Into the wild essay activity
write an essay on the following topic. before you begin writing, read the passage carefully and plan what you will say. your essay should be as well organized and carefully written as you can make it.
jon krakauer writes,
mccandless didn’t conform particularly well to the bush-casualty stereotype. although he was rash, untutored in the ways of the backcountry, and incautious to the point of foolhardiness, he wasn’t incompetent—he wouldn’t have lasted 113 days if he were. and he wasn’t a nutcase, he wasn’t a sociopath, he wasn’t an outcast. mccandless was something else—although precisely what is hard to say. a pilgrim, perhaps. (85)
what was chris mccandless seeking in the wilderness? do you think he found it before he died? considering these questions and krakauer’s statement, write an essay in which you define who chris mccandless was and explain what he was trying to do. support your conclusions with evidence from your chapter activities and your reading of the text.
in this activity you will create:
an informal outline (handwritten or typed) 50 points a handwritten rough draft 50 points
a typed (mla) final draft 100 points
works cited (mla) 25 points
begin by creating an informal outline of abbreviated points. use the provided template.
introduction
lead - see writing tools examples of leads
background - introduce text using tag plus central idea thesis statement - remember to follow the prompt
body paragraphs (3 or more)
opponents view and refutation see writing tools opponents view
support # 1 see writing tools using quotations and paraphrases mla style commentary for this support see writing tools phrases to use with commentary support # 2 see writing tools
commentary for this support
support # 3 see writing tools
commentary for this support
conclusion
restate thesis differently (use a concluding tone) provide a call to action
remember to:
use mla format (12pt. times-new roman, double spaced, etc) use relevant support
use varied transitions (see writing tools transitions)
use varied sentence structures
no careless errors!