Historical Narrative Comparative Essay

The Assignment O Write an essay of 5 or more paragraphs comparing and contrasting 2 of the historical narratives you read.

Format O Handwritten blue or black ink or typed O One side of paper O 1” margins O Double spaced O Name, period, date, and title on 1 st page O Neat corrections O 3 rd person

Form O Essay O 5 or more paragraphs O No research O Intro, body, & conclusion

Introduction O Grabs audience’s attention O Clear thesis statement O Identifies the works by title (correct punct.) O Identifies the authors O Identifies the genre O Succinctly states the meaning of each of the works

Thesis Statement O 1 Sentence that clearly expresses the main idea of the paper O Example: _____ and ____ are similar/dissimilar works because _______.

Example Thesis O William Bradford’s historical chronicle Of Plymouth Plantation and Olaudah Equiano’s slave narrative The Interesting Narrative of the Life Of Olaudah Equiano are similarly important historical documents.

A Thesis for a Comparative Essay O In a comparative essay, you will be required to formulate a thesis that encompasses two or more features that you will be comparing and analyzing. Therefore, you will be writing a thesis that looks at multiple perspectives, not necessarily leaning one way or the other, but bringing out a central comparative idea between or among the things, issues, authors, etc., that you deem worthy as the focus of your essay.

Example of a Comparative Thesis O In Kate Chopin's book The Awakening and Charlotte Perkins Gillman's novella The Yellow Wallpaper, the female protagonists veer from the collective mainstream of a patriarchal society because of their pronounced feelings of alienation, frustration, and emotional and creative repression within this social structure, marked by the subordination of women.

Try something like this Although Of Plymouth Plantation and The Interesting Narrative of the Life Of Olaudah Equiano were both written within 100 years of each other, their differences can mainly be contributed to _____________________. Although Of Plymouth Plantation and The Interesting Narrative of the Life Of Olaudah Equiano were both written within 100 years of each other, their similarities can mainly be contributed to _____________________.

Try this O Although Of Plymouth Plantation and The Interesting Narrative of the Life Of Olaudah Equiano both express the hardships people endured in the early years of the American Colonies, readers are more likely to be sympathetic toward Equiano’s slave narrative than William Bradford’s historical chronicle.

Body O Explains and develops the thesis O Provides supporting examples from the work to back up the main point of the paragraph O Uses 2 or more carefully selected quotes to help explain or give examples to points made in the paragraphs. O See “Compare/Contrast Essay Help Sheet”

Whole-to-Whole Organization I. Introduction II. 1 st piece information III. 1 st piece additional information IV. 2 nd piece information V. 2 nd piece additional information VI. Conclusion

Similarities-to-Differences Organization I. Introduction II. Piece 1 & 2 similarities III. Piece 1 & 2 similarities IV. Piece 1 & 2 differences V. Conclusion

Point-by-Point Organization I. Introduction II. Main point 1 about both pieces III. Main point 2 about both pieces IV. Main point 3 about both pieces V. Conclusion

Conclusion O Restates the thesis O Leaves the reader with a question, quotation, fresh insight, or memorable impression

To Turn in O Historical Narratives Notes pages 10 pts O Comparison Essay Planning pages 10 pts O 1 st draft 10 pts O Final draft 70 pts 100 points total