ELA 20-1 (AT-MB)

Write an analytical essay comparing and analysing two (or more) texts studied in class throughout the semester. These may include:

• Short Stories (Boys and Girls by Alice Munro; The Charmer by Budge Wilson)

• Macbeth by William Shakespeare

• Independent Reading Book

• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

• O Brother, Where Art Thou written and directed by The Coen Brothers

Choose one of the themes below and develop an arguable thesis statement:

1.   Discuss the idea(s) developed by the text creators in your chosen texts about what it means to be a good leader and the effect a leader has on others.

2.   Discuss the effect that an author’s use of irony (dramatic, situational, etc.) has on the overall meaning of various texts.

3.   Discuss the idea(s) developed by the text creators in your chosen texts about the relationship between reality and illusion.

4.   Discuss the idea(s) developed by the text creators in your chosen texts about the capability of human nature to contain both good and evil.

5.   Discuss the effect that an author’s choice of motifs and symbols contributes to the overall theme of various texts.

6. Discuss the idea(s) developed by the text creators in your chosen texts about the relationship between gender and violence.

Your essay should be at least five paragraphs long (3 - 4 pages - approx 1000 words, 12 point font, double-spaced). Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, and be followed by evidence (quotes and details from the texts) that support your topic sentence.

How to get started:

1. Choose the “connection” or basis of comparison that you want to analyse in your essay. Your connection could be a theme(e.g., leadership, reality vs illusion, gender roles, good vs evil) or a literary device (symbolism, irony).

2. Choose two or more texts that share that connection or basis of comparison. Consider the various texts you have studied this semester and find quotes and examples that are relevant to or illustrate the connection.

3. Draft your thesis statement. Write down an argument that you can prove using those quotes and examples.

Your essay should be structured like this:

Introduction: Introduce the connection and the texts you will discuss in your essay. Briefly explain why the connection is important to each text (introduce the text format and author: William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth or in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe or the Coen brother’s film, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou). End your introduction with your thesis statement. Your thesis should explain what will be shown through the comparisons you will make in your essay.

Body (3 - 5 paragraphs): Each paragraph must begin with a topic sentence that is followed by examples and quotes that support and prove the topic sentence. To figure out what your topic sentences should say, look at you thesis and ask yourself: what do I need to show or explain in order to prove my thesis statement?

Conclusion: Wrap up your essay by summarizing your arguments, re-capping how you’ve proven your thesis, and why the connection you’ve discussed was important to each text.

(Remember, DON’T USE “I” or refer to yourself - “my favorite” or “in my opinion” while writing a formal essay. It makes your argument less persuasive).