10th grade final essay

 

Directions: Select one of the topics below. Write an expository essay which answers the question posed in the selected topic.

 

1. Explain the meaning of the title of Part II of Black Boy “The Horror and the Glory.” Your essay should include:

  • An introductory paragraph
  • Two paragraphs which explain what Richard Wright meant when describing a friend’s trial with the Communism as “The Horror and the Glory.”
  • A concluding paragraph making a text-to-self or text-to-world connection.

 

2. Using the ideas from Black Boy and Animal Farm, discuss the positive and negative aspects of Communism.

This essay should include:

  • An introductory paragraph
  • One paragraph which explains how Richard Wright describes the positive aspects of Communism, and one paragraph which explain how George Orwell describes the negative aspects of Communism.
  •  concluding paragraph making a text-to-world connection which may detail how the United States uses some aspects of Communism.

 

3. Richard Wright seems to be fighting throughout his entire life. He seems to be trying to change others around him. He finally stops fighting. Why?

This essay should include:

  • An introductory paragraph
  • One paragraph describing why and how Richard Wright fights his way through life.
  • One paragraph describing why Richard Wright stops fighting. What realization did he come to? Did the world change around him or did he change?  By pulling away from society and being apart from it, is Richard Wright being a total hypocrite? He wants society to be a better place but won’t fight for that change.
  • A concluding paragraph making a text-to-self or text-to-world connection which shows why Richard Wright made the correct decision. (Or why he made the wrong decision.)

 

4. George Orwell shows what can happen when society is ignorant of its government. Richard Wright shows what can happen when individuals in society threaten a form of government by being too intelligent and introspective. Sounds like a lose-lose proposition. Why is it important that government provide for the education of its citizens? What happens when some of those citizens resist being educated? (Why are you going to school?)

This essay should include:

  • An introductory paragraph
  • One paragraph showing problems that occur with a society that is undereducated.
  • One paragraph showing problems that individuals may have by being smarter than the general population.
  • A concluding paragraph making a text-to-self or text-to-world connection showing the importance of education.

 

All introductory paragraphs should include:

    1. a lead sentence.
    2. explain the lead.
    3. short, one-sentence summaries of the novels.
    4. focus of the essay, what your essay is talking about.
    5. thesis of the essay, what is your point?