Which of the two paintings of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, either Licinio’s (c. 1530) or Rembrandt’s (c. 1669), both below, would better illu-strate this parable?

A Very Short Para-graph on Painting the Parable of the Prodigal Son:

Using the Claim-Evidence-Explanation Model and Active Voice

For this exercise, you’ll wri-te a short para-graph (no more than five sentences) that makes a brief argument, complete with a claim, evidence, and an explanation of how/why the evidence supports the claim.

This Claim-Evidence-Explanation template will work in many writ-ing contexts because it answers three essential ques-tions that most audiences will have:

1. a) What are you saying? (CLAIM)
2. b) Why are you saying that? (EVIDENCE), and
3. c) How does that evidence support your claim? (EXPLANATION)

As you w.r.i.t.e your answers in a short para-graph, you’ll be anticipating your audience’s questions, and, since most of us are more relaxed and confident as speakers rather than as writ-ers, at least one-on-one, this temp that models the back-and-forth of oral communication can make easier.

Here’s the question:

Which of the two paintings of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, either Licinio’s (c. 1530) or Rembrandt’s (c. 1669),  both below, would better illustrate this parable?

1) Licinio:

Your answer will become part of your claim in a para-graph.

Name evidence from two sources to support your claim: 1) the Biblical t.ext and 2) the paintings. You won’t need any formal A.P.A citation here, just be clear about what you’re noticing and how it influences your choice.

Explain how the evidence you cite supports your claim.

Every sentence in your para-graph must use active voice only.

However, just as you should consider writ-ing the final version of your the-sis last, consider doing the “research” for this short pap.er first; rather than saying first which painting better illustrates the parable, consider answering the evidence questions first. In other words, let the evidence guide your eventual claim.

Here’s the text from Luke 15:11-32 (NIV) that the two paintings illustrate:

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”