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WRITING

Is There a Tragic Flaw?? Othello Writing Assignment #2

Context: A tragic flaw is a trait in the character of the hero/shero that leads to his/her death or destruction. Based on everything we know so far in the play, what is Othellos tragic flaw? Directions: Write a mini-essay that describes and explains Othellos tragic flaw. Use at least one quote to support your choice. Make sure you comment on your own thoughts about Othello, his actions & flaw, and how these lead to his downfall. Say something new and compelling that we havent already elaborated upon in class!! Remember to use 5-paragraph format for your mini essay:

Introduction (2-3 sentences): Your general thesis statement and specific thesis statement need to include a SO WHAT? Body Paragraph: Begins with a topic sentence that has a claim connected to your general thesis, and reintroduces your choice of tragic flaw. Your quote from the play, as well as your thoughts on Othellos flaw and downfall, will be your proof. Conclusion (2-3 sentences): Your conclusion will restate your thesis, and then connect to the SO WHAT we learn from what you believe to be Othellos tragic flaw.

Your paper will be graded on: choice of tragic flaw & quote; SO WHAT? in thesis, commentary, and conclusion depth of analysishow does Othello display this flaw? How does this lead to his downfall? Correct mini-essay and MLA format Correct grammar and mechanics

Your mini-essay will be no more than 1 page, following all MLA formatting rules. Rough Draft of Writing Assignment 2 is Due: Day 2, Week of February 25 ____________ Final Draft of Writing Assignment 2 is Due: Day 3, Week of February 25 ______________

Please see your grading rubric on the back of this page.

Grading Rubric: Othello Writing Assignment 2 Excellent! Mini-Essay chooses significant tragic flaw and makes compelling connection to Othello and his tragedy; chooses compelling quotation from the play as proof, commentary is substantial and demonstrates depth of thought, originality, and significance of the flaw to Othellos downfall. Mini-Essay includes 3 sentences of a compelling introduction/thesis with compelling so what?, ample commentary that builds an overall argument to support the thesis & connect to so what?, and 3 concluding sentences. Few to no errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Quotation cited with correct punctuation. Good Mini-Essay chooses adequate tragic flaw and makes clear connection to Othello and his tragedy; chooses adequate quotation from the play as proof, commentary is adequate and demonstrates depth of thought in some places about the significance of the flaw to Othellos downfall. Mini-Essay includes 2-3 sentences of an introduction/thesis with adequate so what?, adequate commentary that builds an overall argument to support the thesis & connect to so what?, and 2-3 concluding sentences. Some errors in formal grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or capitalization. Errors are not distracting to the reader. Quotation cited with mostly correct punctuation. Room for Improvement Mini-Essay chooses tragic flaw but may make loose connection to Othello and his tragedy; chooses insufficient quotation from the play as proof, commentary is rational in thought but may be superficial and/or not show enough depth about significance flaw to Othellos downfall. Yikes! Come see Ms. Peterson ASAP Mini-Essay shows little to no connection to Othello and/or his tragic flaw; chooses no or inadequate quotation from the play as proof, commentary may not be rational in thought and/or connection to play, may show depth of thought in too many areas

Othellos Tragic Flaw

Components of the Mini-Essay

Mechanics

Mini-Essay may be Mini-Essay includes 2 missing one or more sentences of an of the following: 1-2 introduction/thesis sentences of an with inadequate so introduction/thesis, what?, commentary so what?, that may need to commentary that may make stronger need to make connection to the stronger connection thesis & so what?, and to the thesis & so 2 concluding what?, and 1-2 sentences. concluding sentences. A number of errors in formal grammar, A number of errors spelling, punctuation, in formal grammar, and/or capitalization. spelling, punctuation, Errors may be and/or capitalization. distracting to the Errors are typically reader at times. distracting to the Quotation cited, but reader. Quotation not without proper cited. punctuation.

Includes Rough Draft: _____ / 1 point Attention to MLA Formatting: Heading order/Left-aligned: ___/ point Title: ____/ point Date: ____/ point Last Name/Page # in Upper Right: ___/ point Times New Roman Font: ___/ point Double-Spaced: ____/ point

Total: _________ / 16 Writing Points