In a well-developed essay of at least 400 words, discuss one of the topics below. Choose a topic about a work you enjoyed and/or fully understood. Make sure your essay has an introductory paragraph with thesis statement, several supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph, and it should utilize sophomore-level grammar and analysis skills. Please avoid plot summary. Review the Tips for Essay Writing handout that is posted on D2L in this module. Essays should have at least two specific points of discussion that support the thesis. You will be required to support your discussion with at least two quotes from the work(s) you are writing about. These should be cited in the essay using MLA parenthetical citation format. Examples of parenthetical citations are posted. You will also need a Works Cited page since you are quoting from the text. An example of how to cite the textbook is below. This essay should be original and completed using no outside resources. I want your own reactions and opinions of the works. Please review my comments on Essay 1 so you can make improvements. The essay should be typed, double-spaced in Times New Roman 10-12 point and maximum one inch margins. The essay is due on or before Friday, July 23rd at 10pm to the Assignments area of D2L. It will automatically be routed to turnitin.com. To get there, click the Assessments tab.
Choose ONE of the following topics:
Compare/contrast two female characters who were important to Jim in My Antonia. Have at least two points of comparison.
My Antonia introduces readers to cultures and/or customs that may be unfamiliar to them. What culture or custom presented in the work was new to you, what did you learn about it, and how was this part of the story important to Willa Cather’s theme(s)?
Discuss at least two symbols found in the play Trifles. How are they important to the theme?
What is the importance of having an unseen, central character in Trifles? What effect(s) does Susan Glaspell produce by using this plot device?
Analyze one of the poems from Weeks 2, 3 or 6, discussing at least two figures of speech, two sound devices and theme, and at least two of the following: imagery, tone or speaker. Review the Poetry Term sheet to assure proper identification of terms. I am looking for specific discussion of the above elements. You should not attempt a poetry analysis unless you fully understand the poem and how to write a poem analysis.
Your Works Cited will contain the entry for the work you are analyzing, same as last time. Below is a sample only. Fill in the information for your book and work.
Works Cited
Milton, John. “Paradise Lost.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume B, Martin Puchner, et. al., eds., 3rd edition, W. W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 230-233.
This assignment meets the following Student Learning Outcomes:
Number One- Communication: Students will demonstrate the ability to write and speak logically, clearly, precisely, and the ability, through accurate reading and listening, to acquire, organize, present, and document information and ideas. Number Five- Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate that they have developed dimensions of critical and analytical thinking. Number Six- Global and International Perspectives: Students will demonstrate an awareness of multi- cultural issues as they have affected individuals and social structures in the past and are likely to affect them in the future.
