ENG4U
Comparative Essay using The Kite Runner
Rationale/Objective
By grade 12, in a university level English class, you must be able to demonstrate critical thinking
skills and to demonstrate a higher level of comprehension and appreciation for literature in addition
to the text of study. One of the main assessment criteria for English is Application, or the ability to
apply your knowledge that you have gained through your studies. This comparative essay will
illustrate your ability to apply the knowledge you have gained from The Kite Runner by comparing
and contrasting two characters on a topic of your choice.
Expectations
You will be expected to select a topic of comparison to compare
between two characters in The Kite Runner, and write a comparative
essay. For your topic, you must compare ONE CENTRAL IDEA
between two characters. There should be THREE arguments
that show how each character is affected by the idea. For each
argument, you need a total of 4 quotes minimum– 2 per
character, per argument. You will be expected to follow the
structure outlined for this essay in order to meet expectations of this
assignment. You must be cognisant of the writing process and pay
attention to editing and revising. And of course, it is imperative that
you meet all deadlines.
Please note: You must imagine the expectations imposed on
you in your post-secondary experience. Meeting deadlines
must reflect your future educational experience. All essays
must be submitted on the assigned due date.
The Assignment
You are to write a 1500-2000 word comparative essay using The Kite Runner. In order to ensure
successful essay writing, this paper will be written step by step to help ensure comprehension and
success. The steps and timeline will work as follows:
Step 1:
Grounds for Comparison – Let’s say you’re writing a paper on global food distribution, and you’ve
chosen to compare apples and oranges. Why these particular fruits? Why not pears and bananas?
The rationale behind your choice, the grounds for comparison, lets your reader know why your
choice is deliberate and meaningful, not random. You need to indicate the reasoning behind your
choice.
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Step 2:
Essay Topic and Thesis – Create your own essay topic and thesis. The grounds for comparison
anticipates the comparative nature of your thesis. As in any argumentative paper, your thesis
statement will convey the gist of your argument, which necessarily follows from your frame of
reference. But in a compare-and-contrast essay, the thesis depends on how the two things you’ve
chosen to compare actually relate to one another. Do they extend, corroborate, complicate,
contradict, correct or debate one another? In the most common compare-and-contrast paper – one
focusing on differences – you can indicate the precise relationship between A and B by using the
word “whereas” in your thesis:
EXAMPLE:
Amir is haunted and feels conflicted by his past as a result of his lack of action,
whereas Baba is haunted and feels conflicted as a result of his selfish actions.
EXAMPLE:
The pride Hagar feels and acts upon causes her to have a life of unhappiness,
whereas Bram’s pride leads him to be indifferent towards others and to lead a
carefree lifestyle.
Step 3:
Arguments – Create THREE distinct arguments using point-by-point format where you alternate
points about Character A with comparable points about Character B.
Step 4:
Quotations – Analysis of quotations for each argument.
Step 5:
Topic/Transition Sentence – Write your topic/transition sentences to structure each argument.
Step 6:
Introduction – Write the introduction to your essay.
Step 7:
Conclusion – Write the conclusion to your essay.
Step 8:
Rough Copy – Prepare your rough copy with proper referencing and Works Cited page.
Step 9:
Editing – Make sure you are editing your paper for mistakes.
Step 10:
Submit – Hand in your polished essay and ALL worksheets.
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