Directions: compose a 4 page typed analysis of the following: a) An analysis of August Wilson’s play, “The Piano Lesson,” addressing the following questions: 1. “The Piano Lesson” relies more on reportage and storytelling than on visible action. Discuss the role of storytelling in the play, focusing on one specific character in terms of his or her role as storyteller. Then discuss each story in terms of its role in building the play’s plot. You must use specific, textual examples that will support the thesis statement.
Do not write a plot summary. Write for an audience already familiar with the non-fiction essay or play in order to focus on an analysis of the text. You are also strongly encouraged to support your analysis by referring to at least one outside source of literary criticism (for example, a scholarly article from the Literature Resource Center Database accessible through the CCC Library Databases).
All references to the text and researched information incorporated into the essay must be documented consistently and accurately in MLA format (2016 format). As you write the essay, consider the following structure: Paragraph 1— introduction with a hook that leads into the thesis statement Body Paragraphs—analysis of the text with textual examples. Refer to specific examples by page numbers, brief quotations, or summaries. Fully explain throughout the essay the significance of the examples as they relate to the thesis.
Final Paragraph—the concluding paragraph that recaps the argument and highlights the significance of your interpretation. To defend your argument, you should be prepared to use more than three textual examples. Use transitional words and sentences at the beginning of each paragraph to ensure the essay’s readability. All supporting points must be organized in focused, well-developed paragraphs. In terms of outside research, select sources of literary criticism that will support your interpretation. Avoid exclusive reliance on Internet sites, particularly those with a .com designation, Wikipedia, SparkNotes, Cliffs Notes, and other similar sources. When in doubt about a source’s reliability, ask the instructor.
For example, an ideal source to consult is the database titled “Literature Resource Center,” accessible through the school’s library system. Here, students can find full text biographical and literary analysis articles. It is possible to write this essay using primarily textual examples and no outside sources. In either case, the MLA citation format must be used since the writer must clearly make the distinction between his/her own thoughts and the ideas of others. If outside sources are used, keep copies of this material.
Papers that contain any evidence of plagiarism will receive a grade of “F.” Papers that are not properly cited (for example, a missing Works Cited Page or no in-text citations) will not receive a grade. Please note: if you refer to a non-fiction essay from the “Digital Readings” text, you can also refer to the page number on the screen. For example, the third screen of an essay could be used as page 3. For example, (Staples 3). Please note when referring to the play, replace the page number with the act, scene, and line numbers, separated by periods. For example, (Wilson ). Tip: Use quotation marks for non-fiction and play titles. Also use present tense verbs when writing about literature. Finally, prepare a Works Cited Page by recording the bibliographic information, in MLA format, for each source used.
