Lord of the FliesHonors English IV

Out-of-Class Essay

Looking for…

• At least 5 paragraphs (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion)

• Each paragraph will have 5-7 sentences in it.• A strong and clear thesis statement• MLA-cited evidence (excerpts from that text)

that supports your argument• Grammatically and mechanically correct

sentences

Topic = Lord of the Flies

• Choose one of the following essay topics• Compose a well-thought out essay using Lord

of the Flies as the primary source text• Use your book! Find evidence! Include it in

your essay to support your thesis.• Do NOT include any secondary sources.– i.e., scholarly articles, encyclopedias, Wikipedia,

SparkNotes, GradeSaver, Cliffnotes, etc.

Option #1

In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.

Option #2In The Writing of Fiction (1925), novelist Edith Wharton states,

“At every stage in the progress of his tale the novelist must rely on what may be called the illuminating incident to reveal and emphasize the inner meaning of each situation. Illuminating incidents are the magic casements of fiction, its vistas on infinity.”

Choose a novel or play that you have studied and write a well-organized essay in which you describe an “illuminating” episode or moment and explain how it functions as a “casement,” a window that opens onto the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

Option #3

A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning.

Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Formatting

• Typed: Times New Roman, 12-pt font, double-spaced, no spaces between paragraphs, 1” margins– STANDARD MLA FORMAT FOR TYPED DOCUMENT

• Hand-written: blue or black ink (no scribbles!), clear print, double-spaced, front side only (no writing on back of sheet)

Scoring

• These essays will be scored using AP guidelines. Write accordingly.

• Analyze the topic to its fullest extent.• Be persuasive. Be concise. Be confident.