Write at least 1500 words. All quotations and sources must be fully documented in a properly formatted bibliography at the end of your essay. The bibliography does not contribute toward the word count.
Present an argument about Paradise Lost. The narrower your focus, the better off your essay is likely to be. In other words, focusing on a single, short passage is more likely to be successful than focussing on an entire Book or the whole poem. Your argument should be founded on analysis: you need to build an argument out of the specific language in the evidence you present. Finally, remember that small bits of primary text integrated with your own analysis and discussion will produce the most effective argument. Be careful of over-quoting material that you do not end up discussing. Your claims should also be balanced with the evidence used to support your argument. A single line cannot support a claim about all Renaissance literature and culture.
Follow all the requirements for essay writing; refer to the checklist for essay format on the syllabus.
This prompt may be expanded and clarified as need requires.
Checklist for essay format. Failure to adhere to one or more of these requirements
will result in the return of the assignment ungraded and a deduction of 5 points
from the final assignment grade. Resubmitted essays are late and will receive a
grade but no comments.
—Double-space your essay. (Not required
in online writing.)
—Use
a 12-point font like Times New Roman.
(Not required in online writing.)
—Use
one-inch margins all around. (Not
required in online writing.)
—Number the pages in the upper right-hand
corner. (Not required in online writing.)
—Head your paper with your name, my name,
the number and name of the course, and the date. (Not required in online
writing.)
—Give
your paper a succinct, descriptive title.
(Not required in online writing.)
—Give
your file a name that includes your last
name. (Not required in online writing.)
—Do
NOT use a cover sheet.
—Cite poetic texts with section and line
numbers as appropriate to the work. Ask for advice if you are unsure what this means.
—Citations
use Hindu-Arabic numerals: 0, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Do not use Roman numerals.
—Final
punctuation always follows a parenthetical
citation.
—Poetic
lines quoted within your sentence are divided by slashes: /.
—Provide
citations and bibliographic references
for all works cited and consulted, including primary texts. Try to use either
Chicago or MLA style.
—Quote
and cite the text accurately. I will
notice, and check, and lower your grade accordingly.
—If
you quote a passage that is too large to fit conveniently in your own sentence,
do so as a block quotation. For
poetic passages (not prose!), maintain the lineation found in your text.
But ask yourself first, “Do I really need to quote all of this now?” The answer is usually “no.”
—Block
quotations do NOT use quotation marks.
—Write
about the text in the present tense.
—All
quotations MUST fit grammatically with your
own words—make sure there are subjects for verbs, verbs for subjects, and that
everything agrees in number and person.
