English 10CP 2013
Unit 1 Essay
You will be writing a 4-paragraph, Schaffer format essay. It will be graded on a scale of 1-6
according to the rubric on the other side of this handout. Your thesis statement should be the last
sentence of your introductory paragraph.
Outline format
Remember the important things:
I. Thesis Statement
 Write in third person only
II. Topic Sentence (1st body)
 NO YOU
A. CD with citation
 Support thesis statement thoroughly
B. CD with citation
 At least 8 sentences per body para
III.
Topic Sentence (2nd body)
 Be sure to write to the prompt
A. CD with citation
 Staple this handout to the back of your essay.
B. CD with citation
 Write in present tense
IV. Ideas for your conclusion
Choose ONE of the following prompts:
1. Use events in “Two Friends” and “Damon and Pythias” to write a literary analysis essay on
friendship. This will be similar to an extended definition of “friendship,” but this essay will
illustrate your ideas with concrete examples of friends and their behavior from Unit 1.
Essay Prompt: According to the authors of “Two Friends” and “Damon and Pythias,” what are
the two most important aspects of friendship? Use examples from “Two Friends,” and “Damon
and Pythias,” to “prove” your ideas. (Your definition of friendship needs to have two
characteristics and be supported by those stories.)
2. Several stories in this unit contain elements of suspense to make the stories more interesting.
Decide which story did the best job keeping the reader interested because of the use of suspense.
Essay Prompt: Which story from Unit 1 is the best, due to the inclusion of suspense? (You need
two techniques that the author uses to create suspense as the reasons for why it is the most
suspenseful story.)
3. Some have said that “People get what they deserve.” Do you agree with this statement?
Choose two stories from the unit that help “prove” your opinion.
Essay Prompt: Write an analytical essay that answers the question, Do people get what they
deserve? You need to use two stories from Unit 1 to support your opinion. (You will decide on
two reasons why this is or is not true and use the stories to support those reasons.)
Essay Prep Sheet 10 points
Outline
10 points
Rough Draft 10 points
Typed Final Draft 60 points
Rubric is included 5 points
Total possible: 95 points
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Body paragraph format:
Topic sentence
TLQ (CD)
Commentary
Commentary
TLQ (CD)
Commentary
Commentary
Closing Sentence
California State Standards: Writing 1.1, 1.2, 1.9 Writing Applications 2.4
ESLRs: WHS students will be…**Inspired Learners**Effective
Communicators**Contributing Members of the Global Community