Top 6 Best Essays on 'Practicing Argumentative Writing about Literary Works (or Excerpts)' for 9th Grade

Writing an Argumentative Essay about a Literary Work

Assignment: Share your thoughts on the excerpt from the story 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.

This task asks you to create a detailed outline.

1. Understand the Assignment

Nature of the task: Argumentative writing on an excerpt from the short story 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.
Content requirement: Express your feelings about the excerpt from the short story 'The Ivory Comb'.
Knowledge scope: The short story 'The Ivory Comb'.

2. Outline

a. Introduction:

Introduce the short story 'The Ivory Comb', highlighting key aspects of its content and artistic features.

b. Body:

The backdrop of the war, with Mr. Sáu being away from home, leading to rare encounters with his daughter Thu.
The relationship between Mr. Sáu and his daughter Thu goes through many challenges, showing resilience and faith.
+ Although they have been apart for a long time, when Mr. Sáu returns, Thu refuses to recognize him. The love that had been repressed within Mr. Sáu is not welcomed, causing him great sadness.

+ Both Mr. Sáu and Thu experience emotional loss due to external circumstances. Despite missing his daughter, Mr. Sáu must continue fighting.

+ The love between them acts as a source of motivation, with Mr. Sáu often thinking of his daughter when there is a break in the fighting. Thu, with her love and respect for her father, continues the path he has chosen.

The expression of father-daughter love in each character:
+ Thu loves her father but refuses to acknowledge him because, in her young memory, her father didn’t have the scar on his face. Her cries when parting reveal her deep love for him.

+ Mr. Sáu’s paternal love is shown in moments of silent suffering when his daughter rejects his affection, particularly symbolized by the ivory comb. All his love for her, accumulated over time, is expressed through the comb.

Some notable aspects of the art style:
+ The characters are placed in a challenging and testing situation.

+ The author uses specific details to capture the actions and thoughts of the characters.

+ The narrator is a participant in the story, closely related to Mr. Sáu and his daughter, offering a heartfelt and authentic portrayal of their bond.

c. Conclusion

The profound and touching father-daughter relationship between Mr. Sáu and Thu is the most striking feature of the short story 'The Ivory Comb'.

Essay Topic: Your Thoughts on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.

REFERENCE ESSAY

Nguyễn Quang Sáng's short story 'The Ivory Comb' explores the deep bond between father and child during wartime. Despite its simplicity, the story is filled with the kind of unexpected twists that define Nguyễn Quang Sáng’s writing. The excerpt from the textbook illustrates a brief but profound moment, revealing the sacredness of fatherly love.

Written in 1966 during the Vietnam War when the author was active in the Southern battlefield, the story centers on the father-daughter relationship between Mr. Sáu and his daughter, Thu, and emphasizes the hardships and ironies that war brings. Although the theme of parental love is common in literature, it is this very timelessness that adds depth to the story’s human values.

The narrative focuses on the father-daughter relationship, particularly the character of Thu, who is conflicted and full of inner turmoil. A girl who has lived apart from her father for most of her life, Thu holds onto the image of her father through photos. However, when they reunite, she reacts in a way that contradicts her own feelings. When she hears Mr. Sáu call out to her, Thu is not excited as he expected, but instead she “startled, stared blankly, confused, blinked as if questioning,” even running away and screaming.

These unexpected gestures convey a rare and uneasy fear between father and daughter. Moreover, Thu's actions also reflect coldness and avoidance. The story reaches its climax when Thu is cooking rice. The pot is too large for her to handle alone, but she stubbornly refuses to ask her father for help. Another turning point comes when Thu pushes away the fish egg that Mr. Sáu had carefully selected for her. This is a natural and logical act by Thu, revealing her strong personality. Despite his love for her, Mr. Sáu loses his temper and “strikes her on the back while yelling ‘Why are you so stubborn?’” After being struck, Thu does not cry as Mr. Sáu expects; she simply rises silently and goes to her grandmother’s house. No one knows why Thu is so defiant.

The reason becomes clear when we learn that it was the scar on her father's face. The scar was not present in the photo her mother had given her. Thu refuses to accept any explanation, even from her mother. Though these are childish thoughts, they make the story feel genuine. When Thu finally hears her grandmother explain the scar, she “lay still, rolling around and occasionally sighing like an adult,” all of which help Thu relieve her inner conflict, though she also feels regret for not recognizing her father earlier. The climax of the story occurs unexpectedly when, just as Mr. Sáu is about to leave, Thu suddenly screams “Ba...a...a...ba!” Her cry, full of anguish, breaks the long silence, a cry that had been suppressed for years.

Along with her hurried actions, the author allows Thu to express all her feelings and her remorse. This moment is deeply emotional. Without this pivotal detail, the story would lose a significant part of its value, and it would feel flat. The joy of discovering her father's love, which she thought was lost forever, overwhelms Mr. Sáu and leaves him deeply touched. His tears, transcending all distances, evoke a strong emotional response in the reader. Later, as an adult, Thu follows in her father's footsteps and becomes a liaison in the resistance, not just for the country, but also as a tribute to her father and to avenge him.

Through Mr. Sáu's character, Nguyễn Quang Sáng conveys his deep affection for Thu, empathizing with her stubbornness, which stems from the wartime scar on her father's face. The image of Thu kissing her father's hair, neck, shoulders, and even the scar on his cheek, along with her embracing him tightly, is a deeply moving depiction of their father-daughter bond during the war. That farewell moment remains unforgettable, and the sorrow from this story intensifies our understanding of the brutality of war.

In the story, the author does not only focus on Thu’s feelings but also emphasizes Mr. Sáu's deep love for his daughter. When Mr. Sáu went to fight, Thu was very young, but his love for her remained strong. Every time his wife visited, he would ask about his daughter. This reflects the love of a revolutionary father who, away from home, could not be with his child. Upon returning home, he hoped to be reunited with his daughter and hear her call him ‘father,’ but the scars of war had transformed him. The deep scar on his cheek, a war wound, made his beloved daughter fail to recognize him. When his affection was rejected, Mr. Sáu became despondent and heartbroken, a tragic figure.

Despite Thu’s cold behavior, Mr. Sáu continued to show his love through every action, and his eyes were filled with endless fatherly affection. He tried to get closer to her by offering her fish eggs, but when Thu rejected the gesture, he lost control and struck her. His strike was an emotional release, showing how much he cared for her. His deep yearning to reunite with his wife and daughter was not fully realized, marking the tragedy of war. At the moment of their farewell, all he received was a fleeting moment of happiness when Thu recognized him and called out to him. He hugged her, wiped away his tears, and kissed her head. He left with an overwhelming sense of longing, with the promise to bring her a comb and the lingering regret of having struck her.

Thu’s farewell words, “When you come back, bring me a comb, father,” were cherished by Mr. Sáu and held deep in his heart. He poured all his love into the ivory comb he crafted for her. His joy when he finally made the comb, “as happy as if he had found a treasure,” reflected a childlike sense of wonder. He carefully crafted it, carving the message “With love, for Thu, my daughter,” with utmost care. But perhaps the most touching detail is when Mr. Sáu would ‘brush the comb on his hair, making it shinier and smoother.’ Every time he brushed his hair, it felt as if he were sending his love through the comb. Tragically, Mr. Sáu died, but his fatherly love remained eternal. As he was dying, he “reached into his pocket and pulled out the comb” to give to Mr. Ba, gazing at it for a long time before passing away. Without uttering a word, his gaze conveyed all the unspoken emotions within him.

The image of Mr. Sáu, the loving father, will forever remain. The ivory comb, with its message, will always be a keepsake, a testament to the pain and tragedy of war. It compels readers to reflect on the suffering and losses that war has inflicted on the people living on this land. Through this, the author also expresses his stance against war.

‘The Ivory Comb’ is a masterful work, blending narrative and deep character introspection. The story portrays complex inner conflicts while maintaining a consistent and coherent characterization. Told from the first-person perspective of Mr. Ba, this narrative approach makes the events feel more objective, trustworthy, and authentic, allowing readers to empathize, share, and deeply connect with the emotions of each character. The story’s well-structured plot, full of unexpected twists, keeps the reader engaged and intrigued.

The story revives the time of fighting to protect the nation, and through it, the author urges readers to think about and feel the pain and loss that war brings. The deep father-daughter bond between Mr. Sáu and Thu transcends the horrors of war, becoming a sacred, ever-bright relationship, firmly connected with love for the homeland and the country.

I. Preparation for Home Assignment

1. Question 1, Page 68, Textbook of Literature 9, Volume 2

Review the steps for writing an argumentative essay about a literary work (or excerpt)

2. Question 2, Page 68, Textbook of Literature 9, Volume 2

Re-read the short story 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Dũng (Literature 9, Volume 1)

II. In-Class Practice

Essay Topic: Your Thoughts on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.

Introduction:

Introduce the author, the work, and the excerpt 'The Ivory Comb' from Literature 9, Volume 1, focusing on the father-daughter relationship between Mr. Sáu and his daughter.

Main Body

a) Introduce the background of the work

The story was written in 1966 during the time of the resistance against the American invaders.
The story is narrated from the perspective of Ba, a friend of Mr. Sáu, in the first person.
The excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb' depicts Mr. Sáu’s visit to his daughter and the ivory comb, the final gift he makes for her.
Provide a brief summary of the story to highlight the difficult circumstances the characters face.

b) Thu’s feelings toward her father

When her father first returns, Thu is shocked by his appearance, as he has a long scar on his face, which is not visible in the photo she had seen.
Thu distances herself and rejects her father because he does not resemble the man in the photograph. Her actions, such as pushing away the fish egg her father had picked for her, show her rejection.
Only after her grandmother explains the situation does Thu understand and feel regret, becoming more affectionate toward her father.
As Mr. Sáu prepares to leave for battle, Thu calls out to him with a desperate affection, her long-suppressed emotions bursting forth as she hugs him tightly, kissing him, and even kissing the scar on his cheek in an extremely emotional moment.

c) Mr. Sáu's love for his daughter

Due to the war, Mr. Sáu has to be separated from his family to fight.
He yearns to return and see his daughter, jumping off the boat before it docks and calling her name excitedly.
His heartache and sorrow are evident when his daughter does not recognize him as her father.
His emotions overflow when Thu finally calls him 'father,' and they embrace each other.
While on the battlefield, he pours all his love into making an ivory comb for his daughter. Even as he falls, he makes sure to pass the comb to his comrade to deliver it to his daughter.

Conclusion:

'The Ivory Comb' is one of Nguyễn Quang Sáng's most memorable short stories. The tale leaves a lasting impression, moving readers with the intense and emotional father-daughter bond.

Essay Topic: Your Thoughts on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.

Detailed Outline:

I. Introduction: Leading into the topic:

Vietnamese literature has numerous works depicting the touching bond between fathers and their children, but the father-child relationship in times of war is even more sacred and profound. This is vividly portrayed in Nguyễn Quang Sáng's 'The Ivory Comb.' This masterpiece illustrates the deep, beautiful fatherly love that leaves a lasting impact on readers.

II. Main Body:

a. Introduction:

- 'The Ivory Comb' was written in 1966 during the intense period of the Vietnam War against American forces.
- The story is narrated in the first person by Ba, a close friend of Mr. Sáu.
- The ivory comb serves as Mr. Sáu's final gift for his daughter, Thu.
- The author places the characters in a difficult situation, allowing them to reveal the depth of their father-daughter bond.
- Briefly summarize the plot to highlight the characters' struggles.

b. Personal Reflection:

Thu’s feelings toward her father are powerfully revealed:

- Through the initial encounter with her father, when she is shocked by the scar on his face, different from the image she had imagined from the photograph.

- Through her reluctance to follow his instructions.

- Through the moment when she rejects the fish eggs he picks for her during a meal.

- Through her journey to her grandmother’s house, where she is explained the situation and finally understands that this man is indeed her father.

- Through the emotional moment when Thu calls out 'Father...' and expresses her love for him.

- Through Mr. Sáu’s heartfelt reaction and his subsequent creation of an 'Ivory Comb' after returning to his base.

- Through Mr. Sáu entrusting the comb to his comrade, who delivers it to Thu after his sacrifice on the battlefield.

III. Conclusion:

This story profoundly conveys the emotions of fatherly love and contributes richly to the development of Vietnamese revolutionary literature. It helps readers appreciate the value of family happiness and encourages them to cherish this sacred relationship.

Essay Topic: Your Thoughts on the Excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.

1. Introduction: Present the context of the short story 'The Ivory Comb'.

2. Main Body:

a. Mr. Sáu’s feelings for his daughter:

- The emotional distance caused by separation.

- The shock of returning home after a long time apart.

- The joy he felt when leaving for war.

- His deep fatherly love expressed through the ivory comb.

b. Thu’s feelings and attitude toward her father:

- Her initial reaction when her father returns home.

- Her emotions when her father leaves again.

- Summary of her transformation.

c. Literary techniques used in the story:

- The psychological depth in character portrayal.

- The narrative situation and its significance.

- The storytelling language and its effectiveness.

3. Conclusion:

- 'The Ivory Comb' is one of the most iconic short stories by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.

- The story leaves a lasting impression on readers with its deeply moving portrayal of fatherly love.

A. KEY CONCEPTS

1. Steps to Writing an Argumentative Essay on a Literary Work (or Excerpt)

Understand the prompt and brainstorm ideas.
Outline your essay.
Write the essay.
Review and revise your work.

2. The essay should contain all necessary components of an argumentative essay:

Introduction: Present the work (according to the essay's specific requirements) and provide a preliminary evaluation.

Main Body: Present the key points on the content and artistic qualities of the work, analyzing and evaluating them with relevant and accurate evidence.

Conclusion: Offer your final thoughts and overall assessment of the literary work (or excerpt).

B. EXERCISES AND GUIDANCE

Practice

Exercise: Page 68, Literature 9, Volume 2

Given the topic: Your impression of the excerpt from 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng.

Outline your ideas in detail.

(Suggestions:

What does the prompt ask? Pay attention to key terms in the prompt to guide your approach.
What do you know about the historical context of southern Vietnam during the war that led people like Mr. Sáu to leave home and experience deep emotional losses?
Provide an analysis of the characters Mr. Sáu and Bé Thu in the excerpt: their losses, sacrifices, endurance, and strength, as well as their faith.
Examine the specific father-daughter relationship through their actions, words, and emotional development, especially focusing on Mr. Sáu's delicate effort to carve the comb for his daughter; also consider Bé Thu's unexpected reaction when she finally recognizes her father during their farewell.
How does Nguyễn Quang Sáng use narrative techniques, situational irony, and detail selection to evoke emotions?)

Essay Guidance:
a) The prompt requires you to express your impressions, meaning you should reflect on the emotions and thoughts you have after reading and analyzing the work. Pay attention to the keyword "impressions" to guide your response.

b) Detailed Outline:

Introduction: Introduce Nguyễn Quang Sáng and the short story 'The Ivory Comb'; affirm its significance within the author's body of work and its place in the literature of the Vietnamese resistance against America.

Main Body:

• Overview of the story:

Written in 1966 during the height of the war, when southern Vietnam was under heavy bombardment. To protect the peace and safety of the homeland, people like Mr. Sáu had to leave their families and fight on the front lines. War brought death and suffering, and for Mr. Sáu, it meant painful emotional losses as well.

The story is told from the first-person perspective through Uncle Ba, Mr. Sáu's close friend and witness to the unfolding events, making the narrative more vivid, objective, and genuine.

The ivory comb is Mr. Sáu’s final gift for his daughter Bé Thu, symbolizing his eternal fatherly love for her.

The author places the characters in a difficult situation, allowing their deep father-daughter bond to shine through in a touching way.

• Personal Impressions:

Examine the sacrifices, pain, and determination of Mr. Sáu and Bé Thu:

Mr. Sáu: He fought in the war shortly after his daughter was born, never being able to see her grow up. He endured physical pain—evidenced by a long scar on his face—a mark of the enemy’s cruelty, which made Bé Thu refuse to recognize him as her father. His life is a testament to the personal sacrifices made for the greater good, a fate shared by many Vietnamese families during the war.

Bé Thu: She lived with her mother and only knew her father through a photo. She was stubborn, refusing to call Mr. Sáu 'dad' despite her mother’s efforts and his pleas. Her defiance underscores her love for her father, as she couldn’t accept the scar on his face, which represented the pain he had endured for her freedom. This emotional struggle left both Bé Thu and Mr. Sáu wounded in spirit.

Father-daughter bond: Explore their gestures and interactions during the brief 3-day leave:

• The initial meeting
• During the 3-day leave
• At dinner
• During their final moments together
• Mr. Sáu’s meticulous act of making the comb and his last look before his death.

Examine the artistic qualities: narrative situation, storytelling techniques, and the deliberate choice of details.

Conclusion: Reaffirm your personal response to Nguyễn Quang Sáng’s 'The Ivory Comb'.