Personal vs. AcademicPersonal vs. Academic PERSONAL (1 st person)  Attempts to access or explain a personal truth  Charts the writer’s interactions with that truth *ACADEMIC (3 rd person)  Attempts to prove a point empirically  Does not involve the writer’s personal experience  Morally neutral DON’T USE: “I…You…Us…”

Break it down…Break it down… INTRODUCTION + ARGUMENT Introduces what your essay will argue in a concise & sensible way. BODY The meat of your essay where you actually argue your point in an intellectual & rational way. CONCLUSION Where you wrap up your essay and reminder your readers one last time of your correctness.

Existentialism Unit EssayExistentialism Unit Essay Morally ambiguous characters -- characters whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good -- are at the heart of many works of literature. Use Metamorphosis or The Stranger to write an essay in which you explain how Gregor or Mersault can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. #THEPROMPT

HAND OUT THE PROMPT

HOOK ‘EM Gaining your reader’s attention and interest. NOT a cheap attempt at shock or awe or fake controversy. Hints intelligently at what is to come CONTEXT Background information on what is to come Relevant for readers to understand your thesis THESIS States your argument/ position Outlines body of essay INTRODUCTION

HOOK ‘EM Human beings constantly desire to rationalize events, people and things when faced with situations where they must make judgments. CONTEXT Thus, when reading novels such as The Stranger by Albert Camus whose main character Mersault sees no value in projecting any meaning towards anything, readers are unsure of how to judge him. The Stranger is considered an existential text which reflects the Existential belief that the world is absurd… THESIS With an indifferent attitude reflective of human subjectivity and transformation as a result of “the other,” Mersault proves to be a morally ambiguous character whose decisions are meant to highlight the absurdity of life and society’s inability to accept irrationality as he has. INTRODUCTION

With an indifferent attitude reflective of (1.) human subjectivity and transformation as a result of (2.) “the other,” Mersault proves to be a morally ambiguous character whose decisions are meant to (3.) highlight the absurdity of life and society’s inability to accept irrationality as he has. (1. ) Body paragraph addressing tenet of Human Subjectivity to prove him to be morally ambiguous. (2.) Body paragraph addressing “the other” and how it proves him to be morally ambiguous (3.) Body paragraph of its significance to the work as a whol e.

Now begin writing the draft of your thesis & the rest of your introduction paragraph…

“Now if you’re talking BODY…(PARAGRAPHS!)” TOPIC SENTENCE QUOTE SET-UP + QUOTE/ EVIDENCE ANALYSIS/ EXPLANATION TRANSITION/ PREVIEW INTO NEXT PARAGRAPH

TOPIC SENTENCE Throughout the events in the novel and the characters Mersault interacts with, he maintains an indifferent attitude that sets him apart from the rest of society’s expectations of any human being. QUOTE SET-UP + QUOTE/ EVIDENCE His continuous rejection of social norms is described by the Existential tenet of “Human Subjectivity” as a being whose emotions are not influenced by an institutional order but of their own choice. Most would interpret Mersault as being insensitive when his girlfriend Marie “wanted to know if [he] loved her… [He] explained to her that it didn’t really matter and that if she wanted to, [they] could get married” ( The Stranger, p.41).

ANALYSIS/ EXPLANATION Although an initial reaction to this moment would be to judge Mersault as a terrible human being, his honesty and willingness to do what Marie wants is also honorable. It can be argued that love has been overly romanticized by society as an emotion full of cliché’s and not as a practical agreement made by two people. Mersault is a practical man which is what makes him morally ambiguous and should not be completely demonized as most people would like to see him as. TRANSITION/ PREVIEW INTO NEXT PARAGRAPH Mersault cannot be seen as a completely good or bad person and as the role of “the other” shifts we see his essence begin to develop.

Your turn!

CONCLUSION Remind the reader of the topic of your paper and why it is important. Transparently acknowledge possible points of disagreement others may have with your argument (because your argument is arguable…right?). Have the last word on the topic and convince the reader one last time of your correctness.