Summer Reading Composition

100 points

After having read The Power of One and Memoirs of a Geisha this summer, your assignment is to write a comparative analysis paper. You may choose one of the following prompts as your paper topic:

#1 Compare and contrast Peekay’s quest to become the welterweight champion of the world with Sayuri’s drive to be with Chairman Iwamura. How does each desire affect the main character (and, in turn, the story)? Give specific examples. What part does each desire play in the endings of the books?

#2 Read the following quote from The Power of One:

“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated […] It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts” (Courtenay 423).

In your paper, explain how Peekay and Sayuri demonstrate, or fail to demonstrate, “the power of one” in each story. Be sure to use plenty of specific examples where they utilize, or fail to utilize, this power.

#4 Select one of the unifying themes we discussed in class and explain how the theme is present in each book. Identify areas where there are both similarities and differences in how each author deals with the theme. Please use many examples from both books to illustrate the presence of the theme.

Requirements

• 3-5 pages in length
• typed, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font
• You must use at least two direct quotes from each book and cite them properly according to MLA format (If you choose prompt #2, you may NOT use that quote to fulfill this requirement)
• Follow MLA guidelines for proper heading, header with page numbers, and Works Cited page
• Make sure to stay in present tense…literature is a constant living thing
• Stay away from using first or second person when writing
• Remember to spell check and proofread your paper!
• *Tip: The minimum number of paragraphs for an essay is five (intro, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion). However, if the structure of your argument lends itself for more than five paragraphs, please do not be afraid to use more!
• It may be helpful to look over the handouts, “Elements of the Academic Essay,” “How to Write a Comparative Analysis,” and “Revising the Draft.”
• In addition to turning in a hard copy of your paper, please save an additional copy to the Honors World Literature folder in my homework drive (:X).

Due Date: Wednesday, September 15^th by 8:15 a.m. in the Honors World Lit bin outside my office (and the electronic copy in the homework drive)