& : Name: __________________________________________________
The Stranger and Existentialism: RUBRIC
8/9-­‐ Your Essence is Complete
6/7 -­‐You Commit to Your Decisions
4/5-­‐ You’re on the Edge of the Abyss
2/3-­‐ You are a Hollow M
A. Essay offers a well-­‐focused and convincing analysis of morality in The Stranger. B. Paper is solidly grounded in a well-­‐
written, substantive thesis statement that addresses both conventional and Meursault’s own sense of morality. C. Paper seamlessly sustains its focus in a tight logical progression of ideas. D. Introduction & conclusion are thought provoking. A. The essay offers a focused analysis of morality in The Stranger. B. Paper is grounded in a well-­‐
written thesis statement that addresses both conventional and Meursault’s own sense of morality. C. Paper sustains its focus through a logical progression of ideas, but there may be lapses in logical sequence. D. Introduction & conclusion are developed and thorough.
A. The essay may tend to list ideas rather than build from one to the next. B. Thesis lacks depth or provides weak foundation for the paper’s argument. C. May be confusing gaps in logic and ideas and momentum may be lost or nonexistent. Little sense of an argument being crafted. Writer may lose sight of the thesis. D. Introduction and/or conclusion may lack development or spark.
A. The paper is a bit of an organizational mess. B. Possibly problems with par
length or a lack of topic sente
sustain each paragraph’s focu
C. Transitions may be nonexis
Rambling presentation of ide
D. Introduction and/or conclu
to serve their function adequa
The reader may struggle to fo
coherent train of thought.
E. Ample, apt, and specific textual support is used consistently throughout the essay. F. Writer clearly read the book with great thought and care. G. The writer may use passages from the novel not discussed in class, displaying independent thinking H. All quotations correctly use MLA citation.
E. Textual support is used throughout the essay, but it may be less specific and less ample than it could be. F. This writer has a fairly solid grasp on the book’s details. G. The evidence overall strengthens the validity of writer’s claims. H. All quotations correctly use MLA citation.
E. Textual support is used, but it may be vague, too general, or poorly chosen. F. Writer has not fully demonstrated close familiarity with the novel, & paper would have benefitted from more careful close reading. G. There may be minor misinterpretations. H. Page numbers may not be provided or MLA format may not be used.
E. Some textual support is use
may be used in an inconsisten
unhelpful manner. F. There may be many unsubstantiated claims that r
unconvincing due to lack of su
G. There may be misreadings.
H. Page numbers may not be p
for quotes or MLA format ma
used.
J. The essay discusses the roles of both conventional morality and Meursault’s morality in terms of the overall meaning of the novel with keen insight and understanding. K. Complexities are not reduced. Insights are at times profound. L. Essay reaches far beyond the self-­‐
evident, smoothly fusing existentialism and the novel.
J. The essay discusses morality in terms of the overall meaning of the novel with insight and understanding, but it may be less perceptive than it could be, and/or it falls short in terms of its scope. K. There may need to be more balance in analysis of the moralities. L. Paper could benefit from more independent thinking. J. The essay demonstrates a rather simplistic understanding of how morality functions in the novel in terms of the meaning of the work as a whole. K. There are numerous moments where analysis is superficial and/or does little more than state the self-­‐evident. L. Writer seems to have settled for only what was covered in class discussion or supplants analysis with plot summary. J. The essay may reflect an inc
or oversimplified understand
the role morality plays in the b
overall meaning. K. It may lapse into mere plot
summary rather than analysis
may be significant misreading
events or characters in the no
L. Paper may focus on existen
to the exclusion of The Stange
M. Essay is strengthened by a deep foundation in existential concepts that are clearly outlined. N. Well-­‐selected passages from supplementary materials help the paper reach high level of sophistication.
M. Essay demonstrates the writer’s solid understanding of existential thought. N. Supplementary materials are used, either implicitly or explicitly, to shore up analysis of the novel.
M. Existential concepts are unevenly used as the foundation for analysis. N. May be minor misunderstandings of the philosophy, or there may be moments where the analysis would have benefitted from existential ideas.
M. Existential concepts are lar
ignored in the essay or they m
misrepresented. N. You should have paid more
attention to the existential rea
and presentations.
P. Highly effective control of language. Sentences are varied and sophisticated in structure. There is beauty in written expression here. P. Consistent control of language. Sentences are varied in structure and there are few, if any, errors.
P. Adequate control of language; essay may be marred by surface errors.
P. Clarity of expression suffer
lack of control of language. E
writing impede reader’s understanding of the essay.
M ajor Term Paper:
The Stranger
(& Existentialism )
See online calendar (hard copy AND turnitin.com) DO NOT print at school.
gth: minimum 7 full typed pages, 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced
quired for citations. TYPE a code name at top of first page, as well as your class period and teacher’s name.
arges commonly leveled against existentialism deals with the potentially harmful ramifications of a philosophy that venerates freedom above
gument goes, when freedom is venerated above all else, morality must necessarily be pushed aside--even abandoned--and an individual is l
s. As Sartre writes in "Existentialism is a Humanism":
From the Christian side, we are reproached as people who deny the reality and seriousness of human affairs. For since we ignore the com
of God and all values prescribed as eternal, nothing remains but what is strictly voluntary. Everyone can do what he likes, and will be in
from such a point of view, of condemning either the point of view or the action of anyone else.
ge that Sartre, obviously, argues against, since it's grounded in some fundamental misconceptions of existentialism. Patricia F. Sanborn, in h
(1968), turns the tables on this charge of existential amorality/immorality and suggests the following about conventional morality:
The herd-orientation that conventional morality introduces undermines creativity. Man lives in a moral temperate zone, carefully avoid
extremes. . . Nietzsche suggests that as long as man remains committed to herd morality, actions are leveled to one norm, and there is no
Philosophy's task should be to upset, not to comfort. Religions of sympathy and compassion allow man to degenerate to the level of a gr
animal. If man is ever to awake, he must step beyond conventional good and evil and commit himself to the unusual (98).
For this paper, explore and analyze the concept of morality as it is addressed in The Stranger.
Your understanding of existentialism will be the foundation for your analysis, but remember
that this is a paper about The Stranger; existentialism is your pathway into the novel, not your
focus. Think of existentialism as the frosting between the layers of your cake.
n and excerpts above are designed to get you heading in a fruitful direction. You may also bring in Kafka's parable "Before the Law," and/
Men" to further explicate this concept of morality in an existential framework. However, you do not need to do so. In the development of y
want to draw on other readings or sources you have found independently. In addition, it seems inevitable that your paper will address som
Bigelow or other texts, such as freedom, choice, responsibility, individuality, and self-realization.
urse, up to you. You are, after all, a responsible individual with freedom of choice, working toward self-realization. 