In your essay, be sure to

• Present a clear and defendable thesis that directly addresses the prompt
• Utilize specific textual evidence (quotations, scenes, or narrative details) to back your argument
• Analyze how García Márquez's non-linear, fragmented narrative style supports your claim
• Explore at least two of the following social forces: the honor code, the role of women (e.g., Angela Vicario), religion/the Church, or the townspeople's inaction
• Include a counterargument — for instance, the notion that fate, rather than social structure, is the primary force behind the tragedy
• Conclude by considering the broader implications of García Márquez's critique in relation to understanding complicity and justice

Scoring Focus

Clarity of thesis · Quality of textual evidence · Depth of analysis · Handling of counterarguments · Coherence and style

In your essay, be sure to

• Present a clear, defensible thesis that articulates a specific claim about how García Márquez employs inevitability as a means of social critique.
• Analyze at least three distinct characters or groups (e.g., the Vicario twins, the townspeople, the bishop, Plácida Linero, Colonel Lázaro Aponte) to support your argument.
• Explore how narrative structure — including the retrospective, fragmented timeline and the perspectives of multiple unreliable witnesses — strengthens the novel's thematic concerns.
• Reflect on how honor culture and gender norms influence the characters' choices and inactions.
• Incorporate textual evidence (both direct quotes and paraphrases) to bolster your claims throughout.

Scoring Focus

Strength of thesis, quality of textual evidence, depth of analysis, and coherence of argument.