I've been teaching high school for 14 years. I have a degree in English education and a Master's in educational technology. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters who are my best friends. I have 2 dogs, a lack lab named Nala (from the Lion King) and a pit bull named Taz (yep--named after the Tazmanian devil from the Warner Brothers cartoons). I have lived and worked in this area my whole life and I love teaching here at LM!
You will be able to choose your own final essay topic for Kite Runner. Begin a discussion here of what you think might make an interesting area to explore and write about...
Maybe we could all build kites, and have an actual kite fight during class. that would incorperate hands on building skills, teamwork, and friendly competition. We'd also get physical activity, so it would be more healthy than typing on a computer
I like Stephen's suggestion, but more realistically I think a good essay topic would be about how Amir's flaws make for a better character because he grows and changes.
I think it'd be interesting write an essay comparing Amir's choices as a child to the choices he makes as an adult. Basically tracking how he has grown and changed.
I like Kelly's idea for an essay. The whole entire book we were shown through indirect characterization that Baba was such a fair, just, great person and yet it wasn't until near the end that you find out the he had skeletons in his closet as well. I think an essay comparing Baba to Amir or defending who made the bigger mistakes something along those lines would be good.
I think, if we decide to have an essay, that the essay should be about why or why not Amir will heal from the trauma he experianced during his childhood. Or another idea could be defending an opinion about why or why not Amir is a coward.
I think that if we decide to have an essay, its should feature some sort of a comparison between Baba and Amir. They have both led similar lives in that they both made terrible mistakes that they both regretted and tried to compensate for.
i think an essay looking into how the characters that the author used were built to show an optimum picture of Afghanistan, or mabe the picture of Afghanistan the author wanted us to see.
Some ideas are 1) How Amir's childhood effects Amir's adulthood. 2) What you would do in the situation with Hassan being attacked. 3) If it doesn't have to be persuasive, a history of the Hazaras. 4) A creative writing piece, as a prologue, or epilogue, that creatively works with the outcome of the book. 5) A book of poetry (if its quality poetry) P.S- I think a creative writing piece would be awesome. It's new (because we always do persuasive) and I already have like 30+ ideas for it.
An essay about how children often look up to their parents as a role model and/or about how parents sometimes expect too much from their children. (How children can struggle trying to live up to their name or expectations)
I think an essay comparing Baba to Amir and how the have made similar chooses in their live. The entire book we were shown through indirect characterization that Baba was such a fair, just, great person and yet near the end that you find out the he had many skeletons in his closet.
or
a comparision to the way Amir and Hassan would react to certain events in life.
it's really hard to come up with an essay topic since i haven't finished the book yet, but as of right now i think an intresting topic would be... does amir really deserve the punishment that he is putting him self though? you could either take the pro or con side and i think it would a great topic to write about as of now.
First Stephen idea of a kite fight is a awesome idea.
This book has endless amounts of essay topics. A few good ones would be if Amir actions or lack of action in the alley is justified. Also who is the hero in the novel. Another good one would be that there are many similarities between Things Fall apart and Kite Runner. Explain them
i think because we have been learning about caste systems with mr. moeller a lot, and watching informational movies on Afghanistan, maybe an essay about the imposed segragation b/w amir and hassan just because of their castes, and whether or not that would have affected Amir's decision to frame Hassan.
We could look for symbolism and parralels within the story. For example, there is a parralel within the book when Assef beats Amir for what Hassan had said all those years ago, Sohrab makes good on Hassan's threat. There is also symbolism in characters like how Baba is a symbol of masculinity and mysoginism, and his death marks Amir's first contact with woman, who were missing from his life previously.
I think writing an essay about some of the major themes would be in the book. There are several themes that have been mentioned in previous posts, and I feel that writing any essay about a theme's importance in the novel would be a ideal essay.
I agree with Ben, this book is rich in themes and it would be easy to write an essay on them. Also, the examples in which the themes are shown can create much contreversy to write about, and if one theme is more important than another. This is shown in the alley scene where you have to question whether one's value of their father's acceptance is more important to them than the regret they'll later have.
I think that a good idea would be to write about how Amir's view on life would be altered if he had a mother, or how Baba's actions changed Amir's actions.
I think exploring how Amir spends time with and plays with Hassan but will never consider him as friend since he is a Hazara. Also exploring Assef and his idea about how all Hazara's should be rid off. Basically just exploring the discrimination of the Hazaras in Kite Runner.
I like bryce's idea. Also i think a good topic would be, how Amir's life would be different if he had done something that day in the ally, instead of just standing there.
I think we should have a choice of either irony in Kite Runner, the relationship between Baba and Amir, or the choices Amir made and how they changed his life.
I believe an interesting topic to write an essay about would be paralleling the relationship of Baba to Ali, and Amir to Hassan. Showing similarities of their upbringings, attitudes towards eachother, and possibly, their jobs/loyalty to their masters.
I think the essay should be about Afghanistan and the bonds that each of the characters share about Afghanistan. Included should be why certain characters chose to stay, and why certain characters went to America. How does America compare to Afghanistan?
I love stephen's idea of making a kite and such but like connie said, on a more realistic note i think it would be cool to compare Hassan and Baba. Or Sivahn's idea: Hassans devotion to Amir.
I would write an essay similar to the hero essay of Things Fall Apart. Does Amir deserve the protaganist role. Do the ends justify the means? (Amir going to such great lengths to do one last thing for Hassan)
I think that most of the essays we have written this year have lacked an opportunity for us to reflect or connect with the the characters in the novel on a more personal level. Although most of us probably can not connect with Amirs major regret on the same level, I think it would be intresting to write about a regret or decision we have made that has in some way effected the course of out lives thus far. Sure it might not be as huge as watching your best friend get raped, but if we dig deep enough im sure we could all find a way to connect with Amir on some level even if it is something little.
I think a good essay topic would be how everyone wants to gain the respect and acceptance of their mentors/elders, such as Amir wanting the respect of Baba
66 comments:
Maybe an essay comparing Amir's devotion to Baba and Hassans devotion to Amir
What's the due date for choosing a topic?
Maybe we could all build kites, and have an actual kite fight during class. that would incorperate hands on building skills, teamwork, and friendly competition. We'd also get physical activity, so it would be more healthy than typing on a computer
I like Stephen's suggestion, but more realistically I think a good essay topic would be about how Amir's flaws make for a better character because he grows and changes.
I think an essay on how baba alters amir's decisions might be good
I know we've talked a lot about the irony in this novel, but that could make a good essay too
Maybe an essay about how Amir's views change, why they changed, how they changed with examples.
I think the essay topic should be concerning how the book shows religious differences cause contraversey.
I think it'd be interesting write an essay comparing Amir's choices as a child to the choices he makes as an adult. Basically tracking how he has grown and changed.
you could also do differences in ethnic groups or social class
and just to put it out there, Kite Runner seems like much more of an epic than TFA. I guess you could use that.
I second ritt's idea. I think it would be intresting to compare Amir's choices as a young boy to his choices now as a more matured man.
I think that we can write a essay about Irony or comparing characters
Who has the worst sins?
Baba
or
Amir
And who's penance was best?
Baba w/ his equal love....or
Amir and his physical...suffering
I vote nay for the essay but if we have to then it should be something about Amir's mistake that day as a kid
I like your essay Ritt, like tracking how hes grown up. How his decision have become more logical.
An essay topic could be about father-son relationships.
I agree with the witte but i think an essay exploring the theme of friendship and why Amir does the things he does to Hassan.
An essay on how family ties and even unknown family ties can affect us deeply.
I like Kelly's idea for an essay. The whole entire book we were shown through indirect characterization that Baba was such a fair, just, great person and yet it wasn't until near the end that you find out the he had skeletons in his closet as well. I think an essay comparing Baba to Amir or defending who made the bigger mistakes something along those lines would be good.
I think that we could maybe write an alternate ending to the story...? just a thought
Im with peter, but if we must have one, lets compare and contrast Amir with Baba and Hassan with Ali. Maybe acutaloy thats really boring. mhm
I think a good essay topic would be comparing two members of two different social classes, such as Amir and Hassan.
I think, if we decide to have an essay, that the essay should be about why or why not Amir will heal from the trauma he experianced during his childhood. Or another idea could be defending an opinion about why or why not Amir is a coward.
I think that if we decide to have an essay, its should feature some sort of a comparison between Baba and Amir. They have both led similar lives in that they both made terrible mistakes that they both regretted and tried to compensate for.
i think an essay looking into how the characters that the author used were built to show an optimum picture of Afghanistan, or mabe the picture of Afghanistan the author wanted us to see.
Maybe an essay comparing how Hassan and Amir react to difficult situations.
Some ideas are 1) How Amir's childhood effects Amir's adulthood. 2) What you would do in the situation with Hassan being attacked. 3) If it doesn't have to be persuasive, a history of the Hazaras. 4) A creative writing piece, as a prologue, or epilogue, that creatively works with the outcome of the book. 5) A book of poetry (if its quality poetry)
P.S- I think a creative writing piece would be awesome. It's new (because we always do persuasive) and I already have like 30+ ideas for it.
An essay about how children often look up to their parents as a role model and/or about how parents sometimes expect too much from their children. (How children can struggle trying to live up to their name or expectations)
I think an essay comparing Baba to Amir and how the have made similar chooses in their live. The entire book we were shown through indirect characterization that Baba was such a fair, just, great person and yet near the end that you find out the he had many skeletons in his closet.
or
a comparision to the way Amir and Hassan would react to certain events in life.
it's really hard to come up with an essay topic since i haven't finished the book yet, but as of right now i think an intresting topic would be... does amir really deserve the punishment that he is putting him self though? you could either take the pro or con side and i think it would a great topic to write about as of now.
First Stephen idea of a kite fight is a awesome idea.
This book has endless amounts of essay topics. A few good ones would be if Amir actions or lack of action in the alley is justified. Also who is the hero in the novel. Another good one would be that there are many similarities between Things Fall apart and Kite Runner. Explain them
we should do a story...like an alternate ending to the story if Hassan hadn't died or if Amir had told someone about what happened.
i think because we have been learning about caste systems with mr. moeller a lot, and watching informational movies on Afghanistan, maybe an essay about the imposed segragation b/w amir and hassan just because of their castes, and whether or not that would have affected Amir's decision to frame Hassan.
We could look for symbolism and parralels within the story. For example, there is a parralel within the book when Assef beats Amir for what Hassan had said all those years ago, Sohrab makes good on Hassan's threat. There is also symbolism in characters like how Baba is a symbol of masculinity and mysoginism, and his death marks Amir's first contact with woman, who were missing from his life previously.
I think it should be some form of creative writing, like, the story told from Sohrab's point of veiw.
On a more realistic note than the kite fight, I think an essay on how the author's past compares with the characters in the story
I think a good essay topic could explore Amirs relationship with Baba and compare it to Rahim Khan
I think writing an essay about some of the major themes would be in the book. There are several themes that have been mentioned in previous posts, and I feel that writing any essay about a theme's importance in the novel would be a ideal essay.
I agree with Ben, this book is rich in themes and it would be easy to write an essay on them. Also, the examples in which the themes are shown can create much contreversy to write about, and if one theme is more important than another. This is shown in the alley scene where you have to question whether one's value of their father's acceptance is more important to them than the regret they'll later have.
I think an interesting essay topic would be to compare Baba to Okonkwo and Amir to Nwoye.
I think that a good idea would be to write about how Amir's view on life would be altered if he had a mother, or how Baba's actions changed Amir's actions.
I also agree with Jonah, I think taht would be a great topic
I think exploring how Amir spends time with and plays with Hassan but will never consider him as friend since he is a Hazara. Also exploring Assef and his idea about how all Hazara's should be rid off. Basically just exploring the discrimination of the Hazaras in Kite Runner.
In additon to my idea I think Jonah's topic would be very interesting.
I think a good topic would be how testing loyalty to oneself and others is the most prevalent theme in the story.
How child’s devotion to be loved by their parent shaped what kind of person they are today. Such as Amir’s devotion to be loved by Baba
Possibly how could Amir have changed his life when Hassan was attacked, and what difference it would have made later in life
I think a good essay might be about how choices and decisions affect you later in life.
I like bryce's idea. Also i think a good topic would be, how Amir's life would be different if he had done something that day in the ally, instead of just standing there.
I think we should have a choice of either irony in Kite Runner, the relationship between Baba and Amir, or the choices Amir made and how they changed his life.
I believe an interesting topic to write an essay about would be paralleling the relationship of Baba to Ali, and Amir to Hassan. Showing similarities of their upbringings, attitudes towards eachother, and possibly, their jobs/loyalty to their masters.
I think that we should do an essay asking who was the character in the book that most influenced Amir's life and why.
I think the essay should be about Afghanistan and the bonds that each of the characters share about Afghanistan. Included should be why certain characters chose to stay, and why certain characters went to America. How does America compare to Afghanistan?
One could compare the differences in Amir's thoughts and actions before he finds out about his relationship with Hassan and after.
I love stephen's idea of making a kite and such but like connie said, on a more realistic note i think it would be cool to compare Hassan and Baba. Or Sivahn's idea: Hassans devotion to Amir.
A good essay topic could be about the relationships Amir has with the other characters.
I would write an essay similar to the hero essay of Things Fall Apart. Does Amir deserve the protaganist role. Do the ends justify the means? (Amir going to such great lengths to do one last thing for Hassan)
I think that most of the essays we have written this year have lacked an opportunity for us to reflect or connect with the the characters in the novel on a more personal level. Although most of us probably can not connect with Amirs major regret on the same level, I think it would be intresting to write about a regret or decision we have made that has in some way effected the course of out lives thus far. Sure it might not be as huge as watching your best friend get raped, but if we dig deep enough im sure we could all find a way to connect with Amir on some level even if it is something little.
I think a good essay topic would be how everyone wants to gain the respect and acceptance of their mentors/elders, such as Amir wanting the respect of Baba
We should do an essay on Amir's cowardness.
i think a good essay topic could be something about regret for mistakes we have made and if there is truly a way to repent and get rid of your guilt
I think our essay should be about how Amir's life would have been different had he done something to help hassen.
People should read this.
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