ENG3U Summative: Life of Pi Essay & Conference

Mr. Go – ENG3U Page 1 of 5

For this essay, you will argue the importance of a certain topic or idea or philosophy in Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi. Using the writing process (brainstorm, outline, drafting), you will compose an essay in class.

Time: - Three classes: Tues. May 17, Wed. May 18, Fri. May 20 Conferences (last week of May/first week of June) – based on rewritten essay and explanation of editions. Word Count: - 500 – 750 words Materials: - outline of essay with collection of quotations and thesis - various essay composition support handouts (the literary essay, feedback, integrating quotations) - Life of Pi text – issued in class - Dictionary and thesaurus

**no notes written in paragraph form are permitted

To Submit: - outline of essay with thesis - one rough draft and one final draft of essay

Formatting (of final draft): - write on one side of the foolscap only. - indent paragraphs - number pages (1 of ___ - total) at top right - put full name at top of each page

Selecton ONE of the following topics from which to formulate your thesis:

1. How does Martel turn "dry, yeastless factuality" into "the better story?" Both of these phrases echo again and again as the novel unfolds. Show how, through masterful weaving of the storyline and use of language, Martel leaves his readers "captive".

2. Sometimes people must fight for their survival at all costs. For what types of survival does Pi fight and how does Martel explore the instinctual human need for survival?

3. Martel investigates the importance of one's spiritual journey. How does Pi's adventure force him to come to terms with his own spiritual identity?

4. Humans, perhaps more than animals, have an incredible capacity to adapt to new and varied environments (which may not always be merely physical). How does Martel explore our capacity to adapt to different types of setting and situations? Mr. Go – ENG3U Page 2 of 5

5. There are “two relentless imperatives of the wild: the avoidances of enemies and the getting of food and water” (Martel 17). Are human “imperatives” much different? Wow does Pi exemplify these basic human needs?

6. Freedom, in all its forms, is precious. How is the notion of freedom challenged in the novel for animals and humans? (Be sure to consider the irony of how the "keeper" becomes the "kept").

7. Argue which version of Pi's survival at sea story is the most believable.

8. There's an interesting blurring of divisions between humans and the natural world in Life of Pi. Human beings become more animalistic; animals become more human. The novel warns against projecting human values onto the animal world. Could it be argued that through this exchange human beings may learn a truth or two about themselves and the natural world?

Your introduction needs to have:  a statement of enumeration  the author’s name  the underlined title of the novel  a clearly defined thesis

Your body paragraphs ( x 3 GERRC) needs to have:  a clear topic sentence (G, E) that supports your thesis  2- 3 quotations and idea that supports your topic sentence, analysis, and explanation.  Logical progression and smooth transition from one paragraph to the next

Your conclusion needs to answer the question, “So what?”

You should write this in the third-person point of view, using formal Standard English, avoiding abbreviations, idioms, slang, colloquialisms, and contractions.

How to employ effective analysis: Good analysis should connect the author’s work with your ideas.

Overview In writing about literature or any specific text, you will strengthen your discussion if you offer specific passages from the text as evidence. Rather than simply dropping in quotations and expecting their significance and relevance to your argument to be self-evident, you need to provide sufficient analysis of the passage. Remember that your over-riding goal of analysis writing is to demonstrate some new understanding of the text. Vocabulary of analysis: after your quotation, a sentence that uses verbs such Mr. Go – ENG3U Page 3 of 5 as, “illustrates, embodies, typifies, exemplifies, showcases, illuminates…” and so on. Immediately after a cited passage writing as sentence such as, “Here Martel illustrates the idea that…” or “This showcases the author’s view that…” Mr. Go – ENG3U Page 4 of 5

Life of Pi Essay Rubric

Name: ______Final Grade: ______

Below One Level One Level Two Level Three Level Four <50 % 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-100% Content Little or no Limited evidence Some evidence of Considerable Thorough evidence of of appropriate appropriate evidence of evidence of appropriate content, content, appropriate appropriate content, understanding of understanding of content, content, understanding of the novel, logic, the novel, logic, understanding of understanding of the novel, logic, or persuasiveness or persuasiveness the novel, logic, the novel, logic, or persuasiveness of argument of argument or persuasiveness or persuasiveness of argument of argument of argument Style Ineffective Limited evidence Some evidence of Evidence of Well-crafted and proofreading; a of proofreading; proofreading; a proofreading; polished essay large number of a considerable number of few grammatical with very grammatical number of grammatical errors, some use effective errors grammatical errors of rhetorical grammar, use of errors device and rhetorical device, transitions. transitional phrasing Mechanics Ineffective Limited evidence Some evidence of Evidence of Well-proofread proofreading; a of proofreading; proofreading; a proofreading; essay with very large number of a considerable number of few punctuation effective punctuation and number of punctuation and and spelling punctuation and spelling errors; punctuation and spelling errors; errors; good use spelling, strong poor diction spelling errors; diction needs of diction use of purposeful selection raise level of some diction diction heightening Organization Flawed A limited Somewhat Evidence of Effective organizational organizational effective considerable organizational plan: plan: organizational organizational plan: introduction, introduction, plan: plan: introduction, conclusion, body conclusion, body introduction, introduction, conclusion, body paragraphs with paragraphs with conclusion, body conclusion, body paragraphs with topic sentences. topic sentences. paragraphs with paragraphs with topic sentences. topic sentences. topic sentences.

Comments Areas of Strength:

Areas that Need Improvement: Mr. Go – ENG3U Page 5 of 5