While The Glass Castle and The Other Wes Moore have distinct stories and settings, their shared themes make them both poignant reflections on the human experience and the challenges and triumphs that come with it.
Honors PSL Prompt
For this comparative essay, you may choose a prompt from the list below, or veer off into uncharted territory with your own thoughtful approach.
- Resilience and perseverance. Both memoirs highlight the resilience and determination of the main characters in overcoming challenging circumstances and adversity.
- Family dynamics. Both books delve into the complexities of family relationships.
- Choices and consequences. Both memoirs explore the idea that all choices have consequences. The characters in both texts grapple with the repercussions of their decisions, and the decisions made by those around them.
- Education and opportunity. The importance of education and access to opportunities is a common thread in both texts.
- Forgiveness and understanding. Both memoirs involve a degree of forgiveness and understanding towards family members and individuals who may have caused the authors pain or disappointment.
- Ambition and dreams. The authors both had dreams and ambitions that propel them forward, even in the face of significant obstacles.
- Self-discovery and identity. The memoirs are coming-of-age stories that explore the process of self-discovery and the development of identity.
The Details
1. Review class notes HERE and HERE. 2. Review THIS resource from The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina and THIS resource from Harvard College Writing Center to develop a better understanding of a comparative analysis. 3. Choose a prompt to work with, and develop a working thesis statement. 4. Gather evidence from both texts to use within your analysis. 5. Determine which organizational scheme (point-by-point or text-by-text) you will use. Consider using THIS outline structure. THIS resource may also be helpful. 6. Write. Revise. Repeat. |
The Deadlines (Honors PSL)
Friday, 10/6 at the end of the block - Introductory paragraph, which includes theme you are exploring and working thesis.
Wednesday, 10/11 at 3pm - Share a working draft with Mrs. Trentanelli in order to receive feedback by Thursday, 10/20.
Monday, 10/20 at 3pm - Final draft due to Mrs. Trentanelli via Google Docs.
Wednesday, 10/11 at 3pm - Share a working draft with Mrs. Trentanelli in order to receive feedback by Thursday, 10/20.
Monday, 10/20 at 3pm - Final draft due to Mrs. Trentanelli via Google Docs.
The Resources and Rubric
Click HERE for some quick information on how to write a thesis for a comparative analysis.
Click HERE for some transitional words/phrases that might help your essay.
Click HERE for some transitional words/phrases that might help your essay.
A proficient comparative essay will demonstrate that you can...
- Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story and the essential question.
- Analyze how an author’s choices contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.
- Make personal, societal, and ethical connections that deepen understanding of complex text.
- Demonstrate a command of the conventions of standard English, including capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- Vary syntax for effect, consulting references for guidance as needed.