Odysseus as a Leader - Essay Assignment, English 9H
Overview: You will be writing a brief two-paragraph argumentative/analytic essay supporting your argument about whether Odysseus demonstrates effective or ineffective leadership in the chapter about Odysseus and the Cyclops.
Part One: Procedure for the Thesis
After reading the Cyclops chapter, ultimately, decide whether you think Odysseus was an effective or an ineffective leader in this event.
Make a T-chart (chart with two sides). Label one side "Although" and the other "Nevertheless."
Let's say that you decided Odysseus was ultimately an EFFECTIVE leader. Put 3 or more of your strongest reasons why you think so in the "Nevertheless" column. The "nevertheless" column is the place you put the reasons that support your ultimate, overall, bottom-line argument. If you think Odysseus was an ineffective leader overall, those reasons go in "nevertheless." If you think he was an effective leader overall, those reasons go in "nevertheless."
The reasons for the other side -- the side you do not agree with -- go in "Although."
Write an "although/nevertheless" thesis statement containing two reasons for the "although" side and two reasons for the "nevertheless" side.
Based on the thesis, write two topic sentences, one for the "although" side, and one for the "nevertheless" side, and containing both reasons.
Although/Nevertheless Thesis Example Here is an example. Let's say someone asked me to decide whether or not we should eat pizza as our only source of nutrition. Ultimately, I don't think so, but there are good reasons why I might disagree with that idea and think the opposite. It's not an easy argument for me. My "Although/Nevertheless" thesis might look like this:
Although pizza is deliciously cheesy and can be a healthful source of daily vegetables, nevertheless, its calorie count and excessive carbohydrate content make it a poor choice as our only source of nutrition.
My two "althoughs" are as follows: 1. Deliciously cheesy 2. Healthful source of veggies
My two "neverthelesses" are as follows: 1. Calorie count 2. Carb content
Part Two: Building Topic Sentences
Your topic sentences will contain two (or more) reasons on the "although" side and two reasons on the "nevertheless" side.
Begin with a transitional word (e.g., First, Initially, At first, Secondly, Then, Next), then give your main argument and the two reasons.
Example: Let's say my thesis argued that two reasons Odysseus was an effective leader were that he got the Cyclops to follow him on Instagram and buy some Girl Scout cookies, but nevertheless, argued he was ultimately ineffective because the Cyclops unfriended him on Facebook and refused to go to Sadies with anyone. Your topic sentences would look like this:
First, Odysseus initially seems to be an effective leader because he got the Cyclops to follow him on Instagram and buy some Girl Scout cookies.
However, Odysseus ultimately fails to be effective because the Cyclops unfriended him on Facebook and refused to go to Sadies with anyone.
Part Three: Writing the Body Paragraphs Based on your topic sentences, you will then write the body paragraphs. EACH body paragraph will consist of the following:
Topic sentence (your claim) Context in which you tell the reader the important parts of the story leading up to your first piece of data Data or example supporting your first reason in the "although." What moment in the story really supports your idea? Warrant = In the warrant, go through the following process:
In other words = Restate the information in the evidence or data
Explanation with "because" and "since" = Explain, using because and since, why this piece of evidence proves your point about Odysseus.
Connection = Make a connection to a famous event, person, or scene from literature to clarify Odysseus' actions and compare them to a well-known idea.
Conclusion = Restate the topic sentence, but in different words.
Part Four: Proofreading and Editing
1. Title Choose a zippy college-style title! Begin with a significant quote from the Odyssey, write a colon, and then explain the subject of your paper. Template: "Significant Quote": [Subject of Your Essay] Example: "Nice to Meet You, Where've You Been?": Male Interchangeability in the Work of Taylor Swift Example: "I'm So Fancy": Iggy Azalea's Materialism
2. Thesis The thesis needs to be in an "Although X, nevertheless Y" format. Example: Although Taylor Swift's music initially appears to be harmlessly lighthearted pop dance tunes, nevertheless, her work suggests that men are somewhat interchangeable and undistinguished clones without a soul.
3. Thesis = Topics Your topics must match the thesis. Whatever your thesis promises, your topics must deliver. Example: If your thesis says... Although Hamlet initially demonstrates behaviors that appear to be insane, nevertheless, his insanity is merely a ploy to trick his uncle. ...then your first topic sentence should be something like this:
First, Hamlet initially seems to demonstrate behaviors that appear to be insane.
Your second topic sentence should be something like this:
Finally, readers learn that Hamlet's supposed insanity is merely a ploy to trick his uncle.
NOTE: You do not have to copy the words of your thesis so directly. I did that to show that the thesis and topics must match. You can and should change the words in order to avoid needless repetition.
4. 2 Data, 2 Cites You should have 2 quotations (data) per body paragraph and a citation for each quotation. You'll have a minimum of four altogether. Your data needs to be EMBEDDED, meaning that you can't begin or end a sentence with a quotation; it has to be embedded in your sentence. Example: In working out his anger at his own inaction, Hamlet initially curses himself, saying, "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!" (II.iii.45) to express his frustration about not killing his uncle in as reckless and hot-headed a manner as his father would have preferred. Citation for this essay: Citation should be kept simple: (Homer #), as in (Homer 4).
5. Warrant a. In Other Words Begin with "In other words..." This move allows you to restate the data and make it more clear for the reader (and yourself) and provide a helpful "bridge" to the analysis in your warrant. b. Because...and since Address HOW or IN WHAT WAY the quote or data you just now cited actually proves you point to be true or not. Use the words "because" and the phrase "and also since" or "and since."
Example: Hamlet demonstrates that his true indecision stems from self-hatred because his name calling, especially "rogue and peasant slave" suggest a level self-hatred that is paralyzing: he cannot avenge his father because he cannot live up to his father's image, or his father's expectations, and since he cannot do so, he cannot take action against Claudius.
c. Connection Establish a connection between your analysis here and some othe rtext, film, television show, character, or moment in history that you know of and can link to the Odyssey. Begin with the phrase "The reader may be reminded of..." and continue.
Example: The reader may be reminded of another Shakespeare character whose self-loathing had no limit, specifically Richard in Richard III, whose misshapen appearance and the rejection it engendered taught him only hatred of self and other.
6. EDIT THAT PAPER LIKE A BOSS. Carefully proofread your paper and eliminate the following dead words or expressions: