The Kite Runner - Essay Assignment Sheet
You will write a thesis essay explaining a complex understanding of any one of the themes Khaled Hosseini
promotes in The Kite Runner. This is a literary essay, so your job will be to explain Hosseini’s take on a topic,
not to promote your own views. Of course your opinion counts, and you’ll get to share and develop it in class
activities like Socratic seminars. But for the purposes of this essay, you’ll need to analyze what the author
says about the theme.
theme
First, brainstorm extensively. Choose any of the topics we’ve been discussing. Of course, you should look
through your reading notes to help you decide. If you decide to choose more than one topic, make sure that
you’re still only proving one idea – if you choose more than one, your thesis will need to prove the connection
between them.
Culture
• Importance of cultural traditions
• Changing/Defying culture and/or traditions
• Cultural Identity
Morality
• Redemption
• Betrayal
• Forgiveness
• Guilt
• Punishment
• Social Status and Validation Versus Morality and Doing What’s Right
Personal Identity
• The Importance of Family Bonds
• Alienation and Isolation
• Friendship
• Personal Responsibility
• Valor
• Coming of Age
Other
• You can explore any topic you have seen emerging from the patterns you find as you read
Second, gather all the materials from the unit that relate to that topic. Look through your notes on class
activities, reading assessments, non-fiction, Socratic seminars and reading journals.
Next, begin to develop a thesis that explains what Hosseini is trying to say about your topic in his book. This
step completes the brainstorming phase. Remember, good thesis statements will use words like “because” and
“although,” and will fully and specifically explain Hosseini’s opinion.
Now you can begin to start thinking about writing, and outline your essay. Consider: How will you order your
paragraphs: by chronology, by importance, or through cause-and-effect? What will your topic sentences be?
What evidence will support those topic sentences? The best body paragraphs will synthesize strong evidence
from multiple parts of the book into a topic sentence. And the best essays will synthesize strong topic
sentences into an insightful, specific thesis statement.
Due Dates:
Tuesday, September 17
Revised Thesis/Topic Sentence Arguments on Google Drive (GD),
preferably by 9 p.m. on 9/16 for feedback
Tuesday, September 17 (by 9 p.m.)
Thursday, September 19
Friday, September 20
Tuesday, September 24
Wed/Thurs, September 25/26
Friday, September 27
Complete Essay Outline on GD for feedback
Body Paragraph 1 (pd 3) or Body Paragraph 2 (pd 4) on GD
All Body Paragraphs on GD
Introduction and Conclusion on GD; bring in printed copy of complete
essay for peer response
Bring in a printed copy of your REVISED essay for peer response
F/D KR Essay must be uploaded to turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m.