Essay topic—Odyssey essay
Using the Odyssey and your study guide, prove that Odysseus exemplifies the four traits of an epic hero: he is
glorified, on a quest, ethical, and strong. Shoot for 6 short paragraphs.
1. Set up your paper in MLA format. Remember the heading, header, spacing, and margins.
2. Write a thesis, which should be much like the bolded words above.
3. Prove that Odysseus is glorified. This paragraph should have a minimum of four sentences: a topic sentence,
quote with a lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
4. Prove that Odysseus is on a quest. This paragraph should have a minimum of four sentences: a topic sentence,
quote with a lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
5. Prove that Odysseus is ethical. This paragraph should have a minimum of four sentences: a topic sentence, quote
with a lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
6. Prove that Odysseus is strong. This paragraph should have a minimum of four sentences: a topic sentence, quote
with a lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
7. Go back and develop your intro with a hook and transition BEFORE the thesis.
8. Write your conclusion, which should include a rephrased version of your thesis and a return to the idea you
establish in your hook.
Lead-in Review:
A. He says/She says: At the beginning of the play, Juliet obeys her parents’ every wish; when they call her, she
comes immediately, saying, “What is your will?” (Shakespeare 181). Note the comma after the verb.
B. Sentence Lead-in: Juliet even allows her parents to determine how quickly her relationship with Paris will
progress: “But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly” (Shakespeare
182). Note the colon after the lead-in.
C. Blended Lead-in: Lord Capulet assumes that Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris is a sign of rebellion, and he calls her
“greensickness carrion” and “tallow-face” (Shakespeare 187). Note the lack of punctuation before the quotes.
1. Document all direct quotes. Include the author’s name in either the lead-in or the parenthetical
documentation.
2. Repeat key words occasionally to remind reader of the topic.
3. Avoid sentences that begin with the words “It,” “This,” “Those,” and “There is/are.”
4. Write a “clincher”/concluding sentence that links all the evidence with the topic sentence. Your concluding
sentence should NOT introduce the next topic, should NOT be a direct quote, and should NOT begin “In
conclusion.”
Rubric for essay
/5 paper in MLA format, including heading, header, spacing, and margins.
/5 strong thesis, probably something like, “Odysseus is an epic hero because he is glorified, on quest, ethical, and strong.”
/15 proves that Odysseus is glorified. This paragraph should have four sentences: a topic sentence, relevant quote with a
lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
/15 proves that Odysseus is on a quest. This paragraph should have four sentences: a topic sentence, relevant quote with a
lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
/15 proves that Odysseus is ethical. This paragraph should have four sentences: a topic sentence, relevant quote with a
lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
/15 proves that Odysseus is strong. This paragraph should have four sentences: a topic sentence, relevant quote with a
lead-in and parenthetical documentation, commentary/analysis, and concluding sentence.
/10 consistent use of literary present tense and appropriate writing style (no slang, no first or second person, strong
mechanics)
/10 intro developed with a hook and transition BEFORE the thesis
/10 strong conclusion, which includes a rephrased version of your thesis and a return to the idea you establish in your
hook.