Analysis of Character Morality
This Boy’s Life Final Essay
Pre AP English 10
McCartney
[50 Points]
Since reading This Boy’s Life, you have studied ethical theory and you have studied characters as moral agents, examining
ethical decision-making, actions, and principles. Now you will more thoroughly examine the morality of one character of
your choice. In analyzing the moral framework of this character you will need to answer these questions: How does this
character approach, process and act on a moral decision? What guides or influences this character’s moral principles? And,
finally, how is this character’s overall moral framework best described through ethical theory? To answer these questions
you will need to locate two of the best possible examples to represent your chosen character’s morality, each showing your
character confronting and somehow acting on a moral decision or dilemma. Carefully analyze their moral actions by using
the tools that ethical theory has given you, including vocabulary and references to at least one established theory. Remember,
in describing the overall moral framework of your character based on the selected evidence, you are not seeking to judge the
actions or principles as good, bad, right or wrong; you are seeking to understand and explain this character. And remember,
they do not need to fit neatly to just one specific theory; their morality might not be so simple! Rather, look carefully at the
evidence and explain!
Name______________________________________________________
Writing Process (25 pts.)
4
Pre-Writing (5 pts.)
 Completes Sensory Characters poster on any character.
 Completes context paragraphs and “The Method” paragraphs for each
of two moral scenes evidenced.
(see Writing Analytically, pp. 27-31)
 Character is morally interesting, with relevant moral examples that
serve to reveal character morality.
Drafts (10 pts.)
 12 pt. font, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1” margins
 700-1200 words or 3-5 pages
 Integrates, cites evidence (minimum two quotations in MLA style)
(see website Purdue Owl MLA Style Guide: In-Text Citations)
 Formulates plausible interpretations based on careful analysis of
evidence
(see WA pp.119-130, 136-145)
 Contains working thesis
(see WA, pp. 147-149, 152-179)
 Contains clear introduction & conclusion (excluding Draft 1)
(see WA, pp. 149-151)
 Contains specific sub-claims as topic sentences
(see WA pp. 89-91, 101-105)
Workshops (10 pts.)
 Stays engaged as peer editor & discussant in workshops
 Has updated draft present & printed at all workshops
 Shows in-text edits on peer drafts
 Offers constructive feedback in workshop forms and discussions
Date______________________
3
2
1
Final Draft (20 pts.)
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
Technical (10 pts.)
 12 pt. font, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1” margins
 700-1200 words or 3-5 pages
 Includes title page with original title (MLA style)
 Contains works cited page (MLA style)
 Grammatically sound (and shows evidence of careful proofreading)
Style (10 pts.)
 Meets all criteria of Drafts and…
 Shows improvements over drafts through revision:
- Introduction contains revised thesis that serves as main claim.
- Topic sentences serves as sub-claims of character moral analysis
- Body paragraphs follow topic sentences with specific examples,
referencing text.
- Ethical Theory terminology is applied throughout, including at
least one reference to a specified ethical theory.
- Conclusion serves to review and reason out character’s moral
framework (i.e. thesis), and raise further implications or questions.
Presentation (5 pts.)
 Reads aloud ½-1 page to class
 Actively listens to all other presentations