1ENG 2D

Heroes Comparative Essay

King Arthur and Tombstone
The Task
Throughout our study of Greek Mythology, we have identified and discussed various qualities of heroes.
Therefore, in order to demonstrate your understanding of heroism, you are required to write a well-organized
comparative essay that will argue and prove the following thesis to be true. Your essay must be six paragraphs
in length.

Even though heroes from various cultures achieve heroic status through different means, the
fundamental qualities of a hero are similar.
Using the movies King Arthur and Tombstone, discuss the similarities that exist between two of the heroes (discuss
one hero from each movie), using specific references from the movies to illustrate your ideas.
The Purpose
The purpose of the assignment is to explore the similarities between heroes from different cultures.
Another purpose of the assignment is to demonstrate your ability to work through the steps of the writing process
and create a well organized essay.
Audience
Your audience is academic.
Criteria

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Knowledge and
Understanding
Understands ideas and
concepts

Shows limited
understanding of heroes
and identifies few
significant similarities

Shows a few gaps in

understanding heroes
and identifies some
significant similarities

Shows considerable
understanding of heroes
and identifies significant
similarities

Shows thorough
understanding of heroes
and identifies excellent
similarities

Thinking and Inquiry

Uses inquiry skills of
selecting, interpreting,
and forming conclusions

Selects unconnected
details

Selects some connected

details

Selects key details

Selects and interprets key

details

Conclusions and/or
interpretations are
unclear

Offers superficial
conclusions and/or
interpretations

Details are connected to

valid conclusions and/or
interpretations

Forms thorough
conclusions and/or
interpretations

Paragraph structure is
incomplete, limiting
clarity of communication

All components of
paragraph structure are
used, with some
effectiveness and clarity

All components of
paragraph structure are
used, with considerable
effectiveness and clarity

Paragraph structure is
used with success and
confidence, resulting in
effective and clear
communication

Limited sense of
audience and purpose

Some sense of audience

and purpose

Considerable sense of
audience and purpose

Thorough sense of
audience and purpose

Uses required language

conventions with limited
accuracy and interfere
with the readers
understanding

Uses required language

conventions with some
accuracy and
occasionally interfere
with the readers
understanding

Uses required language

conventions with
considerable accuracy
and effectiveness

Uses required language

conventions accurately
and effectively all the
time

Does not apply the

writing process

Some application of the

writing process

Considerable application
of the writing process

Thorough application of
the writing process

Communication
Communicates
information through
logical organization
(topic sentences, body
sentences, transitions,
and concluding
sentences)
Application
Uses language
conventions
Application of the
writing process

Even though heroes from various cultures achieve heroic status through different means, the
fundamental qualities of a hero are similar.
Movies

King Arthur

_____________

Tombstone

_____________

Trait #1

Trait #2

Trait #3

Trait #4

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________