How to Write Great Essays

HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS

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HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 8
Sample Essay Prompts and Essays
110
EVALUATION
This essay satisfies the requirements of the writing prompt, providing a look at the uses of
the Internet by users (both good and bad) and providers. It is well-organized and easy to
follow because of paragraph breaks and transitional words and phrases. The vocabulary is
sophisticated, which elevates this essay. There are almost no errors in grammar, usage, or
mechanics.
TIMED PROMPT 5
Personification is the technique wherein a non-human character is given human thoughts, feel-
ings, and dialogue. Illustrate how this technique is used in your favorite novel or short story.
Personification is the technique where the author gives non-human charac-
ters human thoughts, speech, and feelings. This is used well by Rudyard Kipling
in his short story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.”
Without personification, the main character, who is a mongoose, would not
be able to express his feelings. The story would need a narrator, like the kind
you see on television’s Wild Discovery. Some of those documentaries show ani-
mals in the wild, while a narrator tells the audience why the animals behave
certain ways. With personification, a non-fictional event can be fictionalized.
For example, a mongoose’s natural enemy in the wild is the cobra. In
“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” the mongoose is the hero, while the cobra is the villain. Both
animals have conversations with other animals and the reader can see what
they are thinking about. Rikki-Tikki is nervous to fight the cobras, but doesn’t
show it when he starts to battle. I like how the author lets the story unfold
through personification.
Although Rikki can’t talk with his human family, he behaves like a family
pet. When the cobras plot to kill the family, Rikki defends them by killing the
snakes. This story follows the common theme of good versus evil. Without per-
sonification, the story would not be so enjoyable.
EVALUATION
The writer of this essay makes some good points about personification (it allows the char-
acters to express their feelings, helps the story unfold, and makes it more enjoyable), and
uses examples from the Kipling story throughout. It is also organized, discussing three main
points, and transitioning well between them. However, it could be improved through bet-
ter variety of sentence structure and greater development of ideas.