Essay, Five pages

Essay #3

Since you have probably already written a number of essays on assigned topics in other English courses, and since many of you have brought up provocative ideas in our discussions, I would like each of you to develop your own topic. I have only one restriction- that you focus on one or two of the the last three works: Crimes of the Heart, ‘night, Mother, and Driving Miss Daisy. You can focus on either the play or the film, or you can write another comparison/contrast essay that focuses on the play and the film. You can also choose to compare a feature of two plays or their film adaptations. What follows is a list of topics for success:

1.     Tackle a challenging issue—i.e., try to make a valuable connection between the ways in which the author or the authors deal with a significant problem or idea.

2.     Make sure your topic can be adequately covered in few pages

3.     Select a topic that you feel confident writing about. Part of my evaluation will be in seeing how well you set up your topic and narrow your focus.

4.     Do not fell that you have to stick to my interests or that have to rely on lecture and discussion notes for the content of your paper.

5.     Organize your material effectively and make sure that your main point is a point worth making—that it is clear, strong, and adequately developed in your paper. Recall that a of who, what, when, where.

6.     Use the assertion/evidence/analysis model of reasoning and argumentation. Cite passages and/or scenes to illustrate your points and be sure to discuss the the implications of the passages you cite. In other words, don’t quote just to quote. And don’t provide needless summary.

7.     Use the present tense. Also, give your paper a little that reflects your central concern—e.g. “The legacy of Suicide in Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart