Antigone Final Assessment ESSAY

read antigone from here We will be using the online text here.

FINAL ASSESSMENT

As with Oedipus Rex, Antigone deals with themes important to Greek society–although many of them are still important to us today also.

Select one of the following themes to use as the basis of your analysis of Antigone. Suggestions for organization and content follow each theme statement. You can use the theme statements as they are written, or blend them with your own words to create a unique thesis statement for your essay. Use the same outline as you did for Oedipus Rex to help you construct the essay. This time you are not required to turn in an outline before writing the essay, but you may submit one if you would like suggestions before you begin writing.

Essays must be written in third person, formal voice and follow MLA guidelines.

Theme 1: Because humans are faced with a basic conflict in loyalties, suffering is inevitable.

a.Establish who in the play has a conflict in loyalties.

b.Explain those loyalties.

c.Establish that the character from step “a” suffers in the play.

d.Demonstrate the link between the conflict and the suffering the character endures.

Theme 2: Any excess, even an excessive devotion to state or religion, is a fault and leads to misfortune.

a.Describe the characters in the play who act to excess (at least two).

b.Explain the excess.

c.Establish that the characters from step “a” suffer a misfortune.

d.Demonstrate the link between the character’s excess and his or her misfortune.

Theme 3: Pride and stubbornness give rise to tyranny and are character flaws that cause suffering and, inevitably, tragedy.

a.Describe the character in the play who acts from pride and stubbornness.

b.Explain how the pride and stubbornness lead to tyranny.

c.Demonstrate the link between the tyranny and tragedy by explaining who suffers as a result of the tyranny and how he or she suffers.

Theme 4: In a conflict between the God’s law and man-made laws, the divine laws take precedence.

a.Explain the divine law central to the conflict in the play.

b.Explain the man-made law central to the conflict in the play.

c.Describe how the two laws conflict.

d.Prove that the gods establish their authority over man-made laws.

Theme 5: There is a personal responsibility for suffering, but from suffering comes wisdom.

a.Describe the suffering which occurs as a result of conflict in the play.

b.Identify the character(s) who has responsibility for that suffering.

c.Prove that the character(s) takes responsibility for causing the suffering.

d.Demonstrate that the character(s) has gained wisdom as a result of the suffering.

Using one of the theme statements provided, construct a well-developed essay explaining how that theme is developed in the play. Your final paper should be 3 to 4 pages long, follow MLA guidelines for formatting and documenting quotations, and should be your original work.

Many sites exist on the internet that will offer you free essays, or essays for a price. Just remember, if you can find them, so can your teacher and so can the Turnitin.com program that scans every essay you submit. Don’t take the risk. If you are having problems, ask for help.

See the following rubric:

Indicator/Point Value	Description	Instructor Comments
Indicator: Essay fully addresses one of the theme statements provided and demonstrates a strong understanding of Antigone Point Value: 35	Essay’s thesis clearly identifies which of the five theme statements the student has chosen. If Theme 1, 2, or 5 is chosen, student fully address a., b., c., and d. parts of the theme statement prompt. If Theme 3 or 4 is chosen, student fully address a., b., and c. of the theme statement prompt. Essay demonstrates a clear understanding of the plot of the essay. Essay uses textual evidence to support claims about the theme statement chosen.
Indicator: Essay is properly structured and demonstrates a mastery literary analysis Point Value: 35	Essay contains a clear introduction that introduces the name of the text, the author of the texts, a one-sentence summary of the play included, and a clear thesis. Introduction is written as though the audience has not read the book before. Thesis statement makes an argumentative assertion about the topic. Thesis statement states the conclusions you have reached about your topic. Thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper. Thesis statement is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper. Thesis statement identifies the relationship between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument. Body paragraphs support the thesis. Body paragraphs begin with a strong transitional phrase and use textual evidence to support the thesis. Body paragraphs avoid simple summary and use the textual evidence for analysis. The conclusion paragraph summarizes the major points outlined in the essay and re-affirms the thesis statement from the introduction. Essay uses in-text citations appropriately In-text citations are formatted according to MLA format Essay is a minimum of 3 pages accurately formatted and no more than 4 pages accurately formatted
Indicator: Essay maintains correct formatting. Point Value: 15	12-point Arial or Times New Roman font Double spaced One inch margins Essay is in MLA format Works Cited page is included in MLA format
Indicator: Essay demonstrates correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Point Value: 15	Writing is free of spelling or word use errors. Writing is free of run-on sentences or sentence fragments. All punctuation is used appropriately. All proper nouns and the beginnings of sentences are capitalized appropriately. All other standard English grammar, punctuation, and spelling rules are followed. Sentences vary in structure between simple, complex, compound, and complex-compound structures. Fully developed paragraphs have a minimum of four – five sentences each. Formal academic voice used (no first person or contractions used)