Critical Lens Essay
“The Scarlet Ibis” and The War
Your Task:
Write a critical essay in which you discuss the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis” and the video The War
from the particular perspective of the statement that is provided for you in the “critical lens.” In your
essay, provide a valid interpretation of the statement, agree or disagree with the statement as you
have interpreted it, and support your opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements
from the two works.
Critical Lens: “There are always two forces warring against each other within us.”
-Yogananda
Guidelines:
 Provide a valid interpretation of the critical lens that clearly establishes the criteria for analysis.
 Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it.
 Use specific details from the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” and the video The War to support
your opinion,
 Use the criteria suggested by the critical lens to analyze these two works.
 For each work, do not summarize the plot but use characterization, conflict and theme to show
how the behaviors of the young people in the selections support your interpretation of the
critical lens.
 Organize your ideas in a unified and coherent manner.
 Specify the titles and authors of the literature you have been asked to use.
 Follow the conventions of standard written English
Use the following format and guidelines when writing a Task IV Essay:
Introduction:
 Write the critical lens statement as it appears on the prompt sheet
 Include your interpretation of the critical lens statement
 Agree or disagree with the critical lens statement
 Write a thesis statement that reveals how the works are related to your interpretation of the
critical lens statement (include titles and authors)
Body: the critical analysis of each work in separate paragraphs
 Write a topic sentence to support your thesis statement
 Develop the topic sentence with ideas from the text. Support your ideas with relevant evidence
from the text and specific references to literary elements and techniques.
 Include transitional devices to achieve unity and coherence in your paragraphs
 Write a closing sentence to reinforce the main idea of each paragraph
Conclusion:
 Echo the thesis statement
 Summarize or reinforce the ideas in your essay