To repeat your assignment:
"In a five-paragraph essay, discuss which author was more successful in creating a good piece of literature. Use examples from both books to explain your thinking."
And the rubric...
The Student demonstrates an understanding of both books
The student demonstrates judgements about the literary quality of each book
the student supports these judgements with examples from both books
the student prepares an insightful analysis of the lierary elements in the books.
To cover this amount of information and do a good job at it in a five-paragraph paper needs a great deal of planning.
(Broken Link Removed)
Basically, you are to write a comparison/contrast paper,
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/comparison.htm
and I think a five-paragraph paper for this purpose is extremely short, but I imagine the assignment is to force you to be thorough, but not wordy!
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/concise.htm
I'm wondering if you did any prewriting at all -- brainstorming, planning (make an outline), revision, etc. Then ... did you write your rough draft from your outline/plan?
(Broken Link Removed)
Here is my very general suggestion for an outline/plan:
I. Introduction, including titles, authors, and your thesis statement. (Do NOT quote any part of the assignment in this paragraph. You're already becoming wordy when you do that!)
II. Focus on only one of the books; my suggestion is to focus on the less "successful" of the two you have chosen. When referring to the author, do so only by his last name. Also, you are to deal with the book's plot and literary elements and what makes it a good story.
III. Focus on the other book, this time the more "successful" book.
IV. In this paragraph, you'll need to focus on what it is that makes the book in paragraph 3 successful. You should probably not mention (or barely mention) the book in paragraph 2.
V. Conclusion
Here are more places to get help:
http://writeacherhelps.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html
from http://writeacherhelps.blogspot.com
Please scrap what you've written so far and start over. Please read the linked websites I've given you above, brainstorm and plan your paper, write another rough draft, and repost. (Remember to put hit the Enter key TWICE to indicate the end of one paragraph and the beginning of the next.)
Looking forward to your next post.
In rereading my post, I think it sounds harsher than I intended.
What I want you to remember is that, regardless of how many good or bad teachers you've had in the past, there's no time like the present to start learning how to write better. It'll take time and lots of revisions, but if you're up for it, so am I!
=)
To successfully complete your assignment of writing a five-paragraph essay discussing which author was more successful in creating a good piece of literature, you will need to follow a structured approach. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:
1. Understand the Books: Begin by thoroughly reading and understanding both books. Take notes on important plot points, themes, characters, and literary elements used by each author. This step is crucial for analyzing the books effectively.
2. Brainstorm and Plan: Before writing your essay, spend some time brainstorming ideas and organizing them into an outline. Your outline should include an introduction, three body paragraphs comparing the two books, and a conclusion. The introduction should include the titles, authors, and your thesis statement, summarizing the main argument of your essay.
3. Write the Introduction: Start your essay with a strong introduction that grabs the reader's attention. Introduce the titles, authors, and briefly mention the thesis statement that states your overall opinion on which author was more successful. Avoid quoting the assignment directly in this paragraph.
4. Focus on the Less Successful Book: In the first body paragraph, focus on discussing the less successful book. Analyze its plot, literary elements, and storytelling techniques. Provide specific examples and evidence that supports your judgment on why this book was less successful in creating a good piece of literature. When referring to the author, use their last name only.
5. Focus on the More Successful Book: In the second body paragraph, shift your focus to discussing the more successful book. Analyze its plot, literary elements, and storytelling techniques in detail. Provide specific examples and evidence that supports your judgment on why this book was more successful in creating a good piece of literature. Again, use the author's last name when referring to them.
6. Contrast the Two Books: In the third body paragraph, compare and contrast the two books. Analyze their strengths and weaknesses side by side, highlighting what sets them apart in terms of literary quality. Use examples and evidence from both books to support your analysis. However, try to minimize mentioning the book discussed in the previous paragraph.
7. Discuss the Success of the More Successful Book: In the fourth body paragraph, delve deeper into the reasons why the more successful book stands out. Analyze its unique aspects that contribute to its success as a piece of literature. Again, avoid mentioning the other book in detail.
8. Conclusion: Wrap up your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and restates your thesis statement. Offer a final judgment on which author you believe was more successful in creating a good piece of literature and reinforce your argument with the evidence presented throughout the essay.
Remember, a five-paragraph essay allows for a concise analysis, so choose your examples thoughtfully and ensure that each paragraph contributes to your overall argument. Good luck with your essay!