Typed, double-spaced, at least 4 full pages (this means a minimum of at least fo

Typed, double-spaced, at least 4 full pages (this means a minimum of at least four full pages; your Works Cited page does not count toward this total), 12-point Times New Roman font. I expect to see a real title that describes the content of your particular essay (not just “Paper 4” or “Community”). Format your paper using MLA style, using this MLA Format Sample Download MLA Format Sampleas a reference.
AUDIENCEYour audience for this essay is your professor and (hypothetically) your classmates. Because you do not know those people well and because you are writing in an academic context, you should write with formality. This means that you should not use informal words like “gonna” or “wanna” or “kinda” or other types of language that you might use in, say, a text message. You should capitalize proper nouns, including the first person “I.”
It is totally appropriate to use the first person (“I”) when you are writing this essay.
PROMPTParable of the Sower is a novel about survival and what is necessary to survive in a collapsing world. In our early discussion of the novel (and in Paper 3), we discussed skills and resources that might help a person to survive individually. However, one of the key insights of Parable is that survival is a communal project–that to survive, humans must do so as part of a community.
In this essay, you should answer the following prompt question:
What is necessary to produce a community that can help people to live well in a dangerous world?
In answering these questions, you will need to consider:
the many different definitions or versions of “community.” Community could be a small group of strangers briefly sharing a goal. Or it could be a tight-knit family. Or it could be a larger organization that shares deeply held values. All of these types of communities may promote survival in different ways. Some might be more effective than others.
the types of people, beliefs, strengths, skills, behaviors, rules that make up a strong or effective community.
the many different ways of understanding of what it means “to live well.” The most basic sense is in survival–avoiding immediate threats to our physical safety. That’s fundamental, of course. But there are other requirements that people seem to consider essential to living well and thriving, including (for example) health, pleasure, expression, meaning, purpose.
Your analyses will rely almost entirely on Parable of the Sower for evidence, so that novel will clearly have a strong influence (and constraint) on your argument. The novel offers a number of different explorations of community that you may write about, including Lauren’s original neighborhood and the community that she attempts to build later in the novel. However, this paper is not just a summary or explanation of the novel. Rather, this paper is an exploration of your own ideas about the importance of community that uses Parable of the Sower as evidence to support them.
GUIDING METAPHORIf you’re having trouble understanding this paper prompt, consider this metaphor:
In this paper, you are proposing a “RECIPE” for a good community in troubled times.
You will be coming up with “INGREDIENTS” to make up this community.ingredients can be lots of things: types of people, beliefs, strengths, skills, behaviors, rules
Each “ingredient” to create a good community for bad times is its own body paragraph—and those are your body paragraphs!
REQUIREMENTSQuotations and Sources. In your essay, you will need to include 4-5 quotations (no more than that without my permission). All of these quotations must be from Parable of the Sower. You must cite all of these quotations accurately in MLA style and include an MLA-formatted Works Cited page.
Thesis and Body Paragraphs. This is a thesis-driven essay, so a strong thesis is essential. Your body paragraphs should demonstrate clear grasp of PIE paragraphing strategy.
Counterargument. You must include one body paragraph that presents and responds appropriately to a counterargument.
When I grade this essay, I will focus on the following:
Complete and appropriate response to the prompt (including required length).
Coherent structure, with attention to logical order and connection between paragraphs.
A clear thesis statement.
Focused and developed PIE or PIEIE body paragraphs, including well-developed quote sandwiches.
A reasonable and well-structured counterargument.
Understanding of and critical engagement with Parable and an outside source.
Clear and grammatically correct sentences. Appropriate voice and language for your audience.
Accurate MLA style, including in-text citations of quotations and a Works Cited page.
Lack of typos and other proofreading errors.