English 201

J. Roth

ORDINARY PEOPLE Essay Assignment

Due: Monday, May 3, 2004, at the beginning of class

Value: 75 points

Length: 400-500 words

Directions:  Please pick one of the two options below for your second essay.

Option One:

In a short essay, apply our course theme of From Chaos, What Patterns Emerge? to Guest's Ordinary People.

• Please consider the entire novel when extracting and developing your examples of chaos and the social patterns that emerge.

• You may find of great help the journal entries you write concerning the novel.

• Please use quotations from the novel where appropriate to support your points, being sure to document these properly following MLA guidelines or APA Guidelines.

Option Two:

In a short essay, compare/contrast the experience of reading the novel with the experience of watching the film.  Limit your comparison/contrast to one of the following:  two points of contrast OR three points of comparison OR one comparison and one contrast.  For help in organizing a comparison/contrast, please click on Comparison/Contrast Help.

FOR EITHER CHOICE:

Ø Please incorporate appropriate citations from novel to support your ideas.  Help can be found at Working with Quotations.

Ø Review the Newest Essay Grading Sheet for general requirements.

Ø Be sure to refer to the handout Writing the Introduction for extra help.