quote analysis
Paper Assignment #1: Passage Analysis
Stevenson 2, Section 16
Due (hard copy) Wednesday (1/22) IN CLASS!
Your Goal:
Your assignment is to analyze a key passage from Marx. Make your choice based on your interests and/or passions. Your options are:
1. Globalism and/or colonialism: from “The need of a constantly expanding market…” to “…a world after its own image” (68-69) (223-224).
2. Minimum wage: from “Let us now take wage-labour,” to “…the interest of the ruling class requires it” (78-79) (236).
3. Money in politics: from “Each step in the development of the bourgeoisie…” to “…the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie” (67) (221).
4. Family: from “Abolition of the family!” to “it has existed since time immemorial” (81) (239-240).
5. Demise of local shops and/or artisans: from “The lower strata of the middle class…” to “…all classes of the population.”
6. Private property: From “All property relations…” to “It loses its class character” (78) (235-236).
7. Degradation of workers: From “Owing to the extensive use of machinery…” to …according to their age and sex.” (71) (227-228).
*If you would like to explore another topic other than the ones listed above: PLEASE come to
office hours and clear it with us by Wednesday at 3:30!
This paper does not need to be a standard 5 paragraph essay. If you would like to do this assignment in a more creative format (e.g. script, epic poem, point of view, etc), please come to office hours to check in . Your piece will still be graded with the same rubric and held to the same analytical expectations as a standard paper. You will have to explain how you will meet the expectations in your creative piece during office hours. If you think you might want to do this option, but aren’t sure where to start, check in during office hours.
Your paper will have 3 parts:
Part I:
Write about why you’re choosing this topic. What does it mean to you? Why do you care? Possible tools: a case study (an incident you read about, witnessed, or experienced), personal experiences or observations, conversations with those affected, or just plumbing the depths of your own conscience. Keep this to about ¾ of a page. No need to address Marx yet!
Part II:
Use your Discussion Question HW, reading annotations, and class discussion as a starting point. Think about the whole text and how your selection fits into it. Break down your chosen passage. If you need to look up words, please do. Explain the passage as fully in depth as possible, analyzing all present aspects of the writing: syntax, diction, tone, argument, metaphor, imagery, allusion. Get as clear as you can on what Marx is saying and use quotes to explicitly support your interpretation. You can also use quotes outside your passage to help you support your analysis. About 1 to 1 ½ pages, depending on the length of your passage and how much you have to say.
Part III:
Connect your passage to a contemporary issue or current event. What do you see in your life and in your society that confirms or disconfirms Marx’s thinking? Use quotes from the text; these can be the same ones you used above, but notice how you’re using them in a different way this time. Keep this to about ¾ of a page.
Tools:
Discussion Question HW assignment submissions on Canvas, texts & annotations, roadmaps (any compiled notes you have taken while actively reading), free-writes, class discussions (remember you can cite each other’s discussion contributions), conversations with friends, and office hours with either Kelly, Paige, or both of us. A small amount of research may be useful for Parts I and III, but do not use outside sources (besides a dictionary) to analyze the text in Part II. That should be between you and Marx. Since We encourage y’all to use “I” statements throughout the entirety of your papers to help create more connections between yourselves and the text.
Audience:
An intelligent person (not necessarily an expert) who is interested to hear what you have to say. Assume they’ve read the texts, but it’s been a while.
Standard MLA Format:
1” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font. Provide parenthetical citations after all quotes and paraphrasing, as well as a “Works Cited” section (does not need to be a separate page). Double-sided printing is preferred. Staple your paper with the provided rubric on top. Should be 3-4 pages double spaced.
· Example of a proper MLA Parenthetical Citation (If you have introduced the speaker already):
· Marx details, “Your Selected Quote” (22).
· The punctuation should ALWAYS go after your parenthetical citation!
· Please DO NOT write pp., pg. p., or any of these before the page number!
· Example of a proper MLA Parenthetical Citation (If you have not introduced the speaker already):
· “Your Selected Quote” (Author’s Last Name 36).
· The punctuation should ALWAYS go after your parenthetical citation!
· Please DO NOT write pp., pg. p., or any of these before the page number!
· Please note: there is no comma between the author’s name and page number!