Throughout this course, you will analyze the concept of resilience from a variety of different angles. In this unit, you explored Sophocles’ Italic text startOedipus RexItalic text End and Shakespeare’s Italic text startHamletItalic text End in order to discover the portrayal of resilience and free will in classic theatre. For this assignment, you will write a 1,000-1,500 word comparison essay in response to one of the following questions:
Which character showed more greater resilience: Oedipus or Hamlet?
OR
To what degree are Hamlet and Oedipus in control of their own fate? Which character exercises the most free will?
This assignment is worth 10% of your course grade.
Instructions
Bold text startCiting sources:Bold text End
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Review the Bold text startAvoiding Plagiarism GuideBold text End and Bold text startReferencing and Formatting Submission GuidelinesBold text End. In this course, you will be using the MLA citation style to cite sources. Review the MLA citation style using the Bold text startMLA Citation GuideBold text End. You will need to cite sources as you write with in-text citations as well as synthesize an MLA-formatted Works Cited page for your essay.
Bold text startPrewriting:Bold text End
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Brainstorm at least three criteria that you will use to answer ONE OF the comparison essay questions: “Who showed greater resilience: Oedipus or Hamlet?” OR “To what degree are Hamlet and Oedipus in control of their own fate? Which character exercises the most free will?” When developing your criteria, use what you know about fate, free will, tragic heroes, and resilience. You may find it helpful to review your “Notes on Oedipus Rex” and “Notes on Hamlet” graphic organizers as well as your notes on fate and free will. Consider using one of the following graphic organizers to collect ideas as you brainstorm: Bold text startOedipus and Hamlet: Compare and Contrast ChartBold text End or Bold text startOedipus and Hamlet: Venn DiagramBold text End.
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Create your thesis statement. Use the guidelines for creating strong thesis statements from Learning Activity 1.5 to help you.
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Develop your essay outline. Refer back to the personal essay you created in Learning Activity 1.2. What can you carry forward from that learning opportunity? After reviewing the feedback you received, complete the Bold text startComparison Essay OutlineBold text End. When including supporting evidence from the plays in your outline, be sure to cite quotations using MLA style. If you are using external sources, cite them in your outline as well.
Bold text startWriting:Bold text End
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Write the first draft of your essay. Your essay must be a comparison essay which requires you to compare and contrast Oedipus and Hamlet in order to illustrate which character showed more resilience or free will. You may wish to explore the following Bold text startHow to Write a 5-Paragraph Compare and Contrast EssayBold text End to help you with writing and organizing a comparison essay. As with the essay outline you developed, your essay should pose at least three criteria to answer the essay question. Thus, your essay should have an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words long, in 12-point font, and double-spaced. All quotations you use from Oedipus Rex and Hamlet as well as any external sources used should be properly cited according to MLA style.
Bold text startResponding and revising:Bold text End
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If possible, ask a trusted friend or relative to read your essay and provide you with feedback by filling out the Bold text startPeer Editing ChecklistBold text End. Use the feedback you receive to make any changes you feel are necessary and create a revised draft of your essay.
Bold text startEditing:Bold text End
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Now, you need to edit and proofread the revised draft of your essay to ensure your final copy is clearly written and free of errors. Use the Bold text startEditing and Proofreading ChecklistBold text End to help you review your work.
Bold text startPresenting:Bold text End
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Once you have finished editing and proofreading your work, complete the final copy of your essay. Make sure the final copy of your essay includes your MLA-formatted Works Cited page.
For this assignment, you will need to submit the final copy of your essay (with Works Cited page).
Your teacher-marker will grade and provide feedback on your work using the following success criteria and rubric. Before submitting your assignment, review the success criteria and rubric. If you are unsure about how to format your assignments, citation or what constitutes plagiarism, please review the following support pages:
- Referencing and Formatting Submission Guidelines(Opens in new window)
- Avoiding Plagiarism Guide(Opens in new window)