What is worth waiting and hoping for?

Wait, Hope
Unexpected twists keep the story of The Count of Monte Cristo intriguing. The novelist Alexandre Dumas’ imagery and dialogue allows us to envision the story as we read. In a final letter to Maximilien, Dantes writes, “Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget that, until the day God deigns to reveal the future to man, the sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words: Wait and hope” (531). These words come after much reflection on whether he can take the place of Providence and whether revenge is worth waiting and hoping for.
In this final research project, you will research some philosophical questions exploring the question of inquiry using a minimum of three sources:
What is worth waiting and hoping for?
Options are as follows:
Option 1 Focus on the apology of Albert Mondego, son of Fernand: In chapter 49 Albert challenges the Count to a duel, allowing the Count to choose the weapon (373), understanding its seriousness: “…either I will kill him or he will kill me” (361). Yet as tension builds, the morning of the dual as the seconds gather as umpires, Albert apologizes: “…you were right to avenge yourself on my father” (384). The apology brought astonishment: “The spectators …could not have been more astonished if a bolt of lightning had struck in their midst” (384). Discuss the power of an apology, research whether an apology can be genuinely effective or dangerous, and tie your response first to the value or danger of apologizing, to the concrete conversations in the novel, and then to personal experiences, a scene in a film, or a current event: Refer to “The Power of Apology” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200207/the-power-apology [otherwise find a different article on the topic] Make wait, hope relevant to what is worth waiting and hoping for such as in society or in solving a social issue. Include a counterargument for higher score.
Option 2 Focus on the theme of “sacrifice” in Edmond Dantes’ response to Albert’s duel. He promises Mercedes, “The duel will still take place, but, instead of your son’s blood, it will be my own that pours out on the ground” (378). The Count was “surprised at the calmness with which accepted his heroic sacrifice” (378). Discuss the value of sacrifice, research the law of sacrifice that an individual gives up something less to gain something more, and tie your response first to the novel and what Dantes was giving up and what he wanted in return, but also your personal experiences or a scene in a film or a current event. Refer to https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-law-of-sacrifice/ [otherwise you can find your own article on sacrifice] Tie to motivation behind sacrifice as it relates to your own experiences, a scene in a film such as Gran Torino performed by Clint Eastwood, or even to a current event. Make wait, hope relevant to today such as a debate in society or solving a social issue. Include a counterargument for higher points.
Option 3 Focusing on Alexandre Dumas’ writing style, exploring his family history, responding to the value of storytelling in the search for truth. When Edmond is talking with Maximilien and Emmanuel, he says, “The same thing happened to Brutus the night before the Battle of Philippi. I saw a ghost, And that ghost told me that I have lived long enough” (381). What makes this storyteller so powerful? Refer to the article “The Essential Role of Story Telling in the Search for Truth” taken from Scientific American https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-essential-role-of-storytelling-in-the-search-for-truth/Research the value of storytelling in seeking the truth, and tie your response first to concrete techniques Dumas uses in the novel, then to personal experiences, a scene in a film, or a current event. Make wait, hope relevant to today by responding to a debate in society or solving a social issue. Include a counterargument for higher points.
Option 4 Focus on Mercedes’ and Admond’s conversations making the distinction between I-Thou and I-It relationships, as discussed by Martin Buber. Refer to David Brooks’ article “Read Buber not the Polls!” Mercedes confronts Edmond with pathos: “Forgive, Edmond, forgive for the sake of Mercedes, who still loves you!” (377). The two either have a very genuine and vulnerable conversation or they are masking their true feelings and keeping a “truncated” version. As they part she cries out, “Don’t say that!…If I believed God had given me free will, What would remain to save me from utter despair?” (496) Discuss the value of in-depth conversations and meaningful discussions even when there is discord, research this distinction between objectification or dialogic conversation, and tie your response to the specific conversations they have in the novel, to personal experiences, a scene in a film or documentary, or even a current event. Make wait, hope relevant to today by responding to a relevant debate in society or as a solution to a social issue. Include a counterargument for higher points.
Option 5 Focus on Edmond Dantes, by looking at the question of whether an individual can take the place of Providence or karma. As he held Edouard’s lifeless body in his arms, the narrator emphasizes, “Monte Cristo paled at the horrible sight. He realized that he had gone beyond the limits of rightful vengeance and that he could no longer say, ‘God is for me and with me’” (485). This discussion is very different from the midterm because we are exploring whether Dantes “can” take the place of Providence or “karma.” Refer to Torah Musing: https://www.torahmusings.com/2016/01/providence-and-revenge/ Discuss the possibility that a man substitute himself for God or for Allah or for karma, research the topic, and tie your response first to the novel, and then to personal experiences, a scene in a film, or a current event. Make wait, hope relevant to today by responding to a debate in society or as a solution to a social issue. Include a counterargument for higher points.
Option 6 Focus on how suffering changes men by the change in Edmond Dantes. Does suffering change the nature of men for better or for worse? Explore what is worth waiting and hoping for in the novel by Dumas, such as the injustice he faced in prison or his need for disguising his identity while living in Paris, but also relate this philosophical question to today such as how the pandemic has affected us or how the protests are a response to injustice. Refer to the article https://www.newsbreak.com/news/1527775566128/coronavirus-is-exposing-americas-shameful-selfish-streak [otherwise choose a different article; Other articles are posted on BrightSpace [July 12] which may be helpful] as well as further research on this topic, and relate the discussion to how suffering has potential to change human nature for good or for evil, research, give your viewpoint, and tie your response first to the novel, to personal experiences, to a scene in a film, or to at least one current event. Make wait, hope relevant to today by responding to current debates in society. Include a counterargument for higher points.
Option 7 You can research a topic of your choice as long as you can relate your research to a theme in Dumas’ novel, yet I suggest you run the topic past me first to be certain is has weight and depth. Discuss your response to what is worth waiting and hoping for by focus on meaningful dialogue in the novel, definitely analysis of a theme in the novel, and then tie to personal experiences, a scene in a film, or a current event. In any choice, you must use Dumas’ novel and at least two other sources. Make wait, hope relevant to today’s as a reply to larger debates in society or a solution to a social injustice Use a counterargument for higher points. This allows you to take the research a direction you are interested in but allows you to still explore some themes in the novel by Dumas.
This project involves working step by step. I would like you to write an organized and meaningful essay that includes ethos, pathos, and logos. I would like to hear your voice. The steps of bibliography cards, outline, and thesis justification are intended to keep the final project high quality yet meaningful to you as a writer.

Step 1 Ethos – use bibliography cards: This research requires a minimum of three sources, including Dumas’ novel. While researching your topic, make bibliography cards. Taking scrupulous notes will help you keep track of authors, publishers, dates, URLS and a short description of why the source is important. To fill out the bibliography cards, the following list follows the containers found on the worksheet I passed out [reprinted from p. 32 of MLA Handbook: Eighth Edition]
Author.
Title of Source.
Title of container,
Other contributors [translator, illustrator, editor],
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date.
Location. [URL or page number or minutes into a film]
The following is a second step but probably not needed in English 101 so it can be skipped if needed] Title of search engine to find the source [not needed to list google]
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher, Publication date,
Location. [URL or doi]
Rubric total of 160 points
Content (60 points)
___references to Alexandre Dumas’ novel and minimum of two other required sources
___quotes have an introductory phrase, page number in parenthetical citations, and are followed by both paraphrase and interpretation
___use of transitional phrases to move from one topic to another for flow on one argument: what is worth waiting and hoping for?
___writer is able to incorporate minimum of at least one personal experience in a way that contributes to the argument
Grammar (30 points)
___use of complete sentence structure and joining sentences effectively; avoid run ons and fragments
___verb tense is consistently in present tense for the novel or articles; in past tense for personal experiences
___academic tone avoids slang, illegal words, second person, contractions, and the vague use of “it”
___use of quotation marks and parenthesis in citations is accurate and consistent
Structure (30 points) Got MELC?
___Introduction has an intriguing hook, background to the controversy and the thesis stated argumentatively
___second paragraph defines key terms for the research topic you choose
___body paragraphs have main ideas, clear evidence, with analysis linking the illustrations to the main ideas and close by proving the thesis statement. [This is one of the keys to an A paper].
___conclusion starts by restating the thesis in fresh words but is more than a summary, bringing the writer’s voice into the discussion in a conclusive way and relating the topic to the interests of the reader such as a current debate in society or a solution to social ills
Thesis statement (20 points)
___the thesis is able to state the viewpoint of the author in a meaningful yet argumentative claim
___the thesis is stated in academic tone and is not stated as a question
___the thesis outlines the three main ideas but all of the claim and outline are in ONE statement only
MLA format (20 points) – Note: mandatory to have a Works Cited page to complete the course
___has in text citations properly cited in MLA format 8th edition
___has Works Cited page in alphabetical order, double spaced, properly formatted according to MLA guidelines in 8th edition
ONE OF THE SOURCE HAS TO BE FROM THE BOOK “The Count of Monte Cristo intriguing”

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