Summary:
Explore some of the major themes read and written about so far in one or two works of literature (suggestion: cover two if using shorter texts/poems, and one if its a longer text/essay) from Volume 1 only.
The essay should be well developed and argument based.
Clearly state your interpretation of the text and support that assertion with examples from the text.
Be sure to make the focus of the essay the literature read, as opposed to some of the context about literature and history.
If you use context readings, keep it to a minimum, using only one or two context references.
Do not use any other sources besides the Norton Anthology to write your essay.
Introduction and Thesis (one paragraph)
State the following:
o General topic
o Text (full title and author’s full name)
o Context (when it was written and any relevant historical background)
o Brief summary of the text
o Themes
o Thesis statement (last sentence)
Make an assertion about the way you think the text(s) should be read and what you think they mean overall.
It should be argumentative and analytical, not merely observational.
Consider answering any one of these questions in developing a thesis statement:
Form: how does the way the text is written help you understand the overall meaning?
Identity: how does culture, race, the nationality of characters help you understand the overall meaning?
Nature of reality: what interesting conclusions does the text draw about nature, reality, or humanity?
Body paragraphs (three or more paragraphs)
Paragraphs should have clear topic sentences/points of focus.
Support your argument of the text(s) by examining specific characters and/or scenes with examples from the primary text(s) (the literature), not the background reading about the literature.
Focus on aspects that you find most interesting, subtle, clever or skillful Do not go through summarizing or paraphrasing the surface meaning of the text(s).
Each body paragraph should contain at least one (two is probably safer) direct quotations from the primary text(s).
Read this to learn about how to use quotations well: https://writingcommons.org/avoid-dropped-quotations
Conclusion (one paragraph)
Bring discussion to a close thoughtfully, rather than by mechanically repeating what has already been said.
It can be helpful to emphasize the main points with a small bit of repetition, but add some reflection on such topics as the value of analyzing the text(s) this way for contemporary readers, or the ways that analysis helps readers understand the social contexts of the periods they were written in.
It should answer the question: So What?
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