Assignment
The Red Badge of Courage Literary Essay
This document provides an overview of the tasks and time line for completing this assignment.
Assignment Instructions
Write an essay that addresses the topic below. Your essay should consist of at least five paragraphs, and you should write three to five pages to fully address the topic.
Trace the development of Henry's character from the beginning of the novel to the end, with a special emphasis on the various emotions he feels throughout his story.
In your response, explain what happens to Henry's character, including the choices he makes, the consequences of the choices, and how Henry's character changes. Then explain how the changes in Henry's character relate to the theme of this novel and the literary movements of realism, naturalism, or determinism.
Be sure to cite specific examples from the text in your response. Also, remember to use the notes you take and the questions you answer in the Student Guide to help you formulate your response.
You will hand in your completed response on the final day of this unit, and it will be graded as part of the Unit Test.
Process
You should always use a process for your writing that includes planning and drafting. To complete this assignment, you will do the following:
• Review the assignment instructions and grading criteria thoroughly. The writing assignment you complete in this unit will be graded against a rubric that assesses the essay in five categories. These categories address the purpose; ideas and content; structure and organization; language, word choice, and style; and sentences and mechanics of your essay.
o Read the rubric on the last page of this document. Keep the criteria listed on the rubric in mind as you complete the writing assignment.
o Write in standard formal English, and use the third person and the present tense. This essay is a literary analysis, and your ideas should be expressed objectively and be supported with evidence from the novel. Avoid sentences that begin with "I think" or "I feel."
• Complete a plan for your essay.
• Begin drafting your paper, using your plan as a guide.
• Review and revise your first draft. You should try to have another person read your work and give you feedback as part of your revision process.