back to English 12-3

Essay #1: Narrative, "Duty versus Conscience"

• similar to an SAT essay
• can be used as a college essay 

In "On The Rainy River," Tim struggles with the expectations society has placed on him to fight in Vietnam and his conviction that the war is wrong. Tim's INTERNAL CONFLICT is the struggle between duty and conscience.

Describe a time when you were faced with an INTERNAL CONFLICT between duty and conscience, when you were forced to make a choice between what was expected of you and what you believed in.

• Tell a story. Tell the reader how the situation arose, how you dealt with it, and how it worked out.
• Emphasize your INTERNAL CONFLICT. Tell the reader how you struggled with the situation. 
• Compare your experience with Tim's in "On The Rainy River." 

Length: 25 typed lines, about a page double spaced in 12-point font

Scoring:

• 3 paragraphs: Tell the story, emphasize your internal conflict, and compare your experience with "On The Rainy River."  60 points
• Write your essay in Word, double spaced in 12 point font. 20 points
• Complete sentences. 20 points 

View a model essay here.