Literature and Composition I: Tuesdays with Morrie: Final Essay Assignment- Spring 2015 Semester
Writing Prompt:
Often in works of literature, one character has a profound impact on other characters. In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch
Albom writes about the impact that his old college professor and friend Morrie Schwartz had on his life. Morrie was an
influence in Mitch’s life when he was a young college student taking classes with Morrie. Morrie continued to influence
and inspire Mitch after the two reconnected later in life.
Writing Assignment:
Write an essay that discusses the impact that Morrie had on Mitch. Your essay should answer the questions- How did
Morrie influence Mitch? and How did knowing Morrie change who Mitch was as a person?
Format:
Formal essay (5 paragraphs or more), Typed, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, one-inch margins
You will have several class periods to work on this assignment. The schedule will be as follows:
Class time to complete the outline for your essay:
______________________________
Class time to type the essay in the Computer Lab/Library:
_______________________________
**You may want to bring a flash drive to class so that you may save your work in case you need to access the file on your home computer.
You can also send the file as an attachment in an e-mail to yourself and access it from other computers that way.
A final revised essay, grading rubric, and completed outline are due: ___________________________
**Please staple all three together, in this order
The completed outline is worth a QUIZ GRADE
The final essay is worth a TEST GRADE
Outlines and Essays that are turned in after the due date will lose 10 points for each day the assignments
are turned in late!
Literature and Composition I: Short Stories: Final Essay Assignment for Tuesdays with Morrie
Outline (worth a QUIZ grade)- should be stapled to your final essay
A.
Develop a thesis statement.
-A thesis statement states the main idea and purpose of the essay.
-It explains to the reader what your essay is going to be about.
-It is stated in your first paragraph (Introduction).
-It is the author’s message about something. It must be written as a complete sentence.
-The rest of your essay will prove that this statement is true.
-Use the essay topic/question to help you formulate your thesis.
Write your thesis statement here:
B. First Paragraph (Introduction)
-should be between 4-8 sentences long
MUST include:
1. The name of the novel (capitalized and in italics OR underlined) and the name of the author:
2. A brief summary of the story (In 2-3 sentences explain what happens in the novel, what the story is about):
3. Your thesis statement (copy it again from Part A. of this outline):
C. Second Paragraph ( First Body Paragraph)
Main idea (topic sentence of this paragraph):
Supporting idea #1:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
Supporting idea #2:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
Supporting Idea #3:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #)
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
D. Third Paragraph (Second Body Paragraph)
Main idea (topic sentence of this paragraph):
Supporting idea #1:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
Supporting idea #2:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
Supporting Idea #3:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
E. Fourth Paragraph (Third Body Paragraph)
Main idea (topic sentence of this paragraph):
Supporting idea #1:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
Supporting idea #2:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
Supporting Idea #3:
Evidence from the novel that supports that idea (copy the quote from the book and include the page #):
Your analysis of this evidence/explanation of what makes it relevant and in support of your topic sentence/thesis:
F. Fifth Paragraph (Conclusion)
-should be between 3-5 sentences long
Summarize the essay and restate your thesis
(DO NOT include any new ideas you did not discuss in the body of your essay)
Remember, in a literary analysis paper such as this one:
-You should not be writing in first person (do not say “I think…”, “My paper will be about…”, “I noticed…”)
-You must show that the book really does say what you suggest that it does.
For example, if you make the claim that Morrie teaches Mitch about how to live a meaningful life, you must
provide a quote from the story that backs that up:
Morrie says to Mitch, “ ‘Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life? I wrote it down, but now I can
recite it: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself
to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning’ ”(127).
Here’s one way that you might want to
organize this essay:
First Paragraph (Introduction):
-Tell your reader what the name of the book is and
who the author is
-Explain what this book was about
-Include a thesis statement that lets your reader
know what this essay will focus on. The statement
should be something that your essay will prove.
Second Paragraph (First Body Paragraph):
-Describe how and where Mitch and Morrie first met
-Discuss how their relationship developed during
that initial period
-Talk about the impact that Morrie had on Mitch
(what did Mitch learn from him?)
-Mention what happened to their relationship after
Mitch’s graduation from college
-Discuss the path that Mitch’s life took as he became
an adult
Third Paragraph (Second Body Paragraph):
-Discuss what led Mitch and Morrie to become
reconnected after time apart
-Describe the person that Mitch has become and
what his life is like now
-Describe Morrie and what his life is like now
-Talk about that first meeting between Mitch and
Morrie after the “Nightline” interview
-Discuss how Mitch begins to reevaluate his life and
the choices he has made while talking to Morrie (and
even after that visit, when he resumes his normal
life)
Fourth Paragraph (Third Body Paragraph):
-Focus on the things that Mitch is learning each
week as he visits with Morrie
-Talk about how Morrie is able to influence Mitch’s
thinking about the topics they talk about
(life, money, marriage, death, etc.)
-Explain how Mitch has been changed by this
experience with Morrie
Fifth Paragraph (Conclusion):
-Sum up your entire essay by repeating the 3 or 4
major points your essay has made about the
relationship between Morrie and Mitch and Morrie’s
impact on Mitch
-Don’t forget to repeat the idea mentioned in the
thesis of your first paragraph!
Here’s another way that you might want to organize this essay:
First Paragraph (Introduction):
-Tell your reader what the name of the book is and who the author is
-Explain what this book was about
-Include a thesis statement that lets your reader know what this essay will focus on. The statement should be
something that your essay will prove.
Second Paragraph (First Body Paragraph): Talk about the relationship between Mitch and Morrie
-Give the background information- how Mitch and Morrie first met, how their relationship developed during Mitch’s
time in college, what Morrie meant to Mitch, things Mitch learned from Morrie back then
-Talk about what happened to Mitch after he graduated from college- what did he do with his life? How was it
different from what he thought he would do?
Third Paragraph (Second Body Paragraph): Discuss one of the lessons that Morrie taught Mitch and what impact it
had on Mitch
-Talk about what brought Mitch and Morrie back together and what their relationship is like now
-Choose one of the lessons that Morrie taught Mitch. Explain what he said and discuss Mitch’s response to his
words
-Show how this made a difference in Mitch’s life- how he changed after hearing what Morrie had to say
Fourth Paragraph (Third Body Paragraph): Discuss a second lesson that Morrie taught Mitch and what impact it
had on Mitch
-Discuss a second lesson that Morrie taught Mitch- explain when it was said, what was said, and how it was said
-Again, tell the reader about Mitch’s response to that lesson
-Talk about how Morrie is able to influence Mitch’s thinking
-Explain how Mitch has been changed by this experience with Morrie
Fifth Paragraph (Conclusion):
-Sum up your entire essay by repeating the 3 or 4 major points your essay has made about the relationship
between Morrie and Mitch and Morrie’s impact on Mitch
-Don’t forget to repeat the idea mentioned in the thesis of your first paragraph!