Conduct a formal literary analysis.
Write an essay in which you examine the narrative voice in the selected reading.
Narration plays a key role in virtually all literary works. Pay close attention to
passages in which the narrator relates the voice, vision, thoughts, or perspective
of a focal character. How does the narrative voice contribute to tone, irony, or
other effects of the story? Does the narrator speak in the first, second or third
person? Is the story narrated in the past or present tense? Does the narrator use
a distinctive vocabulary, style, and tone, or is the language more standard and
neutral? Is the narrator identified as a character, and if so, how much does he or
she participate in the action? Does the narrator ever seem to speak directly to
the reader (addressing “you”) or explicitly state opinions or values? Do you know
what the character is thinking? Does the narrative voice or focus shift during the
story or remain consistent? Do the narrator, the characters, and the reader all
perceive matters in the same way, or are there differences in levels of
understanding?
You should focus on literary elements,
such as setting, imagery, tone, and symbolism.
Be sure to include quoted passages from the reading(s) to illustrate your points.
1 SOURCE IS PROVIDED BUT YOU MUST CITE A SECONDARY SOURCE!
All quotations must be properly
documented within the text and on a Works Cited page using correct MLA
documentation style.
Scholarly articles from online journals through the library
databases are preferable, but I will accept other sources as long as they are reputable.
However, you should not use Wikipedia, blogs, personal webpages, or other informal
and/or possibly unreliable sources .
Length: 1,300 words
Include direct quotes from the readings to support your assertions.
Properly introduce, present, and cite all direct quotations.
Include a Works Cited page in which you cite the readings that you chose for this
assignment.
You must adhere to the formatting guidelines set forth in The MLA Handbook, 9th
edition.
Be sure that all margins measure 1 inch and that you use Times New
Roman 12-point font.
You also should follow MLA formatting guidelines regarding
the page heading, running header, page numbering, etc.
Include an original and thought-provoking title.
• Include a clear, focused thesis statement.
• Present and support your points with observations, details, and examples.
• Properly organize the paper.
• Provide clear transitions.
• Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Avoid slang, clichés, and second
person pronouns.
• Use a variety of sentence structures and sentence beginnings.
• Do not simply restate your thesis and main points in the conclusion.
Your conclusion
should be a fresh take on that thesis, and you should work to leave your readers
with something thought-provoking.
Evaluation Criteria:
• Is the writer’s purpose/position clear?
• Is the essay effectively organized?
• Are the paragraphs adequately developed?
• Is the tone appropriate to the essay’s purpose?
• Is there evidence of attention to language, of a conscious attempt to employ
rhetorical strategies to achieve a certain effect?
• Is the essay free of errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and/or mechanics?
• Does the writer smoothly incorporate source material, using signal phrases and
transitions?
• Does the writer accurately cite all sources both in the text of the essay and on the
Works Cited page?
