Troilus and Criseyde and Il Filostrato Paper
Chaucer used Boccaccio’s Il Filostrato as an inspiration
Examine how Chaucer borrows from Boccaccio and what he changes.
Reflect on how Chaucer’s changes to Boccaccio’s work might demonstrate a difference between the overall messages of these works.
Write a paper comparing a specific character or scene within these two works
Attempt to focus your analysis on one specific part of the texts
Offer specific examples from each text including summary, paraphrase, and quotation
You may choose to incorporate scholarly secondary sources into your argument, but they are not required for this paper.
Introduction/thesis/main idea:
Does the introduction lay out the aspect of the text that the paper will address?
Is there a clear thesis statement?
Ideas: Does the essay make interpretive moves, or stick with surface observations?
Supporting Evidence: Are assertions and arguments adequately supported with evidence such as direct quotation and summary from the text? Are connections between evidence and arguments clear?
Coherent Organization:
Are ideas logically ordered? Do main topic sentences analytically introduce ideas? Do paragraphs support the thesis? Are transitions between paragraphs natural?
Addresses the Question: Does the essay adequately address all parts of the assignment?
Requirements:
Papers should be 5-7 pages typed and double spaced (not including the Works Cited page).
You may use MLA or Chicago style citation.
You may use secondary sources but are not required to do so. You must cite all sources you do use. You do not need a Works Cited page if you are not citing secondary sources, but I do expect to see in-text citations of the texts.
Introduction/Thesis/Main Idea
You are writing for someone who has already read both works. When you summarize or quote the text, do so to remind the reader of specific evidence that backs up an argument that you are making. Do not summarize or quote just to reiterate the plot.
Avoid the overly general introduction. Instead, try to set the stage for a more specific idea that you are exploring.
Your thesis should be arguable, meaning that it should not be overly obvious. It should be something that requires evidence to back it up (which will be the rest of your paper).
Ideas
Your paper should answer the “So what?” question, meaning that there should be an overall point to it. In this case, what do the differences that you are noticing between these two works reveal about their overall messages?
Supporting Evidence
Avoid quoting at length just to fill up the paper.
Introduce your quotations. Do not just drop a quote in as its own sentence.
Coherent Organization
Paragraphs should be at least four sentences or longer but should usually not be longer than a page. Each paragraph should have a specific focus, and you should begin each paragraph with a claim or main idea that is related to your thesis.
One paragraph should build on another.
