Lord of the Flies Essay
Tennill—English I
The Roots of Evil
William Golding wrote Lord of the Flies after World War I as a way of trying to
explain the nature of evil. He uses the boys on the island to show that every
human being has the capacity for evil and that society is necessary for keeping this
evil in check. In addition to this book, we have read articles and watched films
that have attempted to find answers to this same question. In this essay, you will
analyze these different explanations in order to explain your own beliefs about the
nature of evil. This is a complex essay, so I recommend that you use some sort
of pre-writing and organize your thoughts before you begin writing.
The essay MUST:
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Have an introduction with an effective attention-getter and clear thesis statement
Your thesis statement must:
o Be a statement of opinion
o Be debatable and defendable
Have a body that:
o Addresses and refutes perspectives with which you disagree
o Addresses and analyzes perspectives which support your opinion
o Cites Golding’s opinion and at least two other sources.
o Includes specific examples and at least three quotations.
o Describes your own theory and provides specific examples to support your
opinion.
Have a conclusion with an effective review and “so what?” that defends your perspective
Show careful proofreading and editing
Hint: Center your paragraphs around arguments/big ideas
rather than specific sources!
Because of the complexity of this essay, we will be meeting to pre-conference your
organization and development, and we will also meet to conference your drafts.
Essay conferences will begin on Tuesday, April 17 and continue through
Monday, April 23. Drafts will be due the Tuesday after your conference, and
revision conferences will begin Tuesday, April 24.
Revision due dates
Group 1: Tuesday, May 1
Group 2: Tuesday, May 8
You will need to create and submit prewriting for your essay.You may choose to
use the attached outline as a way of getting started.
Pre-Writing Worksheet
My Opinion about where evil comes from/Why people behave in evil ways:
These are sources and concepts that support my opinion:
These are sources/concepts with which I disagree:
Introduction
Attention-getter:
Thesis:
Body #1
One Explanation for Evil:
Evidence/Examples:
Body #2
Another Explanation for Evil:
Evidence/Examples:
Body #3
Your Response to this Explanation for Evil:
Evidence/Examples:
Body #4
Your Explanation:
Evidence/Examples:
Conclusion:
Summary of ideas
Importance/Relevance:
So what?