close read an excerpt from the half caste by Dinah Mulock Craik. make sure to incorporate a historical lens. here is the rubric.
SLOs
recall and compare major literary trends, authors, and works of Victorian literature;
demonstrate close reading skills with primary literary texts;
compose effective oral and written arguments that incorporate close reading and criticism; and
document primary sources in accordance with MLA 9 guidelines.
Short Paper
Purpose: To select a passage or excerpt a primary text judicially; close read said text, explicating specific, concrete textual evidence; and practice discipline conventions.
Assignment: Compose a thesis-driven paper developed through and supported by close reading of a literary work we have studied so far (or an excerpt from one). For prose, the work or except from it should be no more than the equivalent of two pages (approx. 750-1000 words); for poetry, select a focus of no more than twenty-five lines (if the poem exceeds that length).
Advice and Expectations: The first thing, potentially, is to find not just the work you want to spend time with, but to select, judiciously, an even narrower excerpt from it. Whether you’re passionate about the work or confused by it, or you felt class discussion missed something key or sparked a thought that you want to follow up with, consider where you find a work particularly rich in opportunity and narrow your focus accordingly. Whatever your entry point, reading and studying the work closely will provide the opportunity to better understand the text. As you develop your response, know that I am not asking you to repeat (or “regurgitate”) what has been discussed in class, nor am I searching for specific readings that align with my values, the “institution’s,” or Victorian assumptions. Dig into the text you select and prise it open as only you can. To this end, do not use secondary critical sources; focus on close reading and developing your ideas and evidence through direct observation. Reference works are fine, e.g. looking up an idea, word, or historical “fact,” but for this paper, practice your close reading. (You’ll get the opportunity to research and place your work in the larger critical field with the term paper.) Undergraduates are expected to keep their papers in the 3-4 page range (approx. 800-1000 words), while graduates are expected to add a page to that expectation, 4-5 (approx. 1000-1400); work(s) cited are in addition to these word-count guidelines.
Expect devoting 10-12 hours—start to finish—to writing this paper.
