1. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
5 paragraph Essay
An analysis of conflict

2. Essay Do’s
DO include a proper heading in the top left- hand corner of the essay
DO use size 12 font
DO use a plain font, Times New Roman or Ariel
DO double space entire essay
DO include a title in the center of your essay:
“The Most Dangerous Game”

3. Essay DO Not’s DO NOT introduce yourself as the author.
DO NOT begin any sentence or paragraph with “I am going to write to you about…” or “I am going to tell you about…”
DO NOT use slang words such as: till, cuz, u, 2, etc.
DO NOT use the personal “I” in a formal essay
DO NOT use “you” in the essay for example:
Now you know about the conflicts in MDG…
*Exception is if it’s used in the attention getter

4. 1. Quote: “Perseverance is the fuel for the brave and the bold.”
Introduction paragraphs have three parts Introduction Part 1: Attention Getter
1. Quote: “Perseverance is the fuel for the brave and the bold.”
2. A question: How would it feel to know that someone wants to hunt you for fun?
3. A statement: You have just found out that you have to survive three days in the jungle while being chased by a man with a gun and dogs. Now you have to figure out how to survive and get away with your life.

5. Introduction PART 2: Background information (2-4 sentences)
This provides the reader with basic information without retelling the story.
Title of story (short stories in quotation marks “ ”)
Author’s name
Main characters
Basic plot (what is the story about, briefly?)
Address the idea of conflict and character traits

6. Background information example *Shortened*
In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, Rainsford must use courage to survive three days on a deserted island while being hunted by General Zaroff if he wishes to live.

7. Introduction Part 3: thesis Statement
What is the thesis statement?
It is the controlling sentence of the essay. In essence, it tells the reader what your whole essay will be about. All of your evidence (CDs) should relate back to the thesis.
ONLY ONE SENTENCE- this should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph!
In this essay, your thesis will revolve around the idea of the three different types of conflict Rainsford encounters and the character traits that allow him to survive

8. Examples of thesis statements
Example 1: Rainsford struggles against conflicts with nature, man, but most importantly, himself as he strives to use his cunning, courage, and intellect in this game of survival. Example 2: While “The Most Dangerous Game” is a classic example of man vs. man conflict, Rainsford must endure a variety of conflicts throughout the story, but ultimately his will to live allows him to triumph over each.

9. Wanna be thesis statements vs. The real deal
Read each thesis and determine which one works best:
Literature has conflict
Conflict is important
There are 5 kinds of conflict in literature
Man vs. man conflict is interesting
In “The Most Dangerous Game,” the conflicts of man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. himself illustrate how Rainsford learns an important lessons of survival.

10. State this in your topic sentence (TS) for the reader.
*three body paragraphs – each one addresses a differenT kind of conflict (man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. self) Topic sentence (TS)
Each paragraph focuses on one type of conflict (man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. self)
State this in your topic sentence (TS) for the reader.
Examples of topic sentences:
Rainsford is faced with the conflict of man versus nature throughout the story.
Rainsford struggles with himself right from the start of the story.

11. Concrete details (cd) These are facts from the text.
You will include a total of 2 CDs in each paragraph.
Must have two (2) direct quotes with a quote lead in each paragraph.

12. Examples of Cds
Quotes MUST include a quote lead
EX: On their way to the hunting trip of a lifetime, Rainsford turns to Whitney and says,
“‘There are two kinds of people in this world. There are the hunters and the hunted’” (p.57).

13. Citing a direct quote (cd) properly
On their way to the hunting trip of a lifetime, Rainsford turns to Whitney and says, “‘There are two kinds of people in this world. There are the hunters and the hunted’” (p.57).
Notice the format used – note where the quotation marks go, the parentheses, and end punctuation.

14. Commentary (CM)
This is you explaining or interpreting the concrete details provided.
You will have a total of 2 CMs in each paragraph.
Commentary needs to answer these questions:
Why is this concrete detail important to the story?
How does this show the reader more about Rainsford or the theme and/or character?
How, or what, does this conflict add to the story?

15. Concluding Sentence (CS)
The concluding sentence should always wrap up the purpose of your body paragraph.
Restate the main idea for the reader to use transition words to prepare for the next paragraph.
Ex: Rainsford was a celebrated hunter who was forced to survive in the wilderness. His uncanny ability to navigate through the jungle amidst all conflicts of nature allowed him to survive the most dangerous game. However, not only did Rainsford survive the conflicts of nature, he also withstood the quarrel with General Zaroff.

16. *conclusion have three parts* Concluding paragraph
Sum up main points made in body paragraphs.
Restate thesis statement in a different way.
Provide a Zinger (food for thought)
Why does this matter? What does the variety of conflict in this short story show us about Rainsford, about mankind? What's the takeaway?

17. Now…
Using your collection of conflict paper, and/or the textbook, write 5 possible thesis statements (on a separate piece of paper) based on the evidence of conflict you have recorded.
Once you finish, choose the top 3.
Prompt: What qualities does Rainsford possess and learn as a result of the conflicts he encounters on Ship Trap Island. Explain the conflicts that Rainsford experiences and how specific character traits allow him to overcome these conflicts in “The Most Dangerous Game”.

18. MDG Essay Highlight your attention getter in ORANGE
Highlight your thesis in YELLOW
Highlight your Topic Sentences and Concluding Sentences/Transitions in RED
Underline the “quote-leads” before each Concrete Detail
Highlight your Concrete Details in BLUE
Highlight your Commentary in GREEN