Re: Departmental exam(sample essay)

Check to ensure that the following sample essay has all the following elements of the Three Paragraph Essay.

Your essay must have at least three paragraphs, each of which should have between five and eight sentences.

1.     The Introduction

a)     Identify the novel.

b)    Make a link between the novel and the question being asked.

c)     Thesis statement (What your essay will be about.

d)    Respond to part A of the question with at least three supporting points.

2.     The Second Paragraph

      a)  Topic Sentence 

      b)  Respond to Part B of the question with at least three supporting points.

3.     The Conclusion/ The Third Paragraph

     a) Topic Sentence

     b)  Respond to Part C of the question with at least three supporting points.

               c)  Restatement of Thesis

“In times of difficulty, we are frequently forced to rely on the help of strangers, who sometimes become family.” Based on The Silver Sword:

a)     Describe the difficult situation that the Balicki children face. (6 marks)

b)    Identify and explain how three characters (except Jan) have helped the children. (9 marks)

     c)     Explain Jan the role Jan plays in the novel and how he becomes a part of the family. (10 marks)   

In times of hardship, we are frequently forced to rely on the help of strangers, who sometimes become family. In many ways, The Silver Sword, by Ian Serraillier, relates to this statement as the Balicki family face separation, homelessness and starvation. In the novel, the Balicki children, Bronia, Ruth and Edek, are forced to fend for themselves with the loss of their father, Joseph Balicki, and mother, Margrit Balicki. They had to steal from the Nazis, with the help of Jan to survive. They had to live in a bomb shell and were forced to live underground, because their home was destroyed by the Nazis. Now the Balicki children must now instill effort to find their parents in Switzerland.

During the Balicki children’s endeavour, they met up with many kind people. The most outstanding were the two Wolff (husband and wife)and the Russian lieutenant, Ivan. The first helper that the young Balickis met was Ivan. They met him in Warsaw after the Russians had taken over. He provided food, shoes and other things to keep them occupied. Ruth, Bronia and Edek met the Wolffs when sleeping in Mr. Wollff’s barn. He and his wife provided food, clothes, work and shelter, and even helped them to escape the Burgomaster. Another person who helped the Balickis tremendously is the soup kitchen chef who helped the Balickis when a large fight had occurred, by helping to return everything to order and replenish Jan’s soup.

The person who helped the children the most was Jan. he was a young orphan. He played an important role in the story. He helped them in many ways; he assisted them in finding their parents, he stole food for them and helped them to find shelter. Jan was also the one who guided them through the storm.  He became a part of the family because of how close he was to the children, and because of his helpfulness. Even though Jan was jealous of Edek, edek accepted him into the family as he took good care of his sisters. Jan has proven that strangers can become our family too.

*this is a combination of several students' essays*