In your essay, make sure to:

> Suggested length: 4–6 pages (approx. 1,000–1,500 words) > Format: MLA or Chicago citation style; direct textual evidence required.

• Present a clear, defensible thesis that conveys Ellison's main critique as illustrated by the metaphor of invisibility.
• Analyze at least three specific scenes or passages (e.g., the Battle Royal, the Brotherhood, the Prologue/Epilogue) to back up your argument.
• Explore how literary devices — like symbolism, irony, and narrative voice — strengthen the theme of invisibility and the erasure of identity.
• Consider complexity or counterargument: think about whether the narrator ultimately gains visibility or self-definition by the end of the novel, and what this implies for Ellison's overall message.
• Wrap up with a reflection on the novel's wider social and historical importance, relating it to the American ideals it challenges.

Guidance for Students

• Craft a clear, debatable thesis that goes beyond mere summary — take a stance on how and to what effect Ellison presents invisibility.
• Incorporate textual evidence (direct quotes and paraphrases) to anchor each body paragraph.
• Address counterarguments: Does the narrator gain any advantages from his invisibility? How does this add complexity to your interpretation?
• Explore literary devices: imagery, symbolism, irony, and narrative voice are all vital to Ellison's artistry.
• Suggested length: 4–6 pages (AP/college level) or 2–3 pages (standard high school level).

In your essay, be sure to:

• Develop a clear, defensible thesis that goes beyond simply restating the prompt.
• Analyze at least three specific scenes or episodes from the novel (e.g., the Battle Royal, the Brotherhood, the Prologue/Epilogue) as supporting evidence.
• Examine how Ellison's narrative and stylistic choices — including symbolism, irony, and the use of a first-person unreliable narrator — bolster your argument.
• Address the complexity of the narrator's journey: in what ways does his understanding of his own invisibility change from the beginning to the end of the novel?
• Conclude by linking the novel's core argument to a broader literary or cultural context.

Length

4–6 pages (approximately 1,000–1,500 words)

Evaluation Criteria

Strength of thesis, quality of textual evidence and analysis, organization, and sophistication of argument.