EAL Comp
“The Pearl” Essay
You will write a well-constructed essay on the novel, “The Pearl.” Select one of the questions listed
below to write your essay on. Do not forget to include quotes that will support your points in each
paragraph of your essay.
Essay Topics:
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
Describe Kino’s character (provide 3 character traits)
Describe Juana’s character (provide 3 character traits)
Describe the doctor’s character (provide 3 character traits)
Determine whether Kino was a good father and husband or not.
Describe the nature of Kino and Juana’s relationship
There are numerous examples of irony used throughout the story. Describe how the element of irony
plays a huge role in The Pearl.
7.) “We do know that we are cheated at birth to the overcharge on our coffins. But we survive. You have
defied not the pearl buyers, but the whole structure, the whole way of life, and I am afraid for you.”
Explain what Juan Thomas is talking about when he mentions “the whole structure” and why it is so
important to the story.
8.) Your choice. Have Mr. Thies approve your thesis.
Paragraph 1
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ESSAY OUTLINE
some introductory sentences about the general topic, introducing both the novel and the idea
you will be writing about
Your thesis statement
GENERAL TOPIC (Topic sentence)
Just as the saying goes,"Everyone has the capacity to be greedy."
SENTENCE INTRODUCING THE NOVEL
"The Pearl" is written by John Steinbeck. This story is about main character, Kino's son was attacked
by ,
And they went to find doctor.
SENTENCE INTRODUCING YOUR TOPIC (WHAT ARE YOU WRITING ON?)
The doctor is an antagonist
THESIS STATEMENT (WHAT IS THE MAIN POINT YOUR WHOLE ESSAY WILL FOCUS
ON?)
The doctor is money oriented, unethical and an arrogant person
Paragraph 2
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a topic sentence, explaining one important argument
examples
explanations
a concluding sentence
TOPIC SENTENCE (ONE MAIN POINT TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS/MAIN POINT)
The doctor is willing to work for money in stead of doing his responsibility.
EXAMPLE
In chapter 1 from pg 14 to 15, it shows that the conversation of the servant and the doctor, when
Kino's family went to see the doctor.
EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
In this conversation we can see that all his care about is money. He only served people who have
money can pay for him.
EXAMPLE
And the doctor's eyes rolled up a little in
their fat hammocks and he thought of Paris. He remembered the room he had lived in
there as a great and luxurious place. The doctor looked past his aged patient and saw
himself sitting in a restaurant in Paris and a waiter was just opening a bottle of wine.
EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
It shows that when the doctor heard that Kino found a greatest pearl in the world, he was willing to
treat Kino's son and he throwback the day how he has been in Paris, he was imagining he could go
back that day if he got this money from Kino.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE FOR YOUR PARAGRAPH
he concerns about money all the time,
Paragraph 3
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a topic sentence, explaining one important argument
examples
explanations
a concluding sentence
TOPIC SENTENCE (ONE MAIN POINT TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS/MAIN POINT)
The was rude to poor people of the town.
EXAMPLE
chapter 3, pg 38 -4, the doctor went to Kino's house and going to treat Kino's son.
"The medicine may save the baby from hurt, but I will
come back in an hour. Perhaps I am in time to save him." He took a deep breath and went
out of the hut, and his servant followed him with the lantern.
EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
It shows that the doctor didn't treat him by the whole process, he wasn't fully want to help those
people, he doesn't really care about the baby health.
EXAMPLE
The news came to the doctor where he sat with a woman whose illness was age, though
neither she nor the doctor would admit it. And when it was made plain who Kino was, the
doctor grew stern and judicious at the same time.
EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
The doctor would rather to serve a woman whose illness was age, more than a baby's illness was
more serious.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE FOR YOUR PARAGRAPH
Paragraph 4
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a topic sentence, explaining one important argument
examples
explanations
a concluding sentence
TOPIC SENTENCE (ONE MAIN POINT TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS/MAIN POINT)
arrogant person
EXAMPLE
chapter 1 pg.14
"Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for 'little Indians'? I am a doctor, not a
veterinary."
EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
the doctor thinks that those Indians just like animal, there's no responsibility to help them.
EXAMPLE
He said: "Sometimes, my friend, the scorpion sting has a curious effect. There will be
apparent improvement, and then without warning - pouf!" He pursed his lips and made a
little explosion to show how quick it could be, and he shifted his small black doctor's bag
about so that the light of the lamp fell upon it, for he knew that Kino's race love the tools
of any craft and trust them. "Sometimes," the doctor went on in a liquid tone, "sometimes
there will be a withered leg or a blind eye or a crumpled back. Oh, I know the sting of the
scorpion, my friend, and I can cure it."
EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
The doctor is kind of satire to Kino, he knew that Kino didn't know anything about medicine, because
those Indians never been to school therefore he wanted to let Kino knows that he was the one who
could heal his son.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE FOR YOUR PARAGRAPH
The doctor looks down on those Indians, he thinks they are so much different than us.
Paragraph 5
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a restatement of your thesis
some general thoughts following from this thesis statement
RESTATE YOUR THESIS (USE DIFFERENT WORDS)
how greedy, dishonor, and haughty he is.
GENERAL THOUGHTS ON YOUR THESIS (THREE SENTENCES)
The doctor thought he was better than everyone else, he healed Kino's son because of the money
but curing. He doesn't have a qualify to be a doctor, he was dishonest with the people of the town.
And racist with Indians.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
In conclusion, the doctor is no a good doctor, he even doesn't know how to love everyone. He thinks
that being a doctor is just a duty, and the way how he can get money from it. He doesn't think the
Indians are human.
Example of how to collect Quotations
Page #
Full quotation
Why you have included it – how it relates to the topic you are
writing about in the essay.