Eng 4UI: The Kite Runner: Summative Essay
(see Classnet for essay writing tips and the rubric)
1. Choose ONE or more of the topics from The Kite Runner. Some suggestions are listed below:
Education
Power
Race/ Ethnicity
Forgiveness
Bigotry
Social Class
Family ties
Love
Cultural Expectations
Friendship
Betrayal
Guilt
Religion
The resilience of the human soul
2. Find episodes or passages in the novel where that issue is important. Pay special attention to passages
that will help you to identify commonalities, contradictions, tensions, and multiple perspectives in the
novel.
3. Draw some conclusions about how this topic is presented in the novel; In other words, what is the
author’s message about the topic?
4. Find at least ONE other source to help you to examine and explain your topic based on a contemporary
issue. These sources could be non- fiction books, news articles or magazine articles. The source(s) can
relate directly to Afghanistan or can focus on the topic generally (i.e. an article about race relations in
Canada of other parts of the world)
5. Form a thesis statement that sets forth your issue as it is presented in the novel but also applies it and
one other source. (the strength of your thesis the key to a strong essay - think “cause – effect”)
 Include textual evidence from The Kite Runner
 Use a formal voice
 Integrate quotations and paraphrased material properly (MLA) and explain its significance (see
Classnet)
 Include a Works Cited (See Classnet)
 Format your paper using the MLA style guide (See Classnet)
 Use New Times New Roman, 12-point type
 Approximate length: 1000 - 1200 words
Summative Deadlines
Detailed Outline (thesis, subtopics, topic sentences, evidence, page references) and a hard copy of
your Research Article Due:
Readable Rough Draft Due: Tuesday November 16th (summative mark for process)
Summative Final Draft Due: Thursday November 18th (submit all outlines, research pages, peer
editing sheets, and rough work on this day)
* Submit your assignment at the beginning of the period – you will not be allowed to print the
assignment from the classroom.

Only hard copies submitted to me will be accepted; please do not e-mail your final draft.
Rubric for ETS4UI ISU Essay
Categories
Below Level 1
0 – 49%
Knowledge / Understanding
Knowledge of the development of a an
essay (introduction, thesis, body
paragraphs, conclusion) and meets
minimum/ maximum criteria
Knowledge of Content (forms of text,
elements of style, literary terminology)
Understanding of plot, character,
theme, three archetypes found in the
novel
Understanding the novel at a literal
level
Thinking / Inquiry
Provides evidence to support the thesis
(use of primary and secondary sources
Analysis of ideas and elements of the
text (implied meaning/ interpretation of
the text)
Research Skills (choice and,
integration of ideas, a minimum of four
secondary sources are used)
Planning and Process (Thesis
statements, outlines, peer editing,
readable rough draft)
50-59% L. 1
50 – 59%
Name:
60-69% L. 2
60 – 69%
70-79% L. 3
70 – 79%
80-100% L. 4
80 – 100%
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Does not meet
minimum standards
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Does not meet
minimum standards
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
completed with
insufficient
effectiveness
completed with
passable
effectiveness
completed with
moderate
effectiveness
completed with
considerable
effectiveness;
completed with a
high degree of
effectiveness
Does not meet
minimum standards
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Thesis Formation
No thesis
Unclear
Simple but clear
Effective
Sophisticated
Makes connections between theme,
the novel and society (importance of
literature as a social and cultural force)
No connections to
theme
Limited degree of
application
Some degree of
application
Considerable
degree of
application
High degree of
application
Formatting: Overall and quotation
integration according to MLA – in-text
citations and a Works Cited
Annotated Bibliography: format and
content (used in writing final essay)
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Does not meet
minimum standards
Limited
effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Considerable
effectiveness
Highly effective
Communication
Communication of information and
ideas
Use of words and academic language
(ex. Literary terms) and a suitable
voice
Use of language conventions
(spelling, punctuation, grammar…)
Application
Editorial Comment
Some effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Some effectiveness
Highly effective
Highly effective
Highly effective