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SUMMER PROJECT - CRITICAL LENS ESSAY

A Critical Lens essay is one in which the writer examines a character in each of the books he or she has read and then compares or contrasts the three characters on the basis of a quotation. The quotation we will use is the following quotation from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

“To do great things for God does not require extraordinary accomplishments. Ordinary things will do. It is how much love you put in the doing that makes of your life Something Beautiful for Almighty God.”

Do your essay in the following way:

1. Select and read your three books from the reading list.

2. Select a main character from each of the books and compare and contrast them. You should use as the basis of your essay the quotation from Mother Teresa, considering such questions as: Did each of these characters do ordinary or extraordinary things? What made their lives important, as far as you are concerned? How much love did they put (or not put) into their lives? Did they make their lives “Something Beautiful for Almighty God?”

3. Your essay should be in the following format:

a.        Introduction—stating the theme of your essay.

b.       Next three paragraphs describing each of the characters you have chosen.

c.        Next paragraph or paragraphs comparing or contrasting these three characters on the basis of Mother Teresa’s quotation.

d.       Conclusion—your comment on how a person like you can learn from the three characters you selected.

4. Your essay should be 2-3 pages, double spaced, #12 font. You should have a title page with your name on it and “Summer Reading Essay.”

5. Your essay is due on Monday, September 14. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 Grade 6 Book List                        Grade 7 - 8  Book List