Purpose
The purpose of this essay is to show that you can write about an interesting or important topic using the literary texts we’ve read this semester as the raw material, or data, of your analysis.
Audience
Your audience for this essay is a professional scholarly one, like the audience for the PMLA journal or for English department faculty. Imagine that it will be for a wider audience than just your instructor, so you should carefully consider how much context and explanation is needed of particular scenes you analyze or of literary concepts you discuss.
Tone
For all intents and purposes, for this essay, you are a literary expert. As you prepare this essay– reading, thinking, and writing–you will become that expert. Therefore, you should write confidently. Because this is a professional essay, you will need to demonstrate your familiarity with professional language and style. One way you will demonstrate your care in preparing the essay is by using thoughtful, concise, and dynamic language (consider, for example, trying to eliminate all forms of the verb “to be” from the essay as we experimented with in class).
The Assignment
Identify a theme or idea that is depicted in at least two of the required texts that you find compelling or significant. Construct a thesis in which you identify that theme and your opinion regarding it. Use the literary material as the raw material for your argument. The texts can be compared, contrasted, critiqued, celebrated–whatever you need–in the service of your argument. The essay should be 5-7 page essay and follow MLA 8 guidelines.
Getting an A on the Essay
An excellent essay will demonstrate professional, polished, thoughtful prose which invites readers to engage with your original ideas rather than the language or style of the prose.
An excellent essay will make a case for itself, arguing why the thesis is important or interesting. It will acknowledge how other scholars have pursued similar literary concerns to show how the thesis of the essay is unique and valuable.
An excellent essay will also show a deep engagement with the chosen texts. Quotes from primary sources will be used to analyze language (i.e. symbols, metaphors, word choice, irony, ambiguity, etc), or as specific examples of of general claims.
Excellent essays will be focused, well-organized and include relevant historical or scholarly context to aid the reader. Excellent essays will also demonstrate the author’s care in preparation through dynamic, concise language (consider removing as many instance of the verb “to be” as you can, for instance).
Requirements
- Follows all MLA 8 guidelines for citations and style
- Focuses on at least two of the texts assigned for class
- Demonstrates careful reading of at least two texts assigned for class
- Argues an original, specific thesis
- Demonstrates engagement with scholarly secondary research materials
- Turned in no later than 22 May 2019
Consider turning in a draft by 5/15
