Joy Luck Club Essay Example

Joy Luck Club Essay North Fall Final Exam Essay Topics For your final exam, you will write a timed write on Monday December 13th which will count towards 1/3 of your final exam grade. A traditional AP Timed Write Rubric will be used to score your answers. I’m looking for a clear thesis, a well-organized paper, high level of diction, focus, and in-depth analysis (two to three pieces of commentary or analogies) combined with thematic text to world and use of literary devices if appropriate. Answer all parts of the question in your responses. 1. June Woo begins the novel by explaining the â€Å"Joy Luck Club. † She watches the mothers and explains, â€Å"They see that joy and luck do not mean the same to their daughters, that to these closed American-born minds ‘joy luck’ is not a word, it does not exist. † Does the novel argue that certain cultural concepts, like â€Å"joy luck,† cannot be translated? If so, why? If not, why not? Or, could the failure to translate provide the momentum of the novel? Explain the role of language and/or translation in the novel. 2. Using the very brief stories that introduce each section of the novel, explain why Tan has chosen each of these tales to characterize the four sections. Do they serve as signposts to foreshadow the plot? Do they capture an Asian aesthetic, where figures like the Moon Lady play an indispensable role in charting human experience? How might mythic stories provide more accurate renderings of the womens experience? Is this a point of contention between the Asian and American cultures depicted in the novel? 3. In Antigone, the blind seer Teiresias declares, â€Å"The only crime is pride. The Greek concept of hubris involves overbearing pride or self-confidence that often has disastrous consequences. In a well-organized essay, explore the idea of hubris as it is developed in the Oedipus Trilogy. Use specific examples from either Oedipus Rex or Antigone in your discussion. 4. Much of the dramatic effect of Oedipus Rex is achieved through the use of dramatic irony. In a well-organized essay, trace instances of such irony in the play and discuss the effect specific instances of irony have on the audience. Finally explore the significance of dramatic irony to the overall meaning of the play. Rubric: _______50- 9 essays: These essays are exceptionally well-written, show usual insight into the topic and are very well-organized, and support assertions with appropriate examples. They remain focused on all aspects of the topic and present a unique writer’s voice. They demonstrate uncommon skill and sometimes put a cultural/historical frame around the subject. Descriptors that come to mind while reading include masterly, sophisticated, complex, specific, consistent, effective, well-supported. ______45- 8- These essays are very well-written, show clear understanding of and focus on the topic, are well organized, and usually support assertions with appropriate examples. They focus on all aspects or the topic and show a writer’s voice. They may have a few mechanical errors, but only very minor ones. _______40-7 7 is a thinner version of the excellent paper; still impressive, cogen t, convincing, but less well-handled in terms of organization, insight, or vocabulary. We will write a custom essay sample on Joy Luck Club specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Joy Luck Club specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Joy Luck Club specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Descriptors that come to mind while reading include clear understanding, less precise, less well-supported, maturing, this writer has potential, but hasn’t quite got it all. The writer’s voice is somewhat less mature than that of an 8-9 essay, but it is still evident. Only minor errors in mechanics. _______35- 6 6 is an above average paper, but it may be deficient in one of the essentials mentioned above. It may be less mature in thought or less well-handled in terms of organization, syntax, or mechanics. Descriptors might include less mature, some difficulties, but just above average. _______30-5 The 5 paper is a thinner version of the 6. Descriptors would include superficial, vague, uneven, and mechanical. These essays are for the most part well-written, and usually remain focused on the topic. The assertions that are made may be somewhat vague in relation to the topic or a bit superficial in nature. The supporting examples may be missing occasionally or not well related to the topic. There seems to be some evidence or a writer’s voice, but not one of a unique nature. These essays are usually characterized by some minor ones. Inadequate _______25-4: 4 is an average to below-average paper which maintains the general idea of the writing assignment, shows some sense of organization, but is weak in content, maturity of thought, language facility, and/or mechanics. It may distort the topic or fail to deal adequately with one important aspect of the topic. _______20-3: The 3 essay compounds the weaknesses of the 4. Some descriptors that come to mind include incomplete, oversimplified, meager, irrelevant, and insufficient. ______15-2: 2 is the score assigned to a paper that makes an attempt to deal with the topic but demonstrates serious weaknesses in content and coherence and/or syntax and mechanics. It is an unacceptable score. Descriptors include serious misreading, unacceptably brief, and/or poorly written. _______10 -1 or less -1: 1 is the score given to any on-topic response that has very little redeeming quality. It may be very brief or very long, but will be scarcely coherent, usually full of mechanical errors, or completely missed the focus of the prompt. Descriptors include vacuous, inexact, and mechanically unsound.