These Are The Readings That Need To Be Chosen Fromyou Can Find Them On
Write a word essay on one of the following topics. The word count does not include formatting or the works cited page.
Write a critical analysis of one of the works from weeks 1 or 2. An overview of approaches can be found here, (but many are quite straightforward). Psychological, gender, sociological, biographical, and historical are all approaches that many use naturally in viewing a work. However, if your interest lies elsewhere, feel free to choose another approach.
Compare and contrast two of the stories from weeks 1 and 2. Be sure that you have isolated a strong and debatable thesis on which to build the essay. Simply pointing out the differences is not analysis. Toward that end, you may want to focus on a specific element of the stories.
If there's an aspect of the stories from these two weeks that particularly interests you, you may choose your own topic, but you must run it by me first to be sure it is headed in an analytical direction.
Your essay should be formatted in MLA style, including double spacing throughout. All sources should be properly cited both in the text and on a works cited page.
As with most academic writing, this essay should be written in third person. Please avoid both first person (I, we, our, etc.) and second person (you, your). In the upper left-hand corner of the paper, place your name, the professor’s name, the course name, and the due date for the assignment on consecutive lines. Double space your information from your name onward, and don't forget a title. All papers should be in Times New Roman font with 12-point type with one-inch margins all the way around your paper.
All paragraph indentations should be indented five spaces (use the tab key) from the left margin. All work is to be left justified. When quoting lines in literature, please research the proper way to cite short stories, plays, or poems. You should use the online APUS library to look for scholarly sources.
Be careful that you don’t create a "cut and paste" paper of information from your various sources. Your ideas are to be new and freshly constructed. Also, take great care not to plagiarize. Whatever topic you choose you will need a debatable thesis. A thesis is not a fact, a quote, or a question. It is your position on the topic. The reader already knows the story; you are to offer him a new perspective based on your observations. Since the reader is familiar with the story, summary is unnecessary. Rather than tell him what happened, tell him what specific portions of the story support your thesis.
Paper For Above instruction
The assignment provides a comprehensive opportunity to engage critically with selected literary works from Weeks 1 and 2. The primary goal is to develop an analytical essay rooted in a clear, debatable thesis, supported by substantial evidence from the texts. Whether choosing to analyze a single work or compare two stories, the emphasis is on offering a nuanced perspective that moves beyond mere description or summary. This entails selecting an approach—be it psychological, feminist, sociological, biographical, or others—and applying it thoughtfully to deepen understanding of the literature.
The critical analysis should begin with a precise articulation of the chosen approach, followed by a thorough examination of relevant elements within the text(s). For example, a psychological analysis might explore themes of unconscious motivation, identity, or mental processes in the characters, whereas a feminist critique could focus on gender roles, power dynamics, or societal expectations reflected in the narrative. When comparing stories, it is essential to identify specific elements—such as themes, characters, symbolism, or stylistic features—that illustrate differences or similarities in a way that supports a cohesive argument.
Effective organization and coherence are vital. The essay should include an introduction with a compelling thesis statement, body paragraphs each centered on a specific point that bolsters the thesis, and a concluding section that synthesizes insights and underscores the significance of the analysis. Transitions should be smooth to ensure logical flow from one idea to the next.
Adherence to MLA style is crucial. This includes proper formatting (double spacing, Times New Roman font, 12-point size, one-inch margins), correctly cited quotations, and a properly formatted Works Cited list. Originality must be maintained throughout, with clearly constructed ideas and avoidance of plagiarism. The critical approach should demonstrate depth of thought and engagement with the literature, aiming to produce an insightful contribution to understanding the selected works.
References
Kennedy, X. J., & Gioia, D. (1995). Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (6th ed.). HarperCollins.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. (1922). The Beautiful and Damned. Charles Scribner's Sons. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. (1892). The Yellow Wallpaper. The New England Magazine.
Whitman, Walt. (1855). Song of Myself. Leaves of Grass.
Freud, Sigmund. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. Basic Books. Jung, Carl G. (1964). Man and His Symbols. Dell Publishing.
Frye, Northrop. (1957). Anatomy of Criticism. Princeton University Press.
Weaver, R. L. (1995). A Reader's Guide to Reader-Response Criticism. Routledge.
Heidegger, Martin. (1927). Being and Time. Harper & Row.
Barthes, Roland. (1977). Image-Music-Text. Hill and Wang.
