English 10
Lord of the Flies Final Essay Assignment
Due:
Learning Expectations
We believe that successful students:
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Communicate in a meaningful way for a variety of purposes and audiences, and
Demonstrate a sensitivity to the precision and nuances of written medium through comprehension, interpretation, and evaluation.
Your final essay for our Lord of the Flies unit will establish a link between the themes of Golding’s novel and the modern world to explain
how the ideas represented in the allegory are still relevant to our time.
Select a current news story—global, national, or local—and draw parallels between the events and people associated with it and the characters and
events in Lord of the Flies. Questions to consider while developing your connection:
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How do the psychological shifts of the characters in the novel resemble psychological shifts in the people involved in your news story?
How does Golding’s representation of man’s destructive nature mirror the destruction you see in the news event you selected?
How does society fail/prevail in matters of human survival and the greater good of the populace?
How do the morally and/or ethically correct people in your news story experience the same treatment/fate as Simon or Piggy?
How is power attained and maintained? Do the leaders in your current event use tactics resembling Jack’s or Ralph’s?
Your essay should be accompanied by at least one article about the current event from a reputable news source, which you will cite and include in
a Works Cited page formatted according to MLA standards.
Requirements:
 Minimum of three pages, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font with proper MLA formatting (visit the Library/Learning
Commons web site for guidelines).
 Upload to Turnitin.com prior to the due date.
 Submit a hard copy (complete with Works Cited and a copy of your news sources) at the start of class on the due date.
 WHS Writing Rubric is attached to this handout. Use it as you write your essay.
 The school handbook states that “all work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability.”
Weston High School Writing Diagnostic Rubric
Purpose
Thinking
Organization
Language
Mechanics
EXEMPLARY
purpose is fulfilled in a
creative, ambitious, and
original way and strongly
supports needs or interests of
the audience
rigorous, highly analytical
thinking shows sophistication
of original ideas and
interpretations
organization reflects the
intricacies of the ideas in a
nuanced and
complex way
student's mastery of language
is evident in employment of
sophisticated vocabulary and
artful, exceptionally wellwritten sentences
very few or no mechanical
errors are present
DISTINGUISHED
piece has a clear and
consistent purpose and
clearly supports needs or
interests of the audience
thinking shows skillful
development of important
original ideas and defensible
interpretations
organization reflects
a consistent and nuanced
understanding of how
structure communicates
meaning
employment of appropriate,
diverse vocabulary and varied,
deliberately designed
sentences is evidence of
student’s control of language
few mechanical errors are
present
COMMENDABLE
piece has a clear and
consistent purpose and
generally supports needs or
interests of the audience
thinking shows consistent
evidence of important original
ideas and defensible
interpretations
organization reflects a
consistent understanding of
how structure communicates
meaning
employment of vocabulary
and sentence structure is
appropriate, with consistent
control and some diversity
mechanical errors do not
distract the reader or interfere
with meaning
PROFICIENT
piece maintains an adequate
focus and purpose and
generally supports needs or
interests of the audience
thinking shows evidence of
attempts at original ideas and
defensible interpretations
organization reflects an
understanding of how
structure communicates
meaning, although there are
inconsistencies
employment of vocabulary
and sentence structure is
appropriate, although there is
not diversity or consistent
control
mechanical errors generally
do not distract the reader or
interfere with meaning
EMERGING
(approaching
proficiency)
purpose of piece is not
consistently clear, and
audience considerations
appear to have been limited
thinking shows some
evidence of attempts at
original ideas and somewhat
defensible interpretations
organization does not
adequately support piece’s
meaning
vocabulary and sentence
structure do not demonstrate
sufficient evidence of
student’s control of language
mechanical errors distract the
reader or interfere with
meaning
LIMITED
purpose of piece is unclear,
and audience considerations
appear to have been ignored
thinking does not
demonstrate evidence of
original ideas or
interpretations
organization is ineffective or
confusing
vocabulary and sentence
structure contain significant
errors
mechanical errors
significantly distract the
reader or interfere with
meaning
Overall Holistic Rating (circle one):
EXEMPLARY
DISTINGUISHED
COMMENDABLE
PROFICIENT
EMERGING
LIMITED
© Weston Public Schools 6/2014
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