Cyrano de Bergerac Essay Assignment

English 1 2008-09
The concluding assignment for the Cyrano de Bergerac unit is a thesis essay. You will write a
multi-paragraph essay of literary analysis that offers your interpretative answer to a
uestion central to the play. You will support your interpretation with textual evidence
(quotes) and with analysis of that evidence.
Essay Assignment Requirements:
!ntroductory paragraph that provides a hoo"# $ac"ground information on the play# and
includes your thesis statement (your main argument).
At least three body paragraphs# each one focused on a claim that is part of the larger
claim made in your thesis statement.
!"E: Each $ody paragraph must have at least t#o quotes from the play that
support the claim of its topic sentence.
% concluding paragraph that restates your thesis statement and answers the &so what'(
uestion.
)ompleted rough draft# outline# $rainstorming wor"# and other writing notes. These will
need to $e turned in along with the final draft of the essay.
*inal draft that is typed$ double spaced# in Times +ew ,oman# font si-e 12.
.se of /0% format for your final draft 1see &*ormatting Essays and ,esearch 2apers(
handout3.
%ccurate formatting and citation of uotations in the essay 1see &4ow to !ncorporate
5uotations( handout3.
%hoose an essay question from this list:
1. !s )yrano admira$le or foolish' )hoose one side to argue# and ta"e a stand in your
thesis statement as to #hy he is either admira$le or foolish 1you will $e focusing on
either )yrano6s virtues or )yrano6s flaws3.
2. 7hat motivates )yrano' 7hat are the values or desires that lead him to do the things
that he does'
8. 7hat does the play suggest a$out human vices or human virtues'
9. 7hat does the play suggest a$out people6s desires and motivations'
:. 7hat message does ,ostand convey a$out love 1romantic or otherwise3 in this play'
&teps to "a'e in (riting )our Essay:
1. ,eview your ,eading +otes and ;ocratic ;eminar notes. 4ighlight "ey uotes and "ey
ideas that relate to your topic.
2. <,%!+;T=,/> 4ave all of the te?tual evidence that might relate to your topic at hand# and
start $rainstorming using a graphic organi-er.
@@ %t the end of your $rainstorming session# choose three answers to your essay uestion
that you thin" are your $est answers. These will $e the claims of your three body
paragraphs. @@
8. =rgani-e your ideas into an outline. !nclude in your outline your thesis statement 1the main
argument that you will ma"e in your essay3# the topic sentence for each of your $ody
paragraphs# and the specific e?amples from the $oo" that you will use to support each topic
sentence.
9. 7rite your first draft. ,emem$er to write your $ody paragraphs using the format for
paragraphs of literary analysis that we have practiced in class.
:. ,evise# revise# revise> Aon6t $e afraid to delete and rewrite entire paragraphs if you find
they are not wor"ing# or to change your thesis if you find that your main argument has
changed.
"imeline:
Essay $rainstorm chart and rough draft of thesis statement *+E: ThursB*ri. =ct. 1CB1D
Essay outline *+E: /on.# =ct. 20
1thesis statement# topic sentences for $ody paragraphs# uotes for $ody paragraphs3
<ody paragraphs *+E: TuesB7ed. =ct. 21B22
)omplete# typed essay rough draft 1including introduction and conclusion3 *+E: *ri.# =ct. 29 19
th
# C
th
3
/on.# =ct. 2D 11
st
# 8
rd
# :
th
3
*inal draft *+E: *ri.# =ct. 81 19
th
and C
th
3
/on.# +ov. 8 11
st
# 8
rd
# :
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3