Choose ONE question below and write an essay response.
A) Writers often depict acts of betrayal, perhaps towards another person or perhaps towards one’s own values. Discuss how two OIB writers have dealt with betrayal in their works.
B) “I regret that it takes a life to learn how to live.” (Jonathan Safran Foer) Sometimes the moments of true understanding come when it is too late to change or take action. Discuss this idea in two OIB works.
C) Literature often portrays characters confronting a new environment, culture or set of beliefs. How are the dynamics of such confrontations explored in two works on your OIB syllabus?
D) How do two authors on your OIB program explore the power of nature in their works?
You must choose one question and write an essay response. You will begin at 15H and you must send your essay back to me between 17h – 17h30 to my ENT email. You can either type the essay (don’t forget to put your name in the title of document and at the head of the document) or take a photo of your handwritten essay.
To prepare mentally, please review the essay rubric below (and, you could have a look at your last written comparative essay and the samples of other student writing given to you in class):
You must compare/contrast two “works” studied so far. Possibilities of “works” are: The Handmaid’s Tale, Love in the Time of Cholera, Frost’s poems, Intimate Apparel, Stranger in the Village, Sweet Bird of Youth (wow, we’ve read quite a lot this year, you should be proud!).
(Please do not write an essay with just The Handmaid’s Tale and Love in the Time of Cholera, as we have already done so. You can use one of these two works if you desire, but choose another for your second work)
Tip: Don’t forget to include “style” (devices, discussion of language) in your analysis for full credit.
Thesis: Make a specific thesis with a defined angle to the vague question. Remember, an anglophone thesis is the “conclusion,” not a question. You then will be like a lawyer who uses evidence to prove your already very specific conclusion.
Organization: There are no real rules but your organization has to be clear, persuasive, and easy to follow. You can write a thesis that includes both works and organize paragraphs that mix the two works together, or, write a two-sentence thesis and transition halfway through your essay to the second work. Comment on elements of style as you go along and highlight how they enhance your argument. Use your paragraphs to organize your points (start each paragraph with a mini-thesis to keep us oriented).
Focus on what the authors are doing, and be careful not to talk too much about the characters like they are real people, but more instruments that the authors use to create effects.
Notes: For now, you may use them, but keep in mind that the real exam will be without notes. To use them efficiently and not waste too much time “looking for answers”, get your notes/books organized before you begin.