Write an essay of at least 750 words presenting an analytical argument addressing one of these topics:



Theme

: What ideas does 

Never Let Me Go

convey about what it means to be human? Be sure to 

offer specific points and support them with textual evidence.



Character

: How is the reader of 

Never Let Me Go 

supposed to feel about Ruth as a character, 

how does Ishiguro get the reader to feel that way, and what function does her character serve in 

terms of the larger meaning of the novel? Be sure to offer specific claims and support them with 

textual evidence.



Narration

: How does the way the story is told affect the overall meaning of 

Never Let Me Go

? 

Consider the choices Ishiguro makes in terms of perspective, order, structure, etc., and provide 

textual evidence as support.

Purpose and audience

Your purpose is to present an analytical argument about the selected topic that provides supporting 

textual evidence from a primary source (the novel), and your audience is the academic community. 

Because academic writing should be as objective and impersonal as possible, avoid personal statements 

(“I,” “me,” “my,” etc.) and uses of the second person (“you”). Follow MLA style for documentation, 

providing proper in-text citations of any uses of source material–no Works Cited page is needed.

Format

The final essay must be at least 750 words in length (not counting headers) and must be submitted as a 

Microsoft Word document. All essays must follow the conventions of formal academic writing in MLA 

style: double spacing, a standard font, 12 pt font size, and standard margins. Students must include the 

following information in the upper left-hand corner of the first page: