ENG 4U1/5
MICHLIK 2010
FORMAL LITERARY ESSAY: THE KITE RUNNER
You will need to compose a 4-5 page essay (1000-1250 words), typed, size 12 font, double spaced.
This essay will be written in class.
 At least seven (7) quotations from the text must be incorporated into your essay.
 Formal language should be used throughout (no ‘I’, ‘you’ or contractions).
 Give your essay a title (engage the reader…be creative!) and number the pages.
 All rough work must be submitted along with your good copy (evidence of writing process).
 MLA format is expected (title page, pages numbered, referencing of text, Works Cited, etc.).
Select one of the following topics on the novel The Kite Runner and create a thesis statement that you will
develop into a formal essay.
1. The novel begins, “I became what I am today at the age of twelve” (Hosseini 1). To what is Amir
referring? Is his assertion entirely true? What other factors have helped form his character? How
would you describe Amir?
2. It is Amir’s dearest wish to please his father. To what extent does he succeed in doing so and at what
cost? What kind of man is Baba? How would you describe his relationship with Amir, and with
Hassan? How does that relationship change and what prompts those changes?
3. After Soraya tells Amir about her past, she says, ‘I’m so lucky to have found you. You’re so different
from every Afghan guy I’ve met’ (Hosseini 157). How do Afghan women fare in America? Are they
any better off than they were in Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power? Alternatively, how
important are female characters in the novel? What types of roles do women play in The Kite Runner?
Why do you believe Hosseini chose to structure the novel in this fashion?
4. On the drive to Kabul, Farid says to Amir, ‘You’ve always been a tourist here, you just didn’t know it’
(Hosseini 204). What is Farid implying? What do you think of his implication? Amir feels that he is
'home again' (Hosseini 210), but how well does he know or understand his country?
5. After reading Amir's story Rahim Khan writes to him: 'the most impressive thing about your story is that
it has irony' (Hosseini 28). It is surely an irony that Hassan, whose ignorance Amir pillories, points out
that there was no need for the man to kill his wife to weep tears, he could simply have smelled an onion.
How important is irony in the book? Were there other instances that particularly struck you? What role
does irony play in developing key ideas, relationships, and plot?
6. On page 234 of The Kite Runner, the following exchange occurs between Amir and Rahim Khan: “I
toyed with my wedding ring. ‘You’ve always thought too highly of me, Rahim Khan.’ ‘And you’ve
always been far too hard on yourself” (Hosseini 234).
To what extent do you agree with Rahim Khan’s assessment? Is Amir correct in his degree of selfcriticism and deep seeded guilt? Considering a variety of Amir’s character traits and actions, prove
whether Amir or Rahim Khan’s assessment is the ‘true’ one in this conversation.
TIMELINE FOR ESSAY:
This essay will be completed in class. You will have six (6) days in which to complete it.
Essay assigned: Friday, February 26th, 2010
Thesis statements are due: Friday, March 5th, 2010
Planning period, filling out organizers: Monday, March 8th, 2010
Computer lab periods: Tuesday, March 9th, Wednesday March 10th
Rough draft due: Thursday, March 11th
Final Essays are due Friday, March 12th, 2010
GOOD LUCK!
FORMAL LITERARY ESSAY: THE KITE RUNNER
CATEGORY
R
LEVEL 1
50 – 59%
LEVEL 2
60 – 69%
LEVEL 3
70 – 79%
LEVEL 4
80 – 100%
KNOWLEDGE
 knowledge of
content
 accuracy and
relevance of
proof
 understanding
relationships
between ideas
and content
THINKING
 critical
analysis of text
 evaluation and
assessment of
content
 originality and
depth of ideas
 use of writing
process
 7 proofs used
 limited knowledge
of content
 limited accuracy
and relevance of
proof
 limited
understanding of
relationships
 some knowledge of
content
 some accuracy and
relevance of proof
 some
understanding of
relationships
 considerable
knowledge of
content
 considerable
accuracy and
relevance of proof
 considerable
understanding of
relationships
 thorough
knowledge of
content
 thorough accuracy
and relevance of
proof
 thorough
understanding of
relationships
 analyses text with
limited
effectiveness
 evaluates and
assesses content to
a limited degree
 limited originality
and depth of ideas
 limited use of
writing process
 5 proofs used
 analyses text with
some effectiveness
 evaluates and
assesses content to
some degree
 some originality
and depth of ideas
 some use of writing
process
 6 proofs used
 analyses text with a
high degree of
effectiveness
 evaluates and
assesses content to
a high degree
 high degree of
originality and
depth of ideas
 highly effective use
of writing process
 over 7 proofs used
COMMUNICATION
 organizes and
develops ideas with
limited
effectiveness
 articulates ideas
with limited clarity
 limited use of
appropriate style
and voice
 limited use of
accurate writing
conventions
 organizes and
develops ideas with
some effectiveness
 articulates ideas
with some clarity
 some use of
appropriate style
and voice
 some use of
accurate writing
conventions
 limited
effectiveness in
making
connections
 applies essay
conventions with
limited
effectiveness
 MLA format used
with several errors
 some effectiveness
in making
connections
 applies essay
conventions with
some effectiveness
 MLA format used
with some errors
 analyses text with
considerable
effectiveness
 evaluates and
assesses content to
a considerable
degree
 considerable
originality and
depth of ideas
 considerable use of
writing process
 7 proofs used
 organizes and
develops ideas with
considerable
effectiveness
 articulates ideas
with considerable
clarity
 considerable use of
appropriate style
and voice
 considerable use of
accurate writing
conventions
 considerable
effectiveness in
making
connections
 applies essay
conventions with
considerable
effectiveness
 MLA format used
accurately
049%
 organization
and
development
of ideas
 clear
articulation of
ideas
 use of
appropriate
style and voice
 accurate use of
conventions
APPLICATION
 making
connections
within and
between
contexts
 correct use of
format (essay)
conventions
 MLA format
REMARKS:
Level
Earned
 highly effective
organization and
development of
ideas
 articulates ideas
with a high degree
of clarity
 highly effective use
of appropriate style
and voice
 highly effective use
of accurate writing
conventions
 highly effective in
making
connections
 expertly applies
essay conventions
with a high degree
of effectiveness
 MLA format used
most accurately
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