Model for Essay Writing

1. Model for Essay Writing AP English Literature

2. 2008 Question 3 • Question 3 • (Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts as one-third of the total essay section score.) • In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of the minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor character serves as a foil to a main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the work. You may choose a work from the list below or another appropriate novel or play of similar literary quality. Do not merely summarize the plot.

3. 1) Read prompt • 1992: In a novel or play, a confidant (male) or confidante (female) is a character, often a friend or relative of the hero or heroine, whose role is to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently the result is, as Henry James remarked, that the confidant or confidante can be as much “the reader’s friend as the protagonist’s.” However, the author sometimes uses this character for other purposes as well. Choose a confidant or confidante from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. You may write your essay on one of the following novels or plays or on one of comparable quality. Do not write on a poem or short story.

4. 2) Reread prompt • 1992: In a novel or play, a confidant (male) or confidante (female) is a character, often a friend or relative of the hero or heroine, whose role is to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently the result is, as Henry James remarked, that the confidant or confidante can be as much “the reader’s friend as the protagonist’s.” However, the author sometimes uses this character for other purposes as well. Choose a confidant or confidante from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. You may write your essay on one of the following novels or plays or on one of comparable quality. Do not write on a poem or short story.

5. 3) Annotate the prompt • 1992: In a novel or play, a confidant (male) or confidante (female) is a character, often a friend or relative of the hero or heroine, whose role is to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently the result is, as Henry James remarked, that the confidant or confidante can be as much “the reader’s friend as the protagonist’s.” However, the author sometimes uses this character for other purposes as well. Choose a confidant or confidante from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. You may write your essay on one of the following novels or plays or on one of comparable quality. Do not write on a poem or short story.

6. 4) Brainstorm • Analyze P’s relationship w/ J and how that affects the novel as a whole (theme) • Pheoby (foil) is bff w/ J • Homebody vs. adventurer • Stereotypical woman/wife vs. rebel woman/wife • Share desire for equality in marriage • Events: Pheoby & town are “on the porch” when Janie comes home to E’ville; Pheoby approves of “safe” choice for J’s 3rd husband, the age-appropriate undertaker while J opts for “risky” TC; Ph. States that she’ll make Sam go fishing w/ her tomorrow after hearing of J’s adventures • Theme: Conforming to society will prevent one from reaching one’s goals, finding one’s voice, and reaching true happiness.

7. 5) Outline Intro. Paragraph • Author’s name + active verb • In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston, develops a character, Pheoby, who serves as Janie’s best friend and shows the importance of nonconformity to society’s standards. • Answer with list of three • Amplifying Sentence • Transition clause, thematic statement

8. 5) Outline Intro. Paragraph • Amplifying Sentence • Pheoby’s stereotypical behavior as a traditional wife contrasts with Janie’s adventurous spirit and final marriage with Tea Cake. • Answer with list of three • Transition clause, thematic statement

9. 5) Outline Intro. Paragraph • Answer with list of three • Hurston highlights this contrast through Phoeby’s reaction to Janie’s returns to Eatonville, her approval of the undertaker as a potential husband for Janie, and her assertion that “Sam will take me fishing tomorrow.” • Transition clause, thematic statement

10. 5) Outline Intro. Paragraph • Transition clause, thematic statement • These events prove Hurston’s idea that conforming to society will prevent one from reaching true happiness.

11. 6) Write Intro. Paragraph • In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston, develops a character, Pheoby, who serves as Janie’s best friend and shows the importance of nonconformity to society’s standards. Pheoby’s stereotypical behavior as a traditional wife contrasts with Janie’s adventurous spirit and final marriage with Tea Cake. Hurston highlights this contrast through Phoeby’s reaction to Janie’s returns to Eatonville, her approval of the undertaker as a potential husband for Janie, and her assertion that “Sam will take me fishing tomorrow.” These events prove Hurston’s idea that conforming to society will prevent one from reaching true happiness.

12. 7) Begin Body One Paragraph • Janie’s return to Eatonville serves to satirize both the townspeople of E’ville and the traditional attitudes to which they cling. Hurston refers to the townspeople as porch-sitters and as “Mouth Almighty,” a condition that critiques their tendency to gossip and judge both hastily and unnecessarily. Pheoby, as a member of the town, occupies a tenuous position as both a porch-sitter and J’s bff. She has remained in the town and in a traditional marriage to her husband Sam, but she defends Janie’s return and dust-stained appearance, INSERT QUOTE HERE. This defense show that she can potentially inhabit both worlds, that of the traditional society and that of Janie’s adventuring.

13. 8) Begin Body Two Paragraph

14. 9) Begin Body Three Paragraph

15. 10) I have a little bit of a conclusion!

16. Rubric • 9-8 = well-focused/persuasive/specific textual support; significant insight & understanding • 7-6= reasonable analysis (argument); answered prompt fully; insight and understanding; better analysis; consistent command of elements of lang. • 5 = superficial/undeveloped/plot summary; unsophisticated thinking/writing; composition flaws (errors and organization); adequate (LLM solid) essay = plot summary/writing flaws • 4-3 • 2-1 • 0 • -