College English 9 – Interdisciplinary Project – Term Two
Empathy and Human Rights in “Of Mice and Men”
Human rights are founded on the notion that all human beings are born free and equal, regardless of race, age,
class, or gender. Although human rights are entitled to every human being, these rights are often violated, and these
violations often lead to harmful effects. It is our empathy, our capacity to recognize and share the feelings of
others, which leads us to address and correct acts of inequality.
In the story “Of Mice and Men,” many of the characters are marginalized or discriminated against, and their human
rights are violated in various ways. In a well-organized essay, analyze the situation of three characters in our
story and identify how the characters’ human rights were violated. It is your job to empathize with the
characters’ conditions – to stand in their shoes – and explain how human rights violations affect each character.
Your essay must contain five thoughtful, well-written paragraphs (introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion).
Each paragraph should contain at least five complete sentences!!!
Paragraph 1/Introduction:
What is the context of the essay?
What’s the purpose or subject of your essay?
What is your opinion on the subject?
What is your thesis statement?
Paragraph 2, 3, 4/Character Analysis:
Who is the character and what is their situation like within the story?
How is he/she marginalized?
How are his/her human rights violated?
How does this affect him/her? (How does this make them feel?)
(Support analysis with textual evidence and link each paragraph back to your thesis.)
Paragraph 5/Conclusion:
What final conclusions were you able to draw?
What discoveries did you make?
What deep and thought provoking questions were you left with?
How may this connect with the world in which you live?
(Be sure that you tie all of you closing remarks back to your original thesis statement.)
You will be graded on your ability to provide in-depth character analysis and textual evidence to support your
position, as well as on you essay’s organization, grammar, and mechanics.
An outline must be completed before you begin writing your first draft. Your final draft must be 2-3 typed pages,
double-spaced, in Times New Roman, 12 font, and follow MLA format.
This essay will count as a 100 point paper grade for Term 2, and will be included in your interdisciplinary project.
Outline Due: Monday, January 9
Rough Draft Due: Wednesday, January 11
Final Draft Due: Tuesday, January 17
“Of Mice and Men” Essay Rubric
Introductory
Paragraph
(0 – 20)
Body
Paragraphs
(0 – 20)
Conclusion
(0 – 20)
Textual
Evidence
(0 – 10)
Intro Par is 5+
sentences long and
contains a thesis
statement that is
complete and clear
(18 – 20)
Contains 3 distinct
BPs and each are
5+ sentences long
and each clearly
supports the thesis
statement
(18 – 20)
Concluding
paragraph is 5+
sentences long and
restates the thesis
statement and adds
a new thought
(18 – 20)
At least 1 quote is
used per BP; quotes
are used correctly
and reflect the main
idea of the
paragraph
(9 – 10)
Conventions Contains few to no
(0 – 20)
format and grammar
errors
Vocabulary
(0 – 10)
Comments:
(18 – 20)
Vocabulary is rich
and varied
throughout essay
(9 – 10)
Intro Par is less than
5 sentences long or
contains a TS that is
incomplete or not
clear
(16 – 17)
Contains 3 BPs
some of which are
not 5 sentences long
and/or do not clearly
support the thesis
statement
(16 – 17)
Concluding
paragraph is less
than 5 sentences
long and/or does not
restate the TS
and/or add a new
thought
(16 – 17)
At least 1 quote is
used per BP but
quotes may not be
used correctly
and/or reflect main
idea of the
paragraph
(8)
Contains some
minor formatting and
grammar errors but
does not affect the
reader’s
understanding
(16 – 17)
Vocabulary is
sometimes rich and
varied
(8)
Student Name:__________________________
Intro Par is less than
5 sentences long
AND contains a TS
that is incomplete or
not clear
(12 – 15)
Contains 3 BPs
many of which are
not 5 sentences long
and/or do not clearly
support the thesis
statement
(12 – 15)
Concluding
paragraph is less
than 5 sentences
long and does not
restate the TS and
does not add a new
thought
(12 – 15)
May not contain at
least 1 quote per
BP; quotes may not
be used correctly
and/or reflect main
idea of the
paragraph
(5 – 7)
Contains many
minor formatting and
grammar errors
affecting reader’s
understanding
Intro Para is less
than 5 sentences
and does not
contain a TS
(12 – 15)
Vocabulary is
appropriate
(0 – 11)
Vocabulary is limited
(5 – 7)
(0 – 4)
(0 – 11)
Contains fewer than
3 BPs
(0 – 11)
Concluding
paragraph is not
included
(0 – 11)
Missing quotes and
those included are
not used correctly or
reflect main idea of
the paragraph
(0 – 11)
Contains significant
format and grammar
errors