Introduction, at least three body paragraphs

In Ancient Greece the traditional hero was an individual who accomplished great deeds. Achilles' love of battle and glory make him the epitome of the traditional heroic code. He makes the most of his life and would rather fight and die an early, glorious death, than retreat and live longer. However, after Athens’ defeat and loss of empire a new heroic ideal emerges. The new hero is an individual willing to live by and, if necessary, die for his or her principles. The new hero is an individual of conscience whose deeds are secondary to the commitment to his/her beliefs.

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  In what ways are Antigone and Socrates not viewed as heroic in the new sense of the word? For Antigone, consider the critiques of the chorus, Creon, and Ismene and for Socrates, consider the critiques of the Athenian assembly and Crito.
  
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  How do Antigone and Socrates defend and justify their decisions and actions as heroic, in other words as obeying and honoring their principles?
  
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  After evaluating the criticisms against Antigone and Socrates and their defense, do you believe Antigone and Socrates are heroes in the new sense of the word? Consider their legacies in answering this question. Did their deaths ultimately serve a greater good?
  

You will write a detailed outline in preparation for writing the first draft of your essay in class on Wednesday November 5. Your outline will be due Monday November 3. You will receive comments and a grade on what you complete in the time given in class (90 minutes), and will be required to revise your essay for a final grade. Your revised final essay should be 3-4 pages, typed, double-spaced and in 12 point Times New Roman Font.

1. 
   Introduction: Your introduction provides your reader with the context of your argument. Think of it as a map of the essay for the reader to use as a key to understanding your argument. Like a map, it tells your reader what to look for and shares the direction the essay will take as it develops. It It leads your reader through the ideas you will explore and ends with a thesis statement that pulls together those ideas into a coherent “theory” or argument that you will prove in your essay. Your intro should not have any plot summary. In other words, do not recount the events of the play in your intro.
   

II. Topic Sentences: Your topic sentences help develop your thesis. Think of them as entry points into your discussion. They help to frame your body paragraphs with the main idea that you will explore in that paragraph. Topic sentences should not repeat plot points from the text.

When quoting from Antigone, place the author’s name and the line numbers in parentheses at the end your sentence (see above for examples). When quoting from the Crito makes sure to write (Plato, 1). or (Plato, 2). at the end of a sentence in which you quote. In addition, when quoting from Cartoon History of the World or The Greeks, place the title of the work in italics in parentheses at the end of your sentence. For example: Socrates led Athens to become a “haven of discussion and inquiry” (The Greeks).

4. 
   Process Piece for final essay: Write a one-page (at least two paragraphs) process piece in which you reflect on your experience both reading/viewing the texts (Antigone, Crito, The Greeks) and writing this essay. Reflect on your growth as both a reader and writer, then describe the process you went through to write this essay. What did you enjoy about the texts/not enjoy? What are you most proud of about your essay? With what are you struggling? What do you think about the argument you made? Is it convincing? What did you learn about Antigone and Socrates as you wrote this essay? What did you learn about essay writing? What do you want to work on for the next essay?