Composition #3                      English 8                    Mrs. McDonald

 

Due Date:                               Rough Draft due Tuesday, 13 January in class                                                                            

                                                Final draft due by Break by all on Friday, 16 January

                                                                        in the basket in Rm 214       

 

Composition Assignment:     A three paragraph essay on “A Raisin in the Sun”

 

Topic:                                     One of the main themes of the play was the importance of love and                                                           

                                                trust in a family.                     

 

Directive:                                The main purpose of this assignment is to choose a character                                                           

                                                (OTHER THAN MAMA) from the play who proves and supports                                               

                                                the theme of the importance of family. Through the use of this                                                       

                                                character, you will prove how Hansberry views the values a                                                            

                                                family possesses as one pf the main themes of the play.                                                                                                       

 

IMPORTANT:                 Refer to the sample essay below as well as pgs. 2-17                                        

                                      through 2-24 in your Composition Resource Book.

 

Skill/Concept

   Stressed:                              The ability to explain in a well-developed three paragraph essay                                                      

                                                the importance of the main idea of a literary work.   

 

 

Requirements:           1.Original title. The same rule applies as for your proceeding essays.

                                                DO NOT use the title of the story or the name of the character. Catch                                                        

                                                the reader’s attention. Use your imagination.

                                    2. Write a well-developed three paragraph essay describing your chosen                                                     

                                                character in terms of one personality trait.

                                    3. DO NOT USE contractions.

                                    4. DO USE present tense, third person, correct heading, and correct                                                           

                                                spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and vocabulary.

                                    5.  USE ONE DIRECT OBJECT , ONE PREDICATE NOMINATIVE                                                   

                                                AND A TRANSITIVE VERB IN ACTIVE VOICE IN YOUR                                                    

                                                ESSAY. UNDERLINE AND LABEL THESE WORDS.                                                  

                                    6. Word process the final copy of your original using the MLA style.

                                    7. Staple double pages together.

                                    8. Double space heading and essay.

                                    9. This is a major composition, it will be conferenced, and it is worth 100                                                   

                                                points. See my web page for the second quarter conferencing schedule.

 

 

 

BoBo the Clown

Mrs. McDonald

English 8-1

16 January 2009

Matriarchal Support

            A theme  always directs and informs the reader of the main purpose or idea found in a literary work. In the play “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry deals with many themes and ideas. One main thought which pervades the entire play is the importance of family. Through the character of Mama, Hansberry develops the theme of familial importance.

            In the play, Mama exemplifies the importance of family through her interaction with her son Walter. Even though Mama does not agree with Walter’s dream of owning a liquor store and his scheme to ‘get rich quick’, she realizes the importance of supporting and trusting her son in order for him to realize the value of family. Therefore, she entrusts Walter with the money to follow his dream. Mama definitely portrays her belief in family and family values through her relationship with her son.

            Familial importance was stressed by Lorraine Hansberry as seen through the character of Mama. Even though Mama disagreed with her son’s dream, she portrayed the trust and love essential for a family by entrusting the major portion of her money to her son. A theme often informs the reader of the main idea found in a literary work.