Lord of the Flies Paper Topics

In the struggle for power between Jack and Ralph, what advantages does Jack have? Ralph? Who has the most advantages?

Compare and contrast Piggy and Roger as the seconds to the leaders. Who is the most effective second in command?

Compare and contrast the deaths of Simon and Piggy. Which death most significantly shows the moral of the novel that is there is a beast within each of us?

Compare and contrast Jack and Ralph as leaders. Which boy is the more effective leader?

Whose fault was it that things didn't work out on the island?

You are writing a five paragraph essay on one of the topics above. You must introduce your topic by describing briefly the two characters you are comparing. Your thesis will be what can be learned from your paper such as the superiority of one character over another.

You will include transitional phrases in each of your body paragraphs, and you will include at least two examples or quotes from the novel to support your ideas in each body paragraph. At the end of each body paragraph, you will show how the examples prove your thesis. You will conclude by restating your thesis and summarizing your argument.

Rough draft due March 8, 2002

Final essay due March 15, 2002

Basic Outline for Lord of the Flies Paper

Introduction

Author and title of book underlined

Brief description of characters you are comparing

Three criteria you are using to compare them:

physical characteristics

significant actions

mental and emotional characteristics/significant feelings or attitudes

opinions other characters have of them

Thesis statement: Which character is superior and why?

Body Paragraph

Criterion #1 (physical characteristics)

Describe how the first character exhibits this criterion

Quote or example

Describe how the second character exhibits this criterion

Quote or example

Decide which character is superior through your comparison and explain why.

Body Paragraph

Criterion #2 (significant actions)

Describe how the first character exhibits this criterion

Quote or example

Describe how the second character exhibits this criterion

Quote or example

Decide which character is superior through your comparison and explain why.

Body Paragraph

Criterion #3 (feelings and attitudes or others' opinions)

Describe how the first character exhibits this criterion.

Quote or example

Describe how the second character exhibits this criterion.

Quote or example

Decide which character is superior through your comparison and explain why.

Conclusion

Restate your thesis statement

Summarize your argument