Essay Assignment 1: Character Evolution Instructions

Topic and Structure:

Character Evolution – Explain how a character from a novel, film,  television show, or another medium of your choice evolves—either good or  bad—from the beginning to the end of the story.

Your introduction will provide a brief synopsis of the story and then  smoothly transition into the last sentence of your introduction—the  thesis statement. Next, you will develop at least three body paragraphs,  each dedicated to one example (such as a scene) in your chosen medium  that serves as support for your thesis claim. Finally, you will compile a  conclusion paragraph that synthesizes your findings.

Creating the thesis statement:

Is your argument focused and meaningful in a way that it also offers a  clear-cut, but debatable point of view, which a reader might either  agree or disagree with? Avoid claims that are too obvious to the  readers—offer them a new idea! Remember, a thesis also serves as a map  for your essay, providing a promise of subtopics you will discuss in  your body paragraphs in the order in which they appear in your essay.

Sample thesis statement: In The Midnight’s Shadow,  Charles Bellingham begins as a lonely, self-loathing candle maker, but  after he meets Miss Charmaine, begins working for the king, and takes an  understudy, he transforms into a confident man who sees the townspeople  and the kingdom as a friendly and prosperous community.

Developing the body paragraphs:

The way you present your supporting evidence is just as important as  the evidence itself. When you create a body paragraph with the goal of  supporting a claim in your thesis, you want to include a balance of  research and/or examples with original material. In other words,  original material refers to discussions you develop that help explain  the connection between your research and/or examples and your thesis  claim. You don’t want to assume that your research and/or examples are  enough to prove your thesis—you want to inform your reader how and why  cited material serves the purpose you intend.

Therefore, begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that  affirms your opinion. A topic sentence for the first body paragraph in a  paper with the thesis from above might say, “Miss Charmaine, ever so  charming in her ways, bumps into a scowling Mr. Bellingham, only to  annoy him further, but as he slowly raises his gaze to evaluate the  source of this unpleasantry, he is rather surprised to see a such a  lovely creature affectionately maintaining his stare, eliciting an  intrigue that serves as the first defining moment in Charles’ positive  transformation.” Next, follow up the topic sentence with more about this  scene that serves as the defining moment. Then, spend significant  time explaining how the events you just discussed prove your thesis.  Finally, end the paragraph with a concluding sentence that synthesizes  your efforts.

Compiling the conclusion:

Lastly, compile a conclusion paragraph that summarizes your findings  in a new manner, using fresh language and perspective. Make sure to work  in a restatement of your thesis statement (but not a repetitive  version) as well as any other relevant ideas you present in the essay.  You want your conclusion to read like new information but without  actually presenting new arguments. In sum, synthesize instead of  summarize.

Notes

·         When you refer to events in your chosen medium, use literary present.

Format Requirements:
Header: Include a header in the upper left-hand corner of your writing assignment with the following information:
Your first and last name 
Course Title (Composition I) 
Assignment name (Character Evolution) 
Current Date
Page Layout:
MLA style documentation (please      see the tutorial in the course topic)
Last name and page number in      upper-right corner of each page 
Double-spacing throughout
Title, centered after heading
Standard font (Times New Roman or      Calibri)
1" margins on all sides
Save the file as .docx  or       .doc format
Length: This assignment should be at least 500 words. You must meet word minimums for all essays in this course in order to have your submissions graded.
Underline your thesis statement.