“Harrison Bergeron” Persuasive Essay Assignment
You will write a persuasive essay based on our study of Kurt Vonnegut’s dystopian short story,
“Harrison Bergeron. I will expect your essay to begin with a well written introduction which includes
your thesis statement; it should also include at least two body paragraphs which should each begin with
a topic sentence stating the paragraph’s main idea, include five to seven supporting sentences which
develop or prove the paragraph’s main idea, and end with a concluding sentence that either wraps up
your body paragraph or transitions into the next one. Your essay should end with a thoughtful
conclusion which sums up your ideas and restates the point your paper is attempting to prove.
Remember: to include direct quotes where necessary, to cite your quotes, to not use the first or
second person point-of-view, and to carefully check your paper for errors. Use the tools provided by
www.myaccess.com and www.paperrater.com to revise and edit your draft before submitting and
printing your final draft on Friday afternoon.
You are to choose one of the four prompts below. I recommend you create an outline before
beginning your first draft. ALL writing is to be done in MyAccess.com; Coach Bailey has a list of user
names, and passwords if you need them.
“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut
At the end of Kurt Vonnegut's story, "Harrison Bergeron," Harrison, a 14-year-old boy who has
mysteriously disappeared, suddenly shows up in a TV studio screaming, "I am the Emperor. Do you
hear? I am the Emperor." Do you think Harrison is a hero or a danger to his society?
Write an essay in which you explore whether Harrison Bergeron is a hero or a danger to society. Be sure
to support your interpretation with evidence from the story.
Harrison Bergeron Persuasive 2
George and Hazel Bergeron watch Harrison's revolt on television. Now as in 1961 when the story was
written, television is accused of creating mediocrity and intellectual stagnation. Do you agree or
disagree with this view of television? Consider this question in a well-written persuasive essay.
Harrison Bergeron Argumentative Essay 3
Most people find the type of equality depicted in “Harrison Bergeron” unacceptable. Would you object
to a society that sought equality not by handicapping the gifted but by lifting up the ungifted, through
genetic engineering or biotechnological enhancements? Can you think of any problems that might
occur? Write a persuasive essay that discusses this question, evaluates the pros and cons of “lifting up.”
and states your opinion. Be sure to support your position with evidence from the text.
Choice Made by a Literary Character
Life is ultimately about choices. Consider the choices made by characters in “Harrison Bergeron.” Select
a choice made by a character that you believe to have been especially important. Some characters to
consider include: George, Harrison, the ballerina, Harrison Bergeron, or Diana Moon Glampers.
In a multi-paragraph essay, write about what you consider to be an important choice made by a literary
character from “Harrison Bergeron.” Explain what motivated that character to make the choice he/she
did, how that choice affected that character, and how that choice affected others around him/her.
Include references from the literary work to support your argument.
Rubric:
Regardless of which prompt you choose, remember your essay will be scored based on how well you:
develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your thesis to the
audience.
support your thesis with meaningful examples and references from the text, carefully citing any direct
quotes.
organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
Be sure to do all of your writing in MyAccess.com and to submit a copy to PaperRater.com which
checks for plagiarism, and send that report to me. The code to do so is: 2AE15
Do not waste your time. You have written several papers this year and many papers during your
time in school, so you have no excuse not to do well on this essay. If you need to review the writing
process, use the resources on my school webpage. Do your best, and be sure to print a copy of your final
draft using the MLA guidelines.