literature essay

K. Skwarczek

Engl. 2310: World Lit (Fall 2017) Essay #2

Draft due: Mon. Nov. 27 (1/2 completed. Bring paper copy TO CLASS). Penalty for no draft: Final essay grade dropped by one grade

Final due date: Mon. Dec 4 (submit on Blackboard ONLY; via SafeAssign)

For our second essay, write a 1200—1400 word (approx.. 4.5–5.5 pgs in standard formatting) analytical paper about Ngugi’s The River Between that also critiques or critically responds to at least one scholarly

literary analysis of the novel. Find this secondary source using the MLA International Bibliography database,

or a comparable database from UIW’s library.

Topics may include (but are not limited to):

 How does The River Between respond to European colonialist and/or imperialist attitudes?

 According to the novel, how (or to what degree) is cultural tradition and ritual important to the health or cohesion of a community? How does Nugugi imagine that a community can or should

withstand an external force that seeks to fundamentally change its traditions?

 According to the Ngugi, what is the fundamental problem facing the Gikuyu people? What is the nature of this problem? Does the novel offer a viable solution to the escalating divisions? Why

or why not?

This essay requires you to argue for a literary interpretation the primary source (The River Between) AND to

find and correctly use at least one scholarly source (the secondary source). Additional info:

o A literary analysis goes beyond a mere emotional response to the text or description of the text’s plot and explicit themes. Instead, it should clarify and explain in detail your interpretation of the text OR a

particular aspect of the text, an interpretation that is the result of close-reading. As in the first essay, make

sure that you pick appropriate passages to cite. It’s usually better to cite fewer passages, and analyze

closely, than quote a lot of passages that you don’t actually discuss. Less is more!

o Remember that just because Ngugi “reports” a particular character’s thoughts or feelings does not

necessarily mean that he endorses those thoughts or feelings.

o Use the MLA International Bibliography database (as we learned to do in the library) to find one scholarly

source about the text. Use the scholarly source to either support or expand your argument, or use it as a

jumping off point to launch your own interpretation of the text. Remember that your

interpretation/argument is the focus here. Your essay should not be only a ‘summary’ of the secondary

source. Your essay should also not be merely a repetition of the source’s arguments. You should show

how your interpretation differs from, disagrees with, or adds to this scholarly source. Imagine you are

writing “in conversation” with this other interpretation of the text. What do you bring to the conversation?

The secondary source is way to contextualize your argument.

o Use appropriate MLA citation to cite the novel, the scholarly source, and any additional sources you use, both within your essay and in a Works Cited list at the end of your paper. Remember that you must

correctly cite quotes, paraphrases, and summaries.

Criteria/Rubric --A Central Argument. Include a thesis statement that lays out your argument. Make sure that your

argument offers a specific interpretation of the text.

--Supporting Evidence & Analysis. Provide evidence from your interpretation of the text (i.e. close reading)

in order to support your claims/argument. Provide evidence from a secondary text (the scholarly essay) to support

your ideas or to launch your argument. Be specific and thorough. Plot summary is not evidence.

-- Source Use. Use and cite sources correctly, both inside your paper and in your Works Cited page.

Contextualize your argument in relation to the secondary source.

--Clarity & Organization. Follow an organized structure. The ideas presented should relate to one another.

Each paragraph should be unified and focused. Remember to lead with your ideas/claims, and not with plot.

--Address the Prompt. Meet the requirements (appropriate length, format, topic, citations, draft deadlines, etc.)