Essay #1: Literary Argument

For your first major writing assignment, you will write a 4-5 page, typed, double-spaced essay which advances a literary argument about Beowulf, Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, or Shakespeare’s Henry V. The essay should be grammatically-correct, clear and coherently organized, and conform to MLA guidelines for style and citation.

Topics:

Students may choose from one of the below topics:

1) Analyze a major theme of one of the works. Develop an argument which articulates and demonstrates what you think this work is suggesting with this theme. Themes could be related to a wide range of issues such as class, gender, religion, humanity, or power, etc.

2) Analyze a prevalent, repeated element (such as an image, a metaphor, a significant word, or concept) in one of the texts. Develop an argument which articulates and demonstrates what larger concept or significance is being suggested through this element. Concepts could be related to a wide range of issues such as class, gender, religion, humanity, or power, etc.

3) Analyze a particular character. How is that character portrayed (in dialogue, action, and exposition by him or herself as well as by others)? What is the larger significance of that portrayal? What larger concepts does it suggest?

4) Compare and contrast two characters. What is the larger significance or concept of this comparison and contrast? How does it change our understanding of the text?

5) Examine the concepts of community/society in one of the texts. Develop an argument which articulates and demonstrate what you think this work is specifically suggesting about community or society.

Topics can build on class discussions of any of these works but should not merely restate what was discussed in class. I will expect arguments to go significantly beyond our discussions.

Argument:

Your paper should begin with a clear introduction which introduces the works being examined and the specific focus of the essay. This introduction should also include an argumentative thesis statement and a forecasting statement which provides an overview of the points your paper will use to make your argument. A successful thesis statement will be argumentative and clearly indicate a larger significance. A reasonable reader should be able to disagree with your thesis. If not, the thesis is not argumentative. Furthermore, your thesis should move beyond explaining the text to indicating a conceptual significance beyond the literature. It should answer the “so what?” question.

Compare these theses for instance:

Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter who is dealing with a crisis of identity.

*No larger significance and a reasonable reader would not disagree.

This paper will argue that Rick Deckard is actually an android.

*Argumentative but no larger significance

By suggesting Rick Deckard is an android, Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep suggests that humanity is impossible to define and can be replicated by technology.

*Argumentative and answers the “so what?” question.

Evidence & Analysis:

While there is no such thing as the right interpretation, there are convincing and unconvincing interpretations. A convincing interpretation will utilize a clear argumentative thesis to offer a particular way of understanding or viewing a topic and will utilize direct citation and close reading analysis to support the thesis. Conversely, an unconvincing interpretation is one that lacks a clear thesis, offers little support from the work, offers unclear points and/or contradicts the text.

The body of your essay should cite, examine, discuss, and unpack specific quotations in order to support your argument. Every point you make should be supported with textual evidence. Your analysis needs to unpack the quotes specifically and demonstrate how they support the point of the paragraph as well as the larger argument.

While some description or contextualization will be necessary, summary and paraphrase should be minimized in favor of your analysis and insights. Assume that your audience is familiar with the work of literature.

While researching words or concepts might be appropriate or helpful (i.e. Where was Northumbria?), do not use the internet to help you with interpreting the literature. I am not interested in what the internet thinks Chaucer is suggesting about religion, etc. Failure to document sources is a form of scholastic dishonesty and will result in an F for the course.

Technical Requirements: The essay must:

· be 4-5 pages in length,

· be typed, double-spaced, and in an appropriate font and size (10-12 pt),

· feature a clear argumentative and significant thesis,

· include a forecasting statement that provides an overview of specific points,

· support thesis with appropriate textual evidence and analysis,

· maintain a good flow and good transitions,

· feature good grammar and mechanics, and

· follow MLA guidelines for style and citation.

Writing Center: I will award a 3% bonus to your final paper grade if you visit the University Writing Center to discuss your paper for this assignment and submit your consultant session record. Be sure to take this prompt with you!

Pre-Writing: You will be asked to complete pre-writing assignments. These will be completion assignments and failure to complete them will result in a point penalty to your final draft.

Rough Drafts: Bring a complete typed rough draft that meets the minimum length requirements for the assignment to class on Oct 5^th. If you fail to do so, the highest grade the paper can receive is a D.

Final Draft: Papers are due at the beginning of class on Oct 7^th. Late papers incur a 10% penalty for every calendar day.