Writing Assignment #1: Character Comparison Essay
Choose a character from a film, TV show, video game, or novel with whom you share similar character traits or experiences.
Think of two or three shared characteristics or experiences and work to fully develop those ideas for both you and the character. Use specific examples of dialogue or scenes that best illustrate these traits. Show also that you possess those traits or experiences by telling a short story as evidence.
Focus only on two or three traits or experiences. I have found that students who try to include more than three traits or experiences do not fully develop and support those ideas, using specific details, examples, and explanations.
Choose to either compare (show similarities) or contrast (show differences). Do not attempt to do both for this assignment.
Capture my attention with your introduction. Employ one of the methods provided as a strategy. Be sure to not begin with a funnel introduction, where you begin with a broad statement and work to narrow your topic as the paragraph proceeds.
Walk away from the three-part thesis. Practice using a more sophisticated and interesting thesis.
If using dialogue, begin a new paragraph every time there is a change in speaker. That may mean that you have one paragraph that contains just a few words (Example: “Yep,” he agreed.)
Two typed pages (double spaced) is the minimum length requirement. Please know that the header information with name, date, etc. does not count towards the page requirement. The actual content of the body must be a minimum of two typed pages.
Show changes on the rough draft. It may be helpful to use track changes feature on Word to see all the changes you made. Save your rough draft with changes tracked. Then please upload both a clean copy of your final draft and a rough draft with changes shown. Label both appropriately.
Cycle through the revision process completely; do not merely edit paper. Each draft you complete should aid you in becoming a better writer. Do not merely fix grammar, mechanics, and punctuation; work to improve your phrasing, add details and examples, and improve word choice.