A rite of passage is an event in a person's life that symbolizes his or her moving to the next, more advanced stage of life. Identify a moment from -your own life that compares to Jerry's rite of passage, his desire to pass through the-tunnel.
Write a 5 paragraph, 500 word essay in which you describe and narrate the events of your own rite of passage. As you narrate the events of your story, be sure to explain why the events you describe were so important in your life.
As you assemble your essay, remember to:
--use as much concrete, descriptive detail as you can
--employ and underline one instance of simile, metaphor and personification
--for each paragraph in the body of your essay, construct at least one compound sentence with a semicolon
Please complete the following outline before writing your essay:
Outline
Suggested Structure & Organization
I. Exordium & Integrated Thesis Statement:
II. Integrated Topic Sentence:
A. Supporting Evidence:
1. Explanation
& Elaboration:
2. Explanation
& Elaboration:
B. Supporting Evidence:
1. Explanation
& Elaboration:
2. Explanation
& Elaboration:
III. Integrated Topic Sentence:
A. Supporting Evidence:
1. Explanation
& Elaboration:
2. Explanation
& Elaboration:
B. Supporting Evidence:
1. Explanation
& Elaboration:
2. Explanation
& Elaboration:
IV. Integrated Topic Sentence:
A. Supporting Evidence:
1. Explanation
& Elaboration:
2. Explanation
& Elaboration:
B. Supporting Evidence:
1. Explanation
& Elaboration:
2. Explanation
& Elaboration:
V. Conclusion:
Example Essay
By Teal Schultz
A passage into adolescence or adulthood is acquired by accomplishing a challenge or feat. I had a challenge to face as a young teen that made me make a decision that would chose the fate of another. I made the decision of life over death. This is referred to as a rite of passage. I claim this incident my rite of passage.
I awoke in the mid-morning to two illuminated figures. I realized that after sweeping my sleepy eyes that these figures were my parents. They held an indifferent look in their eyes as they casually stared at me. I felt slightly confused. Never had I awoken to two figures in my room. I had no clue what they wanted or even if I did something wrong. Not even the bright sunlight could reflect a feeling of happiness. After a long moment of silence, my mother spoke to me. " We are ready to go," she said with a hint of despair in her voice. I knew then exactly what she meant. The morning before I had to make a decision that evoked a murderous type feeling within me. I made the decision to put my beloved pony to a never ending rest. He was old, but cancer had taken the best of him away, and he was in pain. I walked out to the big canary colored barn with a hopeful desire that would never be sated. I wanted him to be well. I wanted him to be himself again, happy, healthy, and alive. I walked into the barn and relished the smell of fresh baled alfalfa. Jack pricked his ears as I entered and gave me a faint nicker as he always did. I petted him for a while as I thought of all the good times we had together; there were so many of them. Then I kissed his nose softly as the prick of his whiskers tickled my nose, and I loaded him into the trailer that would take him for one last trip.
The drive was a short one, only an hour, but it seemed like all too long for me as we pulled up into a long black topped road that served as a driveway. Along the side of the road on the right stood concrete sign that I hope to never see again. It read: University of Madison Large Animal Clinic and below these words was a painted blood red arrow that pointed up the road. We easily parked in the large driveway sectioned off for outpatients. I unloaded Jack easily and we walked him into the large brick building with care. His ears immediately pricked up as they used to when we entered a big competition. I could feel the tears start to build up as I saw my pony react to the final place he would ever see. He was too happy, too excited: how could I do this to him? A veterinary student walked up to us soon after we had arrived and took down a few notes. Her pen wrote like that of a hummingbird's wings, quickly writing every letter as if it had no importance. Another student appeared and showed us the stall in which Jack would wait until he could be attended to. As we walked down the rows of stalls I noticed that they were padded. They reminded me of a mental hospital.
While we waited for another student to arrive, I repeatedly stroked the velvety soft hair of Jack's neck, ears, and forehead. I felt embellished by his presence. He made me whole. I watched as his eyes looked at me with that loving glow, and at that moment all I could think of were reasons why I should not let him pass. Tons of ideas and memories passed through my head, but then the final one came to me, the true one. He was suffering and in pain. The choice I had made was the right one. Soon after realizing this, a student strolled a metal cart down and abandoned it at Jack's stall. I walked over to peek at it. It held needles, gauze, syringes, and other surgical equipment that I had never seen before. It was so clean, spotless, as to show no remains of the unfortunate animal that it had last touched or poked. I reached down and picked up a syringe. I ran my fingers along the black markings of lines and numbers that would measure the dosage of the fatal liquid. It felt cold and a little balmy to my touch. The slim cylinder shape of the needle sent a chill up my spine. Then a group of students led by a teacher approached Jack's stall. They observed him with a watchful gaze as they read the report one of the students in attendance had written. One female student looked at me with a shadowed glance, almost accusing. She calmly walked over to my parents and whispered something to them.
When she finished, my parents looked over at me as I was stroking Jack's neck. My mother came up and said that it was time to go. Salty tears were already running down the slope of my cheeks. I was not leaving. I would not abandon him now. I argued with my mother very shortly, but she seemed to understand what I wanted. I gave Jack a final hug and kissed him softly on the velvet crescent of his nose. When my eyes opened I watched my tear run down his nose and his glowing eyes look at me once more with the love I so much wanted to stay with me. The doctor then came into the stall as I was leaving. He had filled the syringe with the colorless fluid that quietly put Jack into a never-ending dream. All my memories of us together started repeating over and over in my mind, as Jack still looked at me intent and happy. The doctor handed the student the syringe and she carefully introduced the needle to Jack's jugular vein and inserted the fluid as I started to walk away. I never lost that look of love that I last saw in Jack's eyes, and I never will.
A decision between life and death forced me into a change between childhood and adolescence. I hope that in my lifetime I will never have to face that decision again. This experience proved to me that I was strong and. I claim this experience as my rite of passage, a change that allowed my to evolve.