MLA style
Prepare
First, choose which two works you'll be focusing on for this essay.
· You can choose two short stories, two poems, or one of each
· It is recommended (though not required) that the two works you choose come from the same Module
· The two works should have a topic or theme in common
Then, re-read the works.
· What do they have in common? What topics, themes, and literary devices are shared?
· How do they differ? Are they expressing the same theme in different ways? Discussing the same topic but expressing different themes?
· What literary elements does each use to illustrate or emphasize its theme?
· Make note of quotes from the texts that you might want to use in your essay.
Review these resources:
·
The Spiderman Paper.docx
Download The Spiderman Paper.docx: This annotated sample essay points out all the required formatting and organizational components in an essay
·
Video guide to literary analysis (Links to an external site.)
·
Writing Toolkit: Compare / Contrast
Write
For this essay, you'll be comparing how two different works explore the same or similar themes in their own ways.
You can choose A or B:
A. Write about two works that share theme - which means they both make the same overall point
B. Write about two works that share a topic, but have different themes - which means that they each make a different point about the same general topic
For example, if there are two stories about growing up that seem to make the same point, that would be option (a); if there were two stories that each made a different point about growing up, that would be option (b).
Your essay should:
· Be about 900-1,000 words long (3+ pages)
· Be organized - it should have an introduction (including your essay's
thesis
), at least two
discussion sections
, and a conclusion
· Focus on supporting its
thesis statement
· Include
quotes
in each body paragraph
· Use
MLA format
, including internal
citations
You should avoid:
· Copy / pasting from other submissions
· Summary - focus on making and supporting points
· Unprofessional discourse
· Conversational language (you, I, etc.)
Rubric
Essay 1
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Essay 1
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Criteria
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Ratings
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Pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThesis
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20 pts
Thesis presents clear argument, thesis focuses on theme, thesis relates to meaning beyond summary.
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17 pts
Thesis meets most criteria: clear argument, focused on theme, relates to meaning beyond summary.
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15 pts
Thesis meets few criteria: presents clear argument, focuses on theme, relates to meaning beyond summary. Review Lesson 2 information about thesis statements.
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10 pts
Off topic / missing
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20 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTopic Sentences / Organization
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20 pts
Essay is organized around topic sentences that clearly and directly support thesis. Thesis is not organized around summary.
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17 pts
Essay is organized by arguments, but in some paragraphs over-relies on summary. Be sure that topic sentences lead each paragraph and directly relate to thesis. Do not begin paragraphs with summary.Clarifying topic sentences and connections to thesis would be beneficial
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14 pts
Essay is not organized by arguments, and in most or all paragraphs over-relies on summary. Be sure that topic sentences lead each paragraph and directly relate to thesis. Do not begin paragraphs with summary.Clarifying topic sentences and connections to thesis would be beneficial
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10 pts
Essay is almost entirely summary.
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20 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeFormatting / Clarity
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20 pts
MLA format - 900-1,000 words - Purposeful paragraphs - Clearly written with evidence of revision - Relatively free from error
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17 pts
- MLA format with some mistakes - 900-1,000 words - Purposeful paragraphs - evidence of revision - Some minor errors
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14 pts
- MLA format inconsistently used - Essay written about a story outside of Lesson 5 - May be too short - Less Purposeful paragraphs - Some evidence of revision - Several minor errors, possible some major clarity errors
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10 pts
Not written to meet formatting and clarity requirements. Review MLA format and work to revise more carefully. A visit to the writing lab may be beneficial.
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20 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeEvidence
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20 pts
- Essay supports each point with evidence from story - Quotes are clearly integrated and properly cited
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18 pts
- Essay supports most points with evidence from story - Quotes are mostly integrated and properly cited
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14 pts
- Essay uses quotes to support some ideas - Not all quotes are integrated into the author's sentences - Review quote integration and citation guidelines
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10 pts
- Essay needs more support from quotes - Essay makes claims that are not or cannot be supported by story
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20 pts
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeComposition
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20 pts
- Essay is written to exceed assignment requirements - Analysis of theme is focus of essay
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17 pts
- Essay relies on summary and does not make enough use of original analysis - Structure to support a thesis is clear - Essay focuses on theme analysis
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15 pts
- Essay relies too heavily on summary and does not make enough use of original analysis - Structure to support a thesis is less clear - Essay is not entirely focused on theme analysis - essay may misidentify theme - Off topic / wrong story
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10 pts
- Essay is almost entirely summary - Essay does not have a thesis and structure to support thesis - Original points not included - Not focused on theme
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20 pts
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Total Points: 100
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