parts of an essay 8th grade

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8th Grade Essay: Examples, Topics, & Writing Tips

If you find yourself on this page, you are probably going to another level of your education – the final year of Middle school!

Isn’t it exciting?

One of the most common assignments in the 8th grade is an essay. Indeed, it gains new features. An eighth-grade essay is not the same as the sixth or seventh-grade one. It has more requirements and needs a deeper level of analysis.

How to write an 8th-grade essay? How many paragraphs should it contain? What is a standard 8th-grade essay format? On this page, you’ll find the answers to these and other questions that might arise. We’ve prepared creative 8th-grade essay topics, examples, and tips to write an A+ informative, narrative, or persuasive essay.

• 🧩 8th Grade Essay 101
• 📑 8th-Grade Essay Types
• 💾 Topics for the 8 th -Graders

🍎 8th Grade Essay Examples

🧩 8th-grade essay format explained.

Once again: the 8th-grade essay format is a bit different from that of the previous years.

Below, we thoroughly explain how long an 8th-grade essay should be and how to write it. We guarantee you’ll have no questions about the format and assessment of this type of work.

What Is the 8 th Grade Essay Format?

In this section, you’ll know which parts comprise any 8th-grade essay.

The first thing to remember: you’ve got onto an entirely new level. So, your writing isn’t as simple and short as it used to be in the previous school years.

Let’s start with the structure. The fundamental parts are the same as in any type of essay:

8th Grade Essay: How to Write & Typical Mistakes

With the help of this section, you’ll get to know the most straightforward and helpful tips for 8th-grade essay writing.

These are the things that any 8th grader should know!

8 th Grade Essay Do’s

• Look for reliable sources to find arguments and evidence.
• Try to arouse eagerness for writing: it surely will ease the whole process for you.
• Choose the topic that is interesting for you if you have such an option.
• Use academic language, special terms, consistent phrases, and correct grammar.
• Use good quotations from reputable sources to solidify your ideas.

8 th Grade Essay Don’ts

• Don’t write dully: an essay is a story. It should be exciting and consistent.
• Don’t make all your examples too similar: diversity is of the essence.
• Don’t let your text look like an unreadable pile of words: use graphic tools to highlight the most critical points.
• Don’t use unreliable sources and websites for citation.
• Don’t be afraid of honest self-expression. Your identity and thoughts are what make your 8th-grade essay unique.
• Don’t forget to revise your text after you’ve finished writing it.

8th Grade Essay Rubric

Meet the assessment strategies for 8th-grade writing. Here you’ll also find some prompts that improve your essay and lead you to a higher score.

So, the assessment pattern of a written piece comprises several main points. These are the things that assessors pay attention to:

📑 Eighth Grade Essay Types

We suppose that you come across different types of assignments during middle school. Among them, there indeed were descriptive and narrative essays.

However, now you are to face other exciting formats of writing. In the section below, you’ll get to know a few new types.

8th Grade Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is a piece of writing where you make a claim and prove your point of view with solid arguments. Your aim at this point is to make readers nod in contempt while reading and share your opinion.

The structure may be pretty familiar to you:

In your argumentative essay, you should back up your opinion with some exact data: statistics, figures, research studies, and polls.

To solidify your claim, you can use three types of arguments:

• Aristotelian . The classical way – you make a statement and try to persuade the audience that it is the one that is fair and right.
• Rogerian . First, you display an issue, then present the opposing view. After that, reveal your own opinion and start convincing readers why they should take up your point.
• Toulmin . Present your thesis statement, then provide the audience with the grounds to support it. The final touch is to connect these parts.

PRO TIP: Explain why you disagree with the opposing point of view on your issue.

8th Grade Persuasive Essay

A persuasive essay is very similar to argumentative writing. There you have to pick up a mainly burning issue and establish a firm opinion towards it. The primary goal is the same as in the argumentative essay: to make your readers believe you.

Remember the three essentials of persuasive writing:

• Logos appeals to logic, which is apparent. Deliver your thoughts cohesively and reasonably.
• Ethos is about persuading the readers, appealing to their sense of ethics and morality.
• Pathos helps you convince through emotions.

8th Grade Essay – Informative

An expository essay brings concepts to complete understanding. In other words, you explain something to give a clue about the subject in question. Successful expository writing makes the audience get the whole picture, leaving no questions or misunderstandings.

To familiarize yourself with expository essay structure, check our recently updated guide on writing an expository essay .

And briefly look at six major types of expository essays:

💾 8th Grade Essay Topics

8th grade argumentative essay topics.

• What is the main challenge you’ve ever met?
• What was the happiest moment of your childhood?
• Tell about the accomplishment you’re most proud of.
• What are the personal qualities you like most?
• Write about an inspiring celebrity.
• What does emotional intelligence mean?
• Write about the largest challenge of getting older.
• How is adolescence different from childhood?

Read the list of topics we’ve prepared for an 8th-grade essay. Choose your favorite or use our Free Essay Topics Generator to find the best one.

Persuasive Essay Topics for 8th Grade

• Would limited screen time be beneficial for health?
• Will the global use of electric vehicles save us from the ecological crisis?
• The government should provide citizens with more qualified psychological help.
• What are the pros and cons of buying a pet for a child?
• Should people use paper and textile bags instead of plastic ones?
• Is it necessary to attend PE classes in school?
• Is it ethical to use smartphones during the lesson?
• Should parents forbid their children from watching TikTok?
• Pros and cons of cheating on exams: immoral or beneficial?
• Should there be only healthy snack vending machines at schools?
• Is it acceptable for a teacher to raise the voice at a student?
• Should modern rappers’ songs be put through censorship?
• Is it ethical for students to discuss their teachers?
• Should all cosmetic products become cruelty-free?
• Should we stop the overconsumption of sugar for the sake of our health?
• Should zoos and circuses be banned forever?

8th Grade Informative Essay Topics

• Compare and contrast the environmental policies of the USA and Europe.
• What are the harmful effects of CO 2 emissions on the environment?
• How is the concept of freedom reflected in 20th-century literature?
• Reveal the details of the famous friendship of Hemingway and Fitzgerald.
• Brush off or fight: how to act when you come across bullying at school?
• What are the most significant challenges school attendees usually face?
• How to overcome your fears without getting traumatized?
• How to prepare for the exam period and overcome anxiety?
• Freedom or despair: the history and concept of trailer parks in the USA.
• Explain the concept of sustainability and what benefits it has.
• Provide a classification of American lifestyles based on location.
• A reasonable person: describe the concept and the features.

Look at our 8th grade essay examples. These are mostly just excerpts, but we included the most significant parts. Approach us in case you need a similar paper or have any questions.

8th Grade Argumentative Essay Example (#1)

The most notorious substance in the ecological discourse: is CO 2 really that bad?

Did you know that it’s better for the earth if you work out or jog with your mouth tightly shut? It’s not common knowledge, but professionals know: we need a considerable amount of CO 2 in our blood. In some terms, it’s even more vital than oxygen. Undoubtedly, there has to be a proper balance, and here is the point: CO 2 can be beneficial.

Though what good does it make to nature and the environment?

It’s all the same as with our body: CO 2 is not evil on earth, but there must be a proper balance. Now, this balance is critical, and we must make serious efforts to change the situation.

• According to last year’s research, the USA is in the second place among countries producing the most significant part of CO 2 in the whole world. The website statista.com published striking figures. 4.57 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions were produced in 2020 by the energy consumption sphere in the United States.
• Besides, a recently published report from the IEA agency reveals another piece of statistics. Compared to the previous year, the amount of CO 2 emissions will rise to 5% in 2021. This year we’re facing 33 billion tons of this greenhouse gas.
• These figures mean nothing without context. Here you are: nature suffers greatly from CO 2 influence. Due to the greenhouse effect caused by an excess of CO 2 , the water temperature in oceans and seas is rising. This process is not positive at all because the natural habitat for sea creatures is altering. The changes are dramatic and lead to the extinction of many species.

In conclusion, we need to find an efficient way to improve the ecological situation regarding CO 2 emissions. The key is global social and individual awareness and consciousness. Each and every inhabitant of the Earth has to understand the meaning of CO 2 for global warming clearly. So, try to jog with your lips closed and choose a bike instead of a car.

Example #2: 8th Grade Persuasive Essay

Is it essential to stay away from social media for the sake of mental health?

Nielsen Company conducted research that says that the average US adult spends more than 10 hours interacting with social media each day. Indeed, social media plays a very considerable role in the life of a modern person. Most of us are more likely to spend time watching short videos than reading a good book. But is it harmful to our mental health to the extent that we have to quit using social media platforms?

To my mind, we are greatly dependent on our Instagram and TikTok accounts, and the content posted there. It certainly has a negative impact, too. However, the complete cancellation of social media is not a way out. The key to good mental condition is in the skill of managing your relations with them.

• One of the recent surveys by the Lancet reports that Facebook users who scroll the newsfeed before sleep tend to be more depressed. Apparently, the deprivation of sleep affects mental well-being to a great extent.
• FInancesOnline has recently posted the results of the research. According to this data, Facebook constitutes 72% of people’s FOMO and anxiety. Posts about traveling and active social life create most of these feelings.
• At the same time, healthy rivalry can motivate development and growth. There’s a reasonable quotation saying that one should compare themselves yesterday instead of comparing to others. The best thing one can do to take care of their mental health is to take a digital detox for a while.

Thus, it is vital to trace your obsessions with social media and negative feelings caused by comparison with others on the Internet. Try to get more aware of it, take your time to rest from social media, and plunge into real life.

5 Paragraph Essay Example for 8th Grade (#3)

The Financier and American Tragedy : compare and contrast two main characters of Dreiser’s novels.

Do you know that Theodore Dreiser is sometimes called an American Fyodor Dostoevsky? Both writers touched upon the most sensitive social and existential issues. However, the subject of this paper is not the comparison of the authors but two famous Dreiser characters: Clyde Griffiths and Frank Cowperwood.

Both of these young American men were striving to reach financial and social success in a world of brutal struggle and hardships.

• Clyde Griffiths represents the desperate strive for American Dream. Born in a poor and religious family, he grows greedy for money and status. In his blind obsession with gaining a high social position, he doesn’t notice his spiritual degradation. He is smart enough to struggle his way into high society but not so witty to solidify his standing with decent means. He cheats, lies, and finally commits a murder: Clyde seems to be already born guilty at times. On reading the story, there doesn’t appear any sympathy toward him. On the contrary, he provokes feelings of abomination and disgust.
• Frank Cowperwood also aims to become wealthy and socially firm. He wants to improve his family’s life quality. Still, his ways and means astonish. Frank is a natural-born predator and strategist. His sophistication and sharp wit show up in him since his very childhood. He isn’t a man of high moral standards: Frank doesn’t mind cheating on his wife and manipulating city treasure money. However, he’s a passionate man, honest and open in his heart urges and impulses. That is the reason why fortune favors him.

However, having similar goals but different personalities and mindsets, Griffiths and Cowperwood reach completely different destination points.

How to Write an Essay in 8th Grade?

– You should pick up a good topic and formulate your attitude to the problem. – Write an outline. – Make a clear and brief thesis statement. – Think of at least 3 firm arguments if the essay type demands it. – Impress your readers with a firm conclusion. Voila! Do not forget to proofread!

How Long Is an Essay in 8th Grade?

The length of the 8th-grade essay slightly depends on the format and the particular type of writing. However, it varies from approximately 500 to 800 words. Within this framework, you have to make yourself clear and deliver all necessary points.

How Many Sentences Are in a Paragraph for 8th Grade?

The size of a paragraph in the 8th-grade essay has to be not less than 8 sentences in each. Besides that, mind that the sentences are primarily compound or complex, error-free, and coherent. Also, remember to connect the sentences and paragraphs with particular language means.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay in 8th Grade?

Choose an exciting and acute topic. Make up a thesis statement out of the problem. Draft an outline or a brief plan. Explore some reliable sources for the evidence and arguments for your essay. Organize the facts and information into a cohesive structure.

I’m an 8th grade student at a private school, and my teacher assigns us up to 4-6 pages most to write. First of all we get other essays on top of this, and usually have nearly to a week to finish. Me and my classmates struggle with this. Do you guys think this is too much for an average 8th grade student?

i am writin apaper right now and it is averreding and its about the changes we woud make to our cafeteria it has to be 5 paragraphs long

Thanks for stopping by at our blog. We would be happy to help you with your paper. You can be interested in some other posts on this blog (https://overnightessay.com/blog/category/essay-tips/) or contact our friendly Support Team to get professional writign help from experienced writers. Good luck with your paper! Best regards,

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The Guide to 8th Grade: Reading and Writing

Review reading and writing curricula for 8th grade, including what to expect and resources to support learning..

In their last year of middle school, 8th graders immerse themselves in preparation for high school by practicing and strengthening skills they learned in earlier years of middle school while also learning new (and often more complex) skills.

In many ways, 8th grade is a year of transition, as students are expected to have mastered the ways of middle school and begin becoming “high-schoolers.” Specifically, 8th graders are expected to be independent thinkers and workers analyzing and explaining what they learn in both their writing and verbally. 

8th Grade Reading

In 8th grade, students continue to practice many of the skills they learned in earlier grades, specifically paying attention to details like text evidence, language, and cross-text comparisons in different genres of text. However, 8th graders push their analyses of texts further as they examine the details and writing structure and assess how those elements affect the text. 

In order to build reading skills, your 8th grader :

• Evaluates the evidence in texts to determine the strongest supports of an idea and analysis.
• Determines the main idea or theme of a text using evidence from the text to support it.
• Provides an objective summary of a text.
• Understands, summarizes, and tracks the progress of the main idea of a text, using evidence from the text.
• Analyzes how elements such as specific dialogue, events, or word usage impact the characters, the decisions they make, and other events and actions in the text.
• Understands the use of language in a text, including figurative language, analogies, and allusions to other texts.
• Compares and contrasts the different structures of texts including the structures of paragraphs and sentences.
• Analyzes the difference between characters’ points of view and how these differences affect the text.
• Analyzes the pros and cons of using different forms of text and media to present a topic or idea.
• Compares a text to a film or play version of a text, paying specific attention to the way in which the film or play veers from the text.
• Analyzes texts that include conflicting information on the same topic and decipher when those are due to conflicting facts or interpretations.

8th Grade Writing

In 8th grade, students continue to practice and refine many of the writing skills they learned in 7th grade while also learning some additional complex writing skills. Given that refining one’s writing can take time and practice, students are not expected to cover a great deal of new skills. However, they do learn some new techniques and skills that enhance their writing and enable them to become better writers.

In order to build writing skills, your 8th grader :

• Introductions
• Acknowledgements of opposing claims
• Logical and orderly presentation of reasons and evidence
• Graphics, special formatting, and multimedia, when appropriate
• Support of the claims through the use of evidence from credible sources
• A concluding sentence or paragraph that supports the argument made
• A formal tone and style
• Use supporting claims and evidence based on credible texts and resources
• Provide an introduction that includes an explanation of what follows
• Develop topics through the use of facts, details, quotations, examples, and subject-specific terms and definitions
• Include transitions that connect concepts, events, and paragraphs
• Include a conclusion that supports the presented idea(s)
• Maintain a formal “essay type” style
• Integrate other forms of media and formats such as graphs, charts, headings, audio, or video when appropriate
• A narrator, characters, and a point of view
• Descriptive detail and sensory language to describe characters, settings, and experiences
• Dialogue, pacing, reflection, and details and descriptions of characters, setting, and experiences
• Thought-out word choice
• A clear structure with a logical order and flow, as shown through the use of transition words and phrases and a logical sequence
• A conclusion that is connected to and builds on the narrative
• Plans, revises, and edits writing, specifically with guidance from teachers and peers, focusing specifically on trying new approaches and making sure the writing has a purpose and appeals to its audience.
• Uses technology and the Internet to produce and publish writing, work with others, and cite sources.
• Works on multiple short research projects that answer specific questions and cite multiple sources, while gathering additional questions for later research.
• Uses both print and digital resources to conduct research, focusing on using appropriate search terms and reliable sources.
• Uses quotes and a standard format for citation.
• Uses research to analyze and make inferences.

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How Do I Write an Essay?: Understanding Parts of an Essay

Students explore how to write an essay. They discuss the parts of the essay and how the essay is organized. Students discuss various examples of essays. Students play the Essay Matching game and they organize and compose their own 5 paragraph essay.

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End of unit 2 assessment, part 2: revising the informative essay, revision checklist for the accordion essay, understanding paragraph basics, zach’s lie: multi-genre writing assignment, creative writing workshop, organizing by writing, parts of speech pronouns: building blocks of grammar, teaching writing: is there a right way, warm up with winter writing, writing and presenting a fable using research.

EL Education Curriculum

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• ELA 2019 G8:M1:U3:L6

Painted Essay®: Analyze a Model

In this lesson, daily learning targets, ongoing assessment.

• Technology and Multimedia

Supporting English Language Learners

Materials from previous lessons, new materials, closing & assessments, you are here:.

• ELA 2019 Grade 8
• ELA 2019 G8:M1
• ELA 2019 G8:M1:U3

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Focus Standards:  These are the standards the instruction addresses.

• RL.8.9, RI.8.1, W.8.2

Supporting Standards:  These are the standards that are incidental—no direct instruction in this lesson, but practice of these standards occurs as a result of addressing the focus standards.

• RL.8.1, RL.8.2, RL.8.3, RI.8.3, RI.8.5, W.8.4, W.8.6, W.8.10, SL.8.1, L.8.6
• I can analyze a Painted Essay® model to generate criteria of an effective compare and contrast essay. (RI.8.1, W.8.2)
• I can analyze a model essay to determine criteria for my essay on a modernized monster. (RI.8.1, W.8.2)
• Opening A: Entrance Ticket (RL.8.4, L.8.4a)
• Work Time A and Closing and Assessment A: Painted Essay® template (RL.8.1, W.8.2, W.8.4, W.8.9a)
• Work Time B and Work Time C: Informative Writing Checklist (RI.8.1, W.8.2)
• Prepare Entrance Ticket: Unit 3, Lesson 6.
• Familiarize yourself with the color-coding and the purpose of each choice of color in the Painted Essay®.
• Ensure there is a copy of Unit 3, Lesson 6 Entrance Ticket at each student’s workspace.
• Post the learning targets and applicable anchor charts (see Materials list).

Tech and Multimedia

• Work Time A: Project a digital version of the model essay to display and color-code.  
• Closing and Assessment A: Complete the modeling for Painted Essay® template graphic organizer with the class in a word-processing document such as a Google Doc.

Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards 8.I.B.6, 8.I.B.7, 8.I.B.8, 8.IC.10, 8.I.C.11, and 8.I.C.12.

Important Points in the Lesson Itself

• To support ELLs, this lesson introduces the Painted Essay®, a practice of using color-coding to highlight structural elements of an essay to help students to understand the purpose of each part, appropriate content within each part, and how the different parts connect. The Painted Essay® is introduced using a familiar text: Model Essay: “Peuchen,” which students first encountered on the mid-unit assessment in Lesson 2. While this reading was used on the assessment as an informational text to assess students’ proficiency in finding main ideas and key details and writing summaries on the assessment, the reading is repurposed in this lesson as a model compare and contrast essay. The essay will be used a tool for analysis throughout the unit to help guide students in their preparation for writing a compare and contrast essay on the end of unit assessment.  
• ELLs may find it challenging to understand the Painted Essay® concept if they have not been introduced to it in earlier grades. Expect a potential gap in knowledge of, and experience with, the Painted Essay® among students, depending on their previous exposure. Activate students' prior knowledge of the Painted Essay® (or essay writing, in general) through a quick, general discussion of purpose and approach before moving into more detailed analysis.  
• generate, model (A)
• Painted Essay(r) (DS)

(A): Academic Vocabulary

(DS): Domain-Specific Vocabulary

• Academic word wall (one for display; from Unit 1, Lesson 1, Opening A)
• Domain-specific word wall (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Work Time B)
• Close Readers Do These Things anchor chart (one for display; from Unit 1, Lesson 4, Opening B)
• Chart paper of Spanish words (one for display; from Unit 1, Lesson 2, Work Time A)
• Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Work Time D)
• Compare and Contrast La Llorona note-catcher (for teacher reference; from Unit 3, Lesson 4, Work Time B)
• Work to Become Effective Learners anchor chart (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 2, Lessons 4-5, Work Time D)
• Equity sticks
• Vocabulary logs (one per student; from Unit 1, Lesson 2, Opening A)
• Online or print dictionaries (including ELL and home language dictionaries)
• Entrance Ticket: Unit 3, Lesson 6 (answers for teacher reference)
• Paint an Essay lesson plan (for teacher reference)
• Painted Essay(r) Model: "Peuchen" (example for teacher reference)
• Compare and Contrast Painted Essay(r) anchor chart (for teacher reference)
• Compare and Contrast Painted Essay(r) anchor chart (one for display; to be created during Work Time A)
• Informative Writing checklist (example for teacher reference)
• Entrance Ticket: Unit 3, Lesson 6 (one per student)
• Sticky notes
• Colored pencils (red, yellow, blue, green; one of each per student)
• Model Essay: “Peuchen” (one per student)
• Painted Essay® template (one per student)
• Informative Writing checklist (one per student and one for display)
• Informative Writing checklist ▲
• Homework: Compare and Contrast Character Depictions (one per student; from Homework Resources)

Each unit in the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum has two standards-based assessments built in, one mid-unit assessment and one end of unit assessment. The module concludes with a performance task at the end of Unit 3 to synthesize students' understanding of what they accomplished through supported, standards-based writing.

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8th Grade Essays

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Parts of an Argument Essay

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• 1. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt A claim should always have rebuttal counterclaim  reasons
• 2. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt A claim is needed to even have an argument? True False
• 3. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Where is the claim located in an argument essay? The claim is the last sentence in the first body paragraph. The claim is the first sentence in the first body paragraph. The claim is the first sentence in the introduction. The claim is the last sentence in the introduction.
• 4. Multiple Choice Edit 5 minutes 1 pt Parents should not be fined when their children bully because it is difficult to enforce. No matter how well a parent communicates an anti-bullying sentiment at home, they are not with their children at school and can not control their actions. People think the fine will stop the thirteen million bullying cases a year. However, a majority of bullying never gets reported so nothing would actually happen to those children and their parents. Which sentence is the counterclaim? However, a majority of bullying never gets reported so nothing would actually happen to those children and their parents. Parents should not be fined when their children bully because it is difficult to enforce. No matter how well a parent communicates an anti-bullying sentiment at home, they are not with their children at school and can not control their actions. People think the fine will stop the thirteen million bullying cases a year.
• 5. Multiple Choice Edit 15 minutes 1 pt Towns should not ban the sale of disposable water bottles because it adds to a healthier lifestyle. According to the International Bottled Water Association, 63% of people polled would choose a drink with sugar if bottled water wasn’t available. Americans consume 1 billion bottles of beverages a day; only a small portion of those are bottled water.  Environmentalists, though, feel that the almost 200 million disposable bottles in landfills is a good reason to ban them. Which sentence is the counterclaim? Environmentalists, though, feel that the almost 200 million disposable bottles in landfills is a good reason to ban them. bottles of beverages a day; Towns should not ban the sale of disposable water bottles because it adds to a healthier lifestyle. Only a small portion of those are bottled water. According to the International Bottled Water Association, 63% of people polled would choose a drink with sugar if bottled water wasn’t available.
• 6. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is counterclaim? proves the counterclaim (opposite/opposing viewpoint) is false  opposite/opposing viewpoint of your claim or the writer’s claim a writer’s position on a problem or an issue
• 7. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is argument writing? a story told as a series of events, with characters, settings, and themes a presentation of ideas by informing and explaining a disagreement, trying to convince on a topic with opposing views a restatement of a text to clarify meanings
• 8. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is an introduction? the last paragraph of an essay the first sentence of a paragraph the first paragraph of an essay the last sentence of a paragraph
• 9. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is a hook? a word of phrase to link ideas together smoothly the first paragraph of an essay the statement of title, author, and genre in an RTL a sentence to catch the readers attention
• 10. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is the body? the middle paragraphs of an essay the first paragraph of an essay the middle sentences of a paragraph the last sentences of an essay
• 11. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is a conclusion? the last sentence of a paragraph the last paragraph of an essay the first sentence of an essay the first paragraph of an argument
• 12. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is evidence?  Facts that support the original claim  Opinions that support the original claim  Unverified statements that don't support a claim  Author's choice of words that creates discussion
• 13. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt What is another word for counterargument? Argument Counterclaim Rebuttal Evidence
• 14. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which of the following is not one of the basic parts of an argument or claim? Claim Rebuttal Counterargument Discussion
• 15. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Fill in the blank A counterargument expresses the _________________  point of view from the claim. Same Opposite
• 16. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt Concluding statements do all of the following except End the essay.  Restate the claim.  Make a new claim.  Summarize the main points. 
• 18. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt The Rebuttal is when ___________ when the writer points out the weaknesses The denial of the writers claim The author states his/her opinion/statement  IDK😠
• 19. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt A sad song playing during a commercial about abused animals is a use of pathos ethos logos
• 20. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt A dentist recommending you use this brand of toothpaste is  logos ethos pathos
• 21. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Saying that Cheerios lowers cholesterol is a use of  logos ethos pathos

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Understanding Dante’s Circles of Hell in “The Divine Comedy”

This essay is about Dante Alighieri’s depiction of the nine circles of Hell in “The Divine Comedy.” It describes how each circle represents different sins and their corresponding punishments, illustrating the concept of divine justice. The first circle, Limbo, holds virtuous non-Christians, while subsequent circles progressively punish more severe sins such as lust, gluttony, and heresy. The seventh circle punishes violence, the eighth deals with fraud, and the ninth, Cocytus, is reserved for traitors. Through vivid imagery and symbolic punishments, Dante explores human morality and the consequences of sin, reflecting medieval Christian beliefs and offering timeless insights into the human condition.

How it works

Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy” is a cornerstone of literary history, offering a vivid portrayal of the afterlife through its three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The most intriguing and widely discussed section is the Inferno, where Dante describes the nine circles of Hell. These circles, each representing different sins and corresponding punishments, form a complex and intricate vision of divine justice. Understanding these circles provides insight not only into medieval Christian theology but also into human nature and morality.

Dante’s Hell is structured as a funnel descending in nine concentric circles, each progressively worse and housing souls guilty of increasingly severe sins. The first circle, Limbo, is for virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized infants. Though they are not tormented by physical suffering, they endure an eternity of longing for divine grace they can never attain. This circle sets the stage for the rest of Hell, emphasizing the importance of faith and divine grace in Dante’s worldview.

The second circle marks the beginning of active punishments. It is reserved for the lustful, who are blown about by a violent storm without rest. This eternal whirlwind symbolizes the power of carnal desires to disrupt lives and relationships. Famous historical lovers like Cleopatra and Helen of Troy reside here, illustrating the universal and timeless nature of such sins. Dante’s use of contrapasso, the concept of sinners suffering in a manner befitting their sins, becomes evident and is a recurring theme throughout the Inferno.

In the third circle, the gluttonous are punished by being forced to lie in a vile slush produced by ceaseless, foul rain. This reflects their overindulgence and lack of self-control in life, now manifesting as an unbearable, degrading condition in death. The fourth circle deals with the avaricious and the prodigal, who push heavy weights in a perpetual struggle, symbolizing their futile and excessive pursuit of wealth.

The fifth circle, the River Styx, is home to the wrathful and the sullen. The wrathful fight each other on the surface, while the sullen lie beneath the water, choking on their own resentment. This vivid imagery captures the destructive nature of anger and sullenness, highlighting how these emotions can consume individuals. Dante’s detailed descriptions of these punishments serve not only as a moral warning but also as a reflection on the human condition.

The sixth circle introduces the heretics, who are entombed in flaming graves. This punishment underscores the gravity of straying from accepted religious doctrines in Dante’s time, emphasizing the perceived dangers of heretical beliefs. As Dante and his guide Virgil progress deeper, they encounter the seventh circle, divided into three rings, where the violent are punished. Those who were violent against others are immersed in a river of boiling blood, while those who committed suicide are transformed into gnarled trees, tormented by harpies. Those violent against God, nature, or art suffer in a desert of flaming sand. Each punishment uniquely fits the crime, reinforcing the principle of divine justice.

The eighth circle, Malebolge, is reserved for fraudsters. It consists of ten bolgias, or ditches, each housing different types of fraudulent souls, from seducers to false prophets. Here, the punishments are particularly varied and severe, reflecting the complex and malicious nature of their sins. For instance, flatterers are steeped in excrement, symbolizing the worthlessness of their deceitful words.

Finally, the ninth circle, Cocytus, is the frozen lake at the center of Hell, reserved for traitors. Here, the punishment is extreme, with the most treacherous sinners encased in ice. Betrayal, considered the worst sin by Dante, earns the harshest punishment. Lucifer himself resides here, eternally chewing on the greatest traitors: Judas Iscariot, Brutus, and Cassius.

Dante’s depiction of the circles of Hell is not just a theological map but a profound exploration of human morality and justice. Each circle serves as a reflection of the sins committed in life, with punishments that are poetic in their appropriateness. This intricate structure highlights the medieval belief in a divinely ordered universe where every action has consequences. It also offers timeless insights into the human psyche, making “The Divine Comedy” a lasting masterpiece in both literary and philosophical realms.

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"Understanding Dante's Circles of Hell in "The Divine Comedy"." PapersOwl.com, Jun 01, 2024. Accessed June 1, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-dantes-circles-of-hell-in-the-divine-comedy/

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Understanding Dante's Circles of Hell in "The Divine Comedy" . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/understanding-dantes-circles-of-hell-in-the-divine-comedy/ [Accessed: 1-Jun-2024]

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