Requirements

• Formulate a clear, defensible thesis that takes a stance on the assertion above.
• Support your argument with at least three pieces of textual evidence, including direct quotations when relevant.
• Address and counter at least one opposing argument.
• Structure your essay with a formal introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Maintain a formal academic tone throughout.

Suggested Lens

Reflect on how Hillenbrand organizes Zamperini's narrative journey — from troubled youth to Olympic athlete to prisoner of war to redeemed veteran — and what this organization suggests about the origin of human resilience.

Your essay must

• Begin with a clear, debatable thesis in your introduction that takes a stance on Hillenbrand's main argument regarding resilience and the human spirit.
• Support your position with textual evidence (direct quotes or detailed paraphrases) from at least three distinct phases of Zamperini's life.
• Analyze how Hillenbrand's narrative and stylistic choices (such as pacing, word choice, and structure) influence the reader's understanding of Zamperini's resilience.
• Address and refute a counterargument — for example, that Zamperini's experiences are extraordinary and thus not indicative of general human endurance.
• Conclude by linking your argument to a universal theme about identity, survival, or the limits of human endurance.

Evaluation Criteria

Thesis clarity · Use of textual evidence · Depth of analysis · Counterargument · Conclusion