LENGTH: 1200 WORDS - Criteria for evaluation
Critical commentary (secondary sources)
DUE ~ Topic and selections - April 8; Essay due April 15
Assignment: Choose three or four works from the course from two or three
genres* which appeal to you and which have similar themes or ideas.
You must select two works which you have not written about in the first two
essays. Use the thematic index in the text appendix to review themes and related
titles. In reviewing the works, think critically and creatively about the ideas
and characters and review notes from class discussions and your assignments. After rereading your selections, compose an essay in your own words
interpreting the idea common to the three works.
Audience: People who have read the works and want a better understanding of the theme and characters.
Introduction
In the opening section identify the title and author of each work you
are interpreting and explain the focus of your essay. Your main point
(thesis or controlling idea) may
also be stated here, depending on how you've decided to organize your essay. The essay's
title should also reflect your thesis. In this section you might also pose one
or more questions you are addressing.
Body
The body of your essay depends on the common theme and what you've decided to
examine as supporting evidence. For example, you might analyze the theme of
prejudice and how this affects characters or examine how power is abused in relationships. Include supporting
details from the works. Remember, your main purpose is to explain what you have
learned by connecting ideas and analyzing the works, not just to list
similarities and differences. Use five or more quotations and include at least
one citation for each work. Make sure the quotations are properly introduced or
integrated in the text of your essay.
Conclusion
Your final paragraph
may frame the essay by referring to a statement or image in
your opening section. You may make a final judgment of one character as
more admirable than another.
For font use Courier New, 12 point.
Set paragraphs for double spacing (under Format menu).
Set one-inch margins on all sides (under File>Page setup in Word).
Please number pages in the top right corner.
Heading, at the top of the opening page, should include your name, English 102, date, instructor
Title of essay, centered beneath the
heading on the opening page, describes the focus of your paper. Capitalize
only the important words; do not underline or use quotation marks unless
another work, such as play or poem, is part of your title.
In the text of the paper use at
least five quotations from the texts, at least one from each work. Write parenthetical citations according to MLA
documentation. Following the quotation, list the author's name and page,
such as
(Ibsen 1028).
For poetry list both the page and the lines, such as (Browning 517 lines
23-24).
Works Cited list, a separate page at the end of the paper, presents
sources (the works you are interpreting) in alphabetical order according to the author's last name. Secondary sources are optional; list and cite them if used, but write
the paper in your own words. Following is
a sample bibliography.
Works Cited
Browning, Robert. "My Last Duchess." Literature: A Pocket Anthology. Ed. R. S. Gwynn. New York: Longman, 2007. 516-518.
Ibsen, Henrik. A Dollhouse. Literature: A Pocket Anthology. Ed. R. S. Gwynn. New York: Longman, 2007. 961-1030.
Mamet, David. Oleanna. New York: Vintage, 1992.
Miller, Michael G. "Browning's My Last Duchess." Explicator 47.4 (Summer 89): 32. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Alden Library, Worcester, MA.
Criteria for judging written essays
*Genres we have read include short stories, plays, and poems.