For the first essay, choose one of the prompts below and write a two-page, double-spaced, argumentative essay. The essay must have an introduction that includes a focused argumentative thesis statement, two body paragraphs that support the thesis, and a conclusion.
Identify two characteristics that make an “good” or “bad” man in the world of Beowulf. Support your answer with direct quotes and logical reasoning.
Note: “Good” and “bad” are vague terms (hence why I am using quotation marks). In your essay, use more specific terms for “good” and “bad.”
Identify two characteristics that make a “good” or “bad” woman in the world of Beowulf. Support your answer with direct quotes and logical reasoning.
Note: “Good” and “bad” are vague terms (hence why I am using quotation marks). In your essay, use more specific terms for “good” and “bad.”
Pick two of Beowulf’s battles. What do these battles reveal about the path Beowulf takes to become a man? Support your answer with direct quotes and logical reasoning.
Consider each battle a step in Beowulf’s journey to manhood. What does Beowulf have to prove in each battle?
Identify two characteristics of an effective king in Beowulf. Support your answer with direct quotes and logical reasoning.
Grading Criteria:
The introduction should be brief (3-5 sentences). Use it to set up the topic for the reader and to express the essay’s answer to the prompt.
The thesis should either be the first or last sentence in the introduction. And it must answer the prompt’s question in a single, clear sentence. The thesis should present an argumentative claim that the body paragraphs will support.
Each paragraph (2 total body paragraphs) should lead with topic sentences that express the paragraph’s main idea. The topic sentence’s claim should support the thesis’s argument.
Use direct quotes from the text to support the topic sentence’s claim. Keep direct quotes short (2-3 lines of poetry). Use only the evidence that is necessary to prove the paragraph’s claim.
In-text citations are required for direct quotes. Otherwise, the essay is considered plagiarized. Give the author credit.
For a review of in-text citations for MLA, please visit Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL): MLA In-Text Citations
For a review of in-text citations for APA, please visit Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL): APA In-Text Citations
Thoroughly analyze the evidence. Explain how the evidence supports the paragraph’s claim.
The conclusion should be brief (3-5 sentences), and it should wrap up the essay’s argument.
Do not use outside research for this assignment. I am using this assignment to assess students’ ability to analyze the text they are reading.
*Note: No more, no less than two pages. Writing to a page limit like this will help improve the precision of your editing skills because you will need to be exact. As such, the essay should have no more than 4 paragraphs: 1 introductory paragraph, 2 body paragraphs, and 1 concluding paragraph. Points will be deducted for essays that exceed or do not meet the length requirement.
Formatting Requirements:
Follow MLA or APA guidelines (Review Purdue OWL MLA or APA for a refresher if needed)
Double spaced
Times New Roman, size 12
