In Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, it can be argued that Amir, Baba, Rahim Kahn, Sanaubar, and Soria, achieve varying degrees of redemption for their past misdeeds.

Write a four-page thesis-driven analysis in which you examine one character’s path to redemption. Your paper must also draw from your analysis to arrive at a conclusion about the completeness of that character’s path to redemption. Your essay should integrate Alex Lickerman’s “What does it mean to be Redeemed.”

It will be very important that you prepare for the essay ahead of time by developing your thesis statement and outlining your introduction, body paragraphs as well as your conclusion.

Paper Requirements:

1. Your paper must adhere to the conventions of MLA.
2. Your paper must have a title that suggests the meaning of your essay.
3. Your paper must have an introduction that introduces your essay’s topic, a three-paragraph body, and a conclusion.
4. Your paper’s thesis must be underlined.
5. Your essay’s body paragraphs must use a minimum of six in-text MLA citations with signal phrases.
6. Your essay may not use block quotations.
7. Your essay’s body paragraphs must use topic sentences, elaborations, transitions, concrete details, commentary, and paragraph-conclusions.
8. Must be 4-6 pages

The Kite Runner Final Exam Rubric

Example:

1. Write your essay’s title

Redemption in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner

1. Begin your introduction by restating the prompt as a claim

“Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is a work that exhibits strong themes of redemption. Write a five-page thesis-driven literary analysis that illuminates the novel’s arguments about redemption through an examination of four characters’ individual paths to redemption. Your paper must also draw from your analysis to arrive at a conclusion about the importance and/or value of the work. This will be the new idea for your essay’s conclusion.”

Revise the prompt such that it indicates your analytical approach:

Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is a work that exhibits strong themes of redemption. This literary analysis will identify the novel’s generic characterization model and attempt to illuminate the implicit arguments about redemption by examining four characters’ unique paths to redemption. The analysis will also arrive at a conclusion about the cultural significance of the work.

1. Describe the novel’s redemption model

Begin by asking yourself the following question. What literary element is used to convey theme? Analysis reveals a common redemptive path that characters take in the novel.

The writing challenge here is to describe the features of the model (graphic) in narrative form.

1. Write your essay’s thesis

The next step is to complete your introduction by writing your essay’s thesis, which you will underline.

Example thesis: Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner uses characterization to argue that although character flaws may lead us to commit terrible personal and social transgressions, redemption remains possible if we resolve to put the needs of others above our own. In this way redemption allows individuals to fulfill a higher purpose and live better lives.

1. Body paragraph 1 (Amir)

The most important thing to bear in mind when writing your body paragraphs is not to fall into the trap of re-telling the story. In order to achieve this, you must craft paragraphs that achieves two things. First you must make a genuine claim about a character’s particular path to redemption using evaluation words (argumentation at the level of the story). Second you must make a claim about what that path reveals about redemption in general (argumentation at the level of humanity).

Let’s consider Amir’s path for a moment. Two things strike me about Amir’s journey. The first is that through an act of cowardice he avoided not only a dangerous confrontation, but he also missed out on an identity-defining opportunity to grow. The repercussions were terrible. Punished by his own guilt, he became an insomniac. His relationship with Hassan and Ali was irreparably harmed. His relationship with Baba also suffered. His inability to come to peace with his past also limited his ability to be intimate with Soraya.

Amir’s path to redemption was so labyrinthine and destructive because he consciously avoided setting out on that path for so many years.

That is a claim you could make in your topic sentence. In the rest of the paragraph you can use the figure below to frame your argument using the tools you have learned in the course: embellishments, transitions, concrete details, commentary and so on.

Your mini-conclusion will be your opportunity to make a claim about redemption at the level of humanity.

Begin with your claim:

Amir’s path to redemption was so labyrinthine and destructive because he consciously avoided setting out on that path for so many years.

Now take it to the level of humanity (theme):

Amir’s path to redemption illustrates the importance of dealing with our transgressions before they wreak havoc in our lives. Amir’s path to redemption also illustrates that sin is tantamount to bondage. Reconciliation with our pasts frees us.

1. Body Paragraph 2 (Baba)
2. Body Paragraph 3 (Rahim Kahn)
3. Body Paragraph 4 (Sanabaur)

1. Write your essay’s conclusion
2. Write Your essay’s Works Cited section

Publication Information

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead, 2003. Print.