You will write an analysis of one of the works listed below. An analysis should answer a focused question that is related to a literary element (character, symbolism, foreshadowing, etc.) of your chosen text.
You should develop the question you want to answer as you’re reading the text. Your question should be something you’re truly interested in answering. Your question should be able to be answered differently by different readers. If everyone would answer the same, or if the answer is obvious, your question is not analytical. Your question also should be answered by a close study of the text, through examining quotes and paraphrases. If you can answer your question through just a general discussion of history or the plot of your novel, your question is not focused enough. You should aim to show your readers why your question was worth researching, and to give your readers, and yourself, a fresh new perspective.
Once you begin to answer your question, find THREE peer-reviewed criticisms from the TCTC library database that relate to your focus. Read these carefully also. You are looking for criticisms ABOUT the novel, NOT book reviews or overviews or biographies or web sites or PowerPoints or movie reviews. The research project should include each of the following:
1. your brief summary of the work you read;
2. your personal analysis of the element you chose, including use of quotes and paraphrases from the novel (no less than six novel quotes);
3. an integration of each of the criticisms into your overall analysis of the selected element, with comments on areas of agreement or disagreement (2-3 quotes from each criticism).
This paper MUST be 2300-2800 words (which does not include the endorsement or the Works Cited page) with a Works Cited page, double-spaced word-processed pages documented in MLA format. Please review the MLA Document Design information under the icon on the homepage. You are required to use MLA!
***Failure to meet the length or source requirements will result in a non-passing grade.
