Composition #3                      English 8                    Mrs. McDonald

 

Due Date:                               Rough Draft due 1/16 (A) 1/17(B)                                                                                                   Final draft due by Break by all on Tuesday, 22 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 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 of 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.

 

 

SAMPLE ESSAY

BoBo the Clown

Mrs. McDonald

English 8-1

12 January 2008

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.