American Lit (Camile Faith)

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American Literature 1

Final Paper and Rubric

Because the purpose of American Literature I is to get you familiar with the evolution of American literature up to 1860, your major writing assignment for the course asks you to apply what you have learned as the course progresses. You are expected to write an MLA documented https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html. paper (approximately 7 - 10 pages) that shows some of what you have learned in the class. Here are the specifics:

1. The topic of your paper should be one of three “theme” questions we have for the semester:

How does literature reflect the relationship between the individual and faith/belief/religion?

How does literature reflect the relations between women and men?

How does literature reflect the ideas of good and evil?

2. Your thesis should answer the question “How do you (as yourself, an intelligent reader) see American literature reflecting X (where X is your topic question) over the historical periods we have covered?” What I would like to see is your interpretation of how and why writers' responses to these topic questions changed in response to changes in history, culture, society, literary fashion, literacy, etc. – i.e., your interpretation of the sweep of literary history.

3. In your paper, you must answer your chosen question with specific reference to works from all three historical periods: Puritanism, Enlightenment, and Romanticism (this includes the subgenre of Transcendentalism). Please note that “specific reference” means that you should quote specific authors, passages, character names, episodes, etc. – not just “Jacobs says slavery was really bad for women.” But something like “When Jacobs states ‘[s]lavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women. Superadded to the burden common to all, they have wrongs, and sufferings, and mortifications peculiarly their own’ (Jacobs). She means that women had to endure indignities and crimes that men could never understand or imagine. Not only were they raped and tortured on a regular basis, but they were controlled by the threat of having their children removed or harmed.” The more specific you can be about the works you are analyzing and reflecting on, usually the better the quality of your paper.

4. You may choose which works you wish to discuss from those we have read in class. You may also wish to include works outside our readings in your reflection, though it is not required. You should discuss in some detail at least two works (or writers) from each time period, though you certainly can analyze more than six pieces of literature.

5. Your reflection should demonstrate that you understand and can connect literary works to key historical events, concepts, and movements of the time.

6. Your primary focus of this essay should be your own reflection on how the works and writers of American literature that you have selected have tackled your chosen theme question. You are free to use secondary sources in support of your reflection but the material must be properly documented. Throughout the course, please ask me if you are unsure about whether you should document a source, or how to document a source.

7. This paper should demonstrate your cumulative comprehension of the course, so it would be unwise to wait until the end to begin working on it if you want an excellent grade. Throughout the course, class time will be provided to share ideas with peers and to generate writing. It is highly recommended that you use this class time effectively as it will help you to get a better final grade on the paper and the course.

Helpful Suggestions:

I will be happy to look at any writing in progress at any point throughout the course to offer feedback

The Writing Center or e-tutoring can offer feedback to work in progress

As you complete each reading assignment, always be looking for possible quotes to use for this paper

Use the grading rubric that follows to evaluate your paper

Suggested Outline for Final Paper

The final paper is a cumulative reflection on the literature and history covered in the course. It will incorporate a lot of information and take a lot of time to write. Successful students draft sections of the paper as we progress through the course, so as to write down ideas as they are fresh in mind, and allow sufficient time for revision of the writing. Therefore, the following is a suggested outline for the final paper. It lists a topic for each paragraph of the paper. Feel free to format your paper according to this outline.

Overview of the value of studying literature (perhaps pulling ideas from class discussions)

Tailoring the general comments regarding the value of studying literature to comments regarding the value of studying American literature, even that which was written hundreds of years ago. Continue with discussion of how this literature can give readers insight into X (your chosen theme question). Ending this paragraph with a thesis statement (by changing the theme question into a specific and focused statement).

Overview of history of the Puritan period in narrative style; do not simply list dates and events

Introduction to and summary of 1st chosen piece of literature

Analysis of this piece of literature in relation to the chosen theme question. Quotes or reference to specific passages are included in this paragraph

Introduction and summary of 2nd chosen piece of literature

Analysis (as done in paragraph 5)

Transition paragraph – summarize the state of affairs in regards to your theme question as reflected in the literature shown, and why it is so given the history of the time. Suggest whether the theme will maintain in the next period studied, or change.

History of the Enlightenment period in narrative style; do not simply list dates and events

Introduction to 1st piece of Enlightenment literature chosen

Analysis (as done in previous paragraphs)

Introduction to 2nd piece chosen from this time period

Analysis

Transition paragraph (as done in paragraph 8)

Overview of history of Romanticism in narrative style; do not simply list dates and events

Introduction and summary of 1st piece of literature chosen from this time period

Analysis of selection of literature

Introduction to 2nd piece

Analysis

Summary of pieces from this period in relation to theme question and history of time

Comments of how the theme has evolved throughout the ages studied and how history and literature work together to create this evolution.

General comments about how this knowledge and so much more can me reaped from the study of literature

Literature Research Rubric

Development

Exceeds Expectations

20 points

Meets Expectations

14 points

Approaching Expectations

7 points

Below Expectations

0 points

· Develops a thesis that answers the theme question directly and is supported with evidence throughout.

· Provides effective synthesis of the literature and research with topic sentences, background information a deep analysis throughout.

· Provides an excellent selection of evidence from all covered periods of Literature covered in class.

· Presents excellent details to support the thesis.

· Provides effective background information and/or interesting analysis.

· Presents an excellent selection of evidence to support the themed question with no lapses in accuracy or completeness.

· Presents sufficient details to support the thesis.

· Provides sufficient background information and/or analysis.

· Presents information from the reading materials relevant to the purpose of the themed question with no lapses in accuracy or completeness.

· Presents some details to support the thesis.

· However, lacks sufficient background information, and/or analysis.

· Presents information from reading materials relevant to the themed question and with minor lapses in accuracy.

· Themed question is not answered.

· There is very little writing that provides details from reading materials relevant to the purpose of the themed question.

Organization

Exceeds Expectations

20 points

Meets Expectations

14 points

Approaching Expectations

7 points

Below Expectations

0 points

· Ideas are in a coherent and logical manner throughout the essay.

· The structure serves the context and enhances the writer’s intention.

· Utilizes transitional words or links to help paragraphs flow.

· Maintains a structure that intentionally and effectively enhances the presentation of information as required by the prompt.

· Utilizes transitional words or links to help paragraphs flow.

· Maintains a logical or stylistic structure to address the specific requirements of the themed question.

· Utilizes transitional words or links to help paragraphs flow.

· Uses an appropriate structure to address the specific requirements of the prompt, with some lapses in coherence or awkwardness.

· Does not utilize transitional words or links to help paragraphs flow.

· Attempts to organize ideas, but lacks control of structure.

· Missing paragraphs or requirements.

Analysis

Exceeds Expectations

20 points

Meets Expectations

14 points

Approaching Expectations

7 points

Below Expectations

0 points

· Demonstrates thoughtful insight and imagination while exploring and reflecting critically about text

· Connects features within and across texts in terms of content, context, or style.

· Demonstrates extremely thoughtful insight and imagination while exploring and reflecting critically about text.

· Connects features within and across texts in terms of content, context, or style.

· Demonstrates insight and evaluates text, while exploring and reflecting critically about text.

· Connects features within and across texts in terms of content, context, or style.

· Demonstrates some insight or evaluation of text, but lacks critical reflection.

· Does little to connect features within and across texts in terms of content, context, or style.

· Demonstrates little to no insight, evaluation, or critical reflection of text.

Language and Conventions

Exceeds Expectations

20 points

Meets Expectations

14 points

Approaching Expectations

7 points

Below Expectations

0 points

· Writes with a formal tone consistently appropriate to the audience, purpose, and requirements of the themed question.

· Makes stylistic choices in language, demonstrating awareness of the impact on an audience

· Uses appropriate and varied vocabulary, sentence structures, and syntax.

· Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

· Demonstrates and maintains a well-developed command of standard English conventions and formal tone with few errors.

· Response includes stylistic choices in language and syntax appropriate to the audience and specific requirements of the themed question.

· Demonstrates a command of standard English conventions and formal tone with few errors.

· Response language and tone appropriate to the audience, purpose, and specific requirements of the themed question.

· Demonstrates an uneven command of standard English conventions or formal tone.

· Uses language and tone with some inaccurate, inappropriate, or uneven features.

· Attempts to demonstrate standard English conventions or formal tone, but lacks control of grammar, usage, and mechanics.

MLA Documentation

Exceeds Expectations

20 points

Meets Expectations

14 points

Approaching Expectations

7 points

Below Expectations

0 points

· Consistently cites sources using MLA form.

· Paper is formatted using MLA guidelines.

· Correctly and consistently cites sources.

· Paper is formatted using MLA guidelines.

· Correctly and consistently cites sources.

· Paper is formatted using MLA guidelines.

· Inaccurately, or incorrectly, or inconsistently, cites sources.

· Paper is not consistently formatted using MLA guidelines.

· There is no Works Cited page or proper MLA formatting.

· Paper is not formatted using MLA guidelines.

Overall Grade