commentary and analysis before moving on to the next supporting detail

Avoid excessive plot summary

Be sure the quote is relevant to your topic sentence and thesis—does your quote help prove your point?

Avoid letting the quote speak for itself—avoid “dropping” the quote

Sentence Type Body paragraph # 1

Topic Sentence

One country “The Censors” seems to be strikingly similar to is Russia.

Set up Quote In “The Censors” there is a law forbidding anyone to write any thing in the mail that speaks negatively about their government. Similarly, In Russia, even artists are being targeted.

Give Quote Artist, Alexander Shchednov, on the topic in his homeland has stated: "If I am found innocent, it will prove that there is a certain freedom to express oneself. If I am found guilty, it means we are approaching a critical time for art and artists in this country" (Russia Cracks Down on Political Art).

Explain quote Like “The Censors” the artist faces a severe punishment for breaking the censorship law for expressing his honest opinion. While he may not face death, he is controlled by a society ruled by fear of dissent.

Active and Academic Verbs to Use in Critical Literary

AnalysisEmphasizesElucidates Compares SuggestsCreates Illustrates Exemplifies

ParallelsJuxtaposes Implies Alludes to ObservesIdentifies Organizes Reinforces DefinesClarifies Contrasts Argues MirrorsEchoes Develops Connotes

FocusesBalances Relates Expresses Insinuates

Repeat the process within 2 more body paragraphs.

Conclusion Checklist: The conclusion begins with a restatement of the

thesis, not a repetition, and gradually widens toward a final, broad statement of implication.

Borrows from the body paragraphs, without being flatly repetitive or listing points already covered.

Creates echoes of the introduction and body paragraphs to reinforce analysis/ideas.

Moves outward with a statement that relates the thesis to a broader implication so the reader can see it in a larger perspective.

Conclusion Strategies Checklist: Give a symbolic or powerful fact/detail

Create an analogy that relates your topic to a larger implication

Give an especially compelling example

Use a meaningful quotation

Recommend a course of action

Echo the approach/language of the introduction

Reference and make meaning of the title of the work you are analyzing

SentenceType

Conclusion

Restatement of thesis

Borrows information from other paragraphs

Closes using strategy from list on previous slide.

Work Cited PageWork Cited Page

Type the name of the article into Type the name of the article into Google to find the source.Google to find the source.

Good to for work cited page.Good to for work cited page.Bibliography: http://www.noodletools.com/quickcite /

Or

Bibliography:http://www.easybib.com/