Essay
Classics Writing Assignment
Essay 1
Format – MLA
Only submit a Word Document (turnitin will not accept rtf or any
other format…only word). Any submissions in formats other
than word will be rejected by blackboard/turnitin and therefore
graded with a zero.
Write 3 paragraphs using the exact outline shown below + a
Works Cited page (create an easybib project)
This should be approximately 300-500 words
NOTE: Be sure to abide by syllabus regulations. For this assignment,
you must not have an originality report from turnitin that exceeds
12%. That means that 88% of this assignment must be written in your
own words. If more than 28% of your content is quoted from sources,
you will receive a zero. Please review plagiarism guidelines in
syllabus.
Objective: The purpose of this essay is the demonstration of ability to
read and analyze literature. Follow these step by step instructions:
1) Go to the left menu bar and click on Fiction Corner – you will be
using this tab and the accompanying discussion boards to work
on this writing assignment.
2) Go to easybib.com (see video tutorials) and begin a new project
entitled Classics
3) Return to the Fiction Corner tab and open the folder entitled
Literary Classics. There, you will find a long list of classics with a
brief introduction and link to the free ebook . Yes, you need to
choose one of those readings. No, you cannot write about
something else for Essay #1. However, in the Fiction Corner
discussion boards you can write about any literature that
interests you and comment on others.
4) Scroll down the page and read the first few lines of the
introductions. Pick one that interests you. NOTE: do not try to
pick one that’s easy – choose material that interests you.
Remember that this is a literature course, and the point is to
read new fiction that you have not previously studied. All of
these classics are fantastic and, believe me, any one you select
will be fascinating.
5) Open the link that connects to that title. If, for any reason, you
have trouble with the link, copy the title and author and go to
Google and look for a free version. If you still cannot find a free
copy, you might get the ebook from amazon prime or other
source.
motif,
subtext,
6) Now that you have selected your literature, read it. I know, I
know…some of these items are not written in modern style and
are difficult to read. And so…here is the best trick I know. Go to
cliffs notes, sparknotes or other legitimate summary site (don’t
rely on unvetted and undocumented sites). Now, read the
summary you find there. Go ahead and cite that in your
easybib.com project. For this essay, it is permissible to show the
source where you read the summary.
7) Now that you have read the summary, go back to the free text of
the literature and read. You will no longer be frustrated by the
language. You will know what is going to happen, so you can
relax and enjoy reading. Plus, you will feel super smart when
you tell your friends that you are reading lofty fiction. NOTE: Do
not try to simply use the summary you read. I will know.
Turnitin will totally know. Do the work, read the summary and
then read the literature. In short, do the right thing.
8) Now you are ready to research. Go to Google and research the
theme of your choice and 1 of the following:
character development,
world of the story,
tone, style,
symbols,
foreshadowing,
dramatic irony
So, you would go to Google and type in something like this:
theme and then irony in Dracula.
9) As you select two articles to read about your aspect of the
literature, copy those urls and paste into easybib to document
that article.
10) Now that you have 3 citations: the piece of literature, the
article that relates to theme and the article related to the
deeper choice (see above in yellow) to your approach to the
literature, you are ready to plan the 3 paragraphs you will write.
Use the outline provided below NOTE for an example, I used A
Midsummer Night’s Dream. To be clear, this is not one of your
literature options. This is used only for purpose of example:
I. Paragraph #1
A. Sentence #1 – Introduce the title and author and
when written
B. Sentence #2 – why you are interested in this topic
C. Sentence #3 – an example from your life that you
relate to the story
D. Sentence #4- Write the logline of the literature..
Remember to copy that url and paste it into
easybib for your project. Cite the source.
Ok Google. What is the theme of S hakespeare’s A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
How is irony used in S hakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
E. Sentence #5 – Write in your own words, the
central idea/theme of your piece of literature. For
example: The thematic structure of To Kill A
Mockingbird explores the depths of man’s
inhumanity to man, as well as the human capacity
for love. Something like that – not a quote but
your own words. Remember that short stories are
written in quotes “The Tell Tale Heart” and plays
and novels are in italics To Kill A Mockingbird.
NOTE: Sentences #4 and 5 act as transitions to your
next paragraph.
II. Paragraph #2 – Theme
A. Sentence #1 – Write a statement in your own
words about the plot of the story. For example
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird is the story of
Atticus Finch and his struggle to find justice as he
sets the example of compassion for his two
children, Scout and Jem. – something like that –
again in your own words.
B. Sentence #2 – Quote the article you researched,
careful to cite the source. For example: According
to scholar Tom Williams, “the struggles of Atticus
Finch reflect the issues of a culture built on both
pride and unconditional love”(filmcritics.com).
Something like that. Be sure to cite the entire
article in your easybib project.
C. Sentence #3 and 4, possibly 5 – Explain in your own
words how that quoted statement points back to
your initial sentence about how you relate to the
theme. For example: The Film Critics article
explains a theme I have seen in my own life. I grew
up in West Texas, and I remember wondering how
some of the people I knew could think and do
hateful things and then show up for church on
Sunday. When I read the defense of Atticus Finch,
I feel pride for the hero who seeks truth and justice
for the downtrodden.
Yes, these 2 or three sentences are difficult and
need to be crafted. You might write the three
sentences and then go to an OWL collaborate
session or drop box and ask the professor to help
you edit.
III. Paragraph #3 – the deeper topic you chose from the
list.
This is the exact same formula we used for Paragraph
#2. Instead of theme, you will address the topic you
chose. For example: If I want to explore the world of
the story from To Kill A Mockingbird, I would go to
Google and ask about that. For example: How does
the world of the story reflect the theme of To Kill A
Mockingbird?
A. Sentence #1 – write a sentence in your own words
describing that deeper topic.
B. Sentence #2 – Quote a source
C. Explain how that source quote relates to the
theme.
D. A concluding statement about how the in depth
look you have taken with this literature has
impacted you – that is you personally. Never use
“you, we, us or your or our. Only first person, I,
me, my or third person objective factual
statements.
That’s it. Three paragraphs. Use this exact formula.
11) Read your three paragraphs out loud and correct all errors.
Use present tense. Be sure to look for tense changes and fix
those errors. Use OWL drop box and Collaborate to work on
these three paragraphs.
12) Submit in the tab provided in the folder for Classics Writing
Assignment