Assignment: Write an essay analyzing one to three literary works we have read for class. Looking closely at what the literary works say and how they say it, and, using the elements of literary analysis, convince your readers of your position.
In your analysis, you are encouraged to explore varied and diverse avenues of interpretation. Remember, however, that your analysis must be grounded in the text; you must support your thesis by quoting selectively from the literary works you are writing about.
Suggestions for analysis:
· You may choose to compare and/or contrast a single literary technique (i.e. plot, character, setting, point of view) used by varying authors in their respective short stories.
· You may choose to analyze the structure of the novel we read for class in comparison to or in contrast to one or two short stories we have read.
· You may compare themes of the novel and/or play we read with the short we have read.
· You may analyze the themes of the play or novel we read in further depth.
Guidelines:
· You may, with the exception of poetry, use only the texts we have read for class.
· You may choose to construct your own idea for analysis using the short stories, novel, and/or play we have read for class.
· A good place to find related works is in the “Related Works” section that follows each of the short stories and poems we have read in your textbook.
Topic and Thesis Statement: Your instructor must approve your topic and thesis before you begin your research or begin to write essay three.
Please do the following:
- Organize the essay around a question you’re trying to answer about the texts and their possible meanings.
- Use your question as a guide for reading the texts selectively.
- As you shape your answer to the question, rely mostly on passages and other information from the primary works as a source of evidence.
- Use literary terminology in your analysis.
- Incorporate three to five secondary sources into your essay.
Purpose: To produce an interesting and detailed analysis of a literary work or literary works. Pose an interesting, problematic, or significant question about your chosen work(s) and use textual evidence to support an analysis.
Audience: Although your targeted audience is your instructors and peers, who have read the works you’re writing about, you should still provide some context for your interpretation somewhere in the introduction of your essay. Context includes brief plot summary (no more than two sentences) and a discussion of what other literary critics have said about the work.
Research: For essay three you must use three to five secondary sources. Your works cited page must list all sources you use to quote, paraphrase, or summarize, including the literary work(s).
Format: MLA Style Documentation (see your Harbrace Handbook, pp. 311-323)
Length: Your essay must be 7-10 full pages (excluding the works cited page) and may not be a revision of previous response papers or essays.
Due Dates:
You must conduct a peer review session, with your peer review group, on your first draft outside of class before Wednesday, December 6, 2006.
2nd Draft should be included with your portfolio, which is due at or before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2006.
Additional Guidelines for Essay Three:
- Develop a clear, focused thesis that explicitly indicates your proposed interpretation of the texts.
- Provide an engaging introductory paragraph(s) that includes the authors’ names, and titles of the literary works, and the essay’s thesis.
- Use substantial textual evidence (quotes from literary works) and 3-5 secondary sources to support your analysis.
- Always be sure to “unpack” your quotations. All quotes and passages used as support must be adequately developed and explained. A quote cannot stand alone in the essay. No “sandwiched quotes.”
- Do not use first person (I, we, our, me). When it comes to a personal interpretation of fiction, you are the authority; however, phrases that begin with “I believe” and “I think” detract from your authority and familiarity with the text and make your interpretation look like simple personal opinion rather than informed, supported analysis.
· A works cited page must accompany this essay; include a bibliographic citation on the works cited page for the literary works you analyze.
· Photocopies of all journal articles and outside sources used in essay, with quoted or paraphrased text highlighted, must be submitted with final draft
