Writing an essay on “All Gold Canyon”
Step One: Choose one of the themes below.
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Human greed spoils paradise
Gold can blind a person from seeing true beauty
Greed leads to death and destruction
Natural beauty offers far greater wealth than bags of gold could ever buy
Gold is the devil’s tool
Step Two: Write a quick explanation of the theme you selected.
When someone gets “gold fever,” he loses sight of what is most important and what is most
beautiful.
Step Three: Write a quick summary of the story (identify story by title and author) the points out the
main setting and conflict.
In “All Gold Canyon” by Jack London, a prospector discovers gold in a hidden valley that is a true
natural paradise. He digs up the earth and must murder a man who wants to take the gold for
himself. He leaves the valley with a fortune in gold but also leaves behind something far more
precious.
Step Four: Find three key passages that relate to your theme.
The spirit of the place was the spirit of the peace of the living, somnolent with the
easement and content of prosperity, and undisturbed by rumors of far wars.
Step Five: Before each passage, introduce it by providing context.
London goes to great lengths at the beginning of the story to describe this canyon as a paradise.
Step Five: After each passage, write what you think this passage is saying and why it’s significant. Be
sure to connect it to your main idea.
The canyon was a special place. It is a place that is priceless and offers all that a person should
need or want. In this valley he has no need for gold.
Step Six: Repeat steps five and six for the other passages.
Step Seven: Write a concluding paragraph that summarizes and restates your main idea/
Step Eight: Re-read your writing. Is it clear? Does it make logical sense? Does it flow? Are all the pieces
of evidence well connected? Revise any areas that need clarifying, expanding or improving.
Step Nine: Write a title that fits the idea in your essay.
Step Ten: Re-read your essay again looking for any errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.