Name: ___________________
Beowulf
Mr. Amaral!
Beowulf : Essay
Due Dates: If you are absent, you are still responsible for all due dates. No late work is
accepted for any of the due dates.
Pre-Writing Guide & Thesis Statement Due (10 points): __________________
 Pre-Writing guide on following pages
 Includes web, outline, thesis, quotes
WRITTEN Draft Due (10 points): ____________________
 Must be hand written on lined paper
 Include introduction, conclusion, and all body paragraphs
TYPED Draft Due (10 points): ______________________
 Typed and double-spaced, at least TWO full pages
 Include introduction, conclusion, and all body paragraphs
Final Copy Due (100 points): _________________________
 Bring proof of prewriting, drafting, revising
 Bring rubric to attach to final copy
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Prompt: Respond to your assigned prompt in an insightful and textually supported essay…
 Argue how Beowulf’s desire for glory can be perceived as either a character
strength or weakness based on the traits it causes him to develop.
 Avoid simply re-telling plot here…you are analyzing strength/weakness
of character
 Analyze how the universal theme of good versus evil is depicted through
religious allusions, imagery, and symbolism in the epic poem.
 Connect each idea back to the concept of good versus evil
 Avoid overuse of the words “good” and “evil”
 How does the epic poem reveal the values, traditions, and beliefs of the AngloSaxon culture through the portrayal of Beowulf and the other warriors?
 Possible ideas to address: concept of fate, importance of reputation,
religious beliefs, death and mourning rituals, celebration rituals, etc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Requirements:
 Final paper must be at least TWO FULL pages and no more than THREE pages
 Paper must be typed and follow MLA standards
 Refer to rubric for specific criterion
Name: ___________________
Beowulf
Mr. Amaral!
Formal Paper Rubric
Focus (5) ______
___thesis shows minimal evidence of topic
___thesis is off-topic/lacks awareness of specific task
Content (40)
______
___superficial and/or minimal content
___lacks sufficient development of points/ideas
___use of repetitive ideas or repetitive evidence
___insufficient use of textual (primary) support
___quotes are missing or are superficial
___quotes are not properly introduced and/or explained, clarified
___introduction needs to be stronger and/or further developed
___conclusion needs to be stronger and/or further developed
___content does not adequately support the thesis
___content lacks academic quality
Organization (10) ______
___paper does not have an introduction, body, and/or conclusion
___arguments do not follow order of ideas presented in thesis
___transitions are needed to link paragraphs
___transitions are needed within paragraphs to link ideas
Style (20)
______
___paper fails to consistently use the third person point of view (use of “I, you” etc.)
___when discussing literary work, paper fails to use present tense
___need to use strong, descriptive, active verbs (too much “is” etc.)
___need to vary sentence structure (too many simplistic sentences)
___need to use more sophisticated/academic wording (avoid slang, informal terms)
___limited word choice, repetitive wording or phrasing
___paper contains awkwardly or unclearly worded sentences
___contains run-on sentences
___contains sentence fragments
Conventions (20) ______
___contains spelling errors or typos
___contains errors in capitalization
___contains comma usage errors
___faulty subject/verb or pronoun agreement
___incorrect citation of quotes
___possessive errors
___use of contractions
Format (5) ______
___incorrect MLA heading
___incorrect or missing title
___spacing errors
Total:
/ 100 points
* Will lose points if missing evidence
of the writing process
___not double spaced
___incorrect margins
Name: ___________________
Beowulf
Mr. Amaral!
Pre-Writing Guide
Prompt: ___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Brainstorming: In the space below, create a web, list, or chart to organize your ideas. Be
sure to include at least three main points for your argument and numerous specifics from the
text to support each main point.
Name: ___________________
Beowulf
Mr. Amaral!
Rough Outline: Based on your brainstorming, create a rough outline for your paper below.
Be sure to have at least three supporting ideas for each main point.
THESIS STATEMENT (What are you trying to prove?): _____________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Textual Support: Locate quotations in the textbook that illustrate your points. Have a balance
of quotes for each main point in your argument – you may choose to include more than just
six…this is only pre-writing. Include line numbers for each quote.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.