ESSAY

ESSAY 2 DIRECTIONS:

Many have written about the consequences of ethnocentric thinking in society and the effects on individuals (see Chapter 8 from Ruggiero’s Beyond Feelings). We have examined several poems that also express experiences of being cast as an outsider or straddling the margins of identities within a dominant culture. Examine (only) two poems from our class poetry readings (THE POEMS ARE AT THIS DOCUMENT BELOW.) How does the notion of the outsider manifest in the text? In this context, develop a common theme from the two poems and analyze how two literary elements in the poems highlight and support that theme. 

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS:

· Length: 

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· Write 1200 words minimum, single-spaced. This looks like 2 full pages, single-spaced (falling under the word count will receive an F or lower with only the opportunity for a 15% increase on the revision).

· Organization & Structure: 

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· Generate a clear, thorough analysis, with two poems, theme, and specific literary elements explicitly referenced in the thesis.

· Include a clear analytical structure as indicated in the Essay 2 PPT linked in this Essay 2 Directions page.

· Include specific examples and textual support from the literary text that support your main points. [this means approximately 2-3 short "snippets" of quotes per body paragraph]

· Include a thorough analysis of the implications and significance of all of your findings.

· Do not cite more than 1-2 lines of poetry per citation. The text is mere evidence, but the analysis should be carried by your words. 

· Sources - Include 2 Sources

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· Incorporate only one source (not poems) from our course readings (Beyond Feelings or Norton Anthology), used only when necessary to support your points.

· Incorporate one external source from a peer-reviewed scholarly article that is retrieved from the library databases. For more information, see the Library Resources and Scholarly Resources pages under Pages in Canvas.

· Submitting the Essay

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· Copy/Paste the entire Essay 2 Grading Rubric on the last page of your essay. Submit the essay as a Microsoft Word Document, single-spaced. Microsoft Word is free when you access your student email. This is explained in the Essay 2 PPT.

· Avoid personal pronouns and examples. 

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· This means that you will completely avoid personal language like "I, we, you, my".  Visit the Academic Language page for more clarity.

· Use MLA Format and Include a Works Cited page

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· Academic essays should look a specific way. The text is 12-point, Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, with no spaces or gaps anywhere. Include a Works Cited page. Cite your two poems in the Works Cited page. They do not count as sources. For citation and quotation help, refer to the Essay Resources page to help you complete this correctly, specifically the MLA PPT. Remember that MLA format requires double-spacing, but in this specific course, essays must be submitted single-spaced.

· Review the Academic Honesty & Plagiarism page.

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· Any plagiarism detected in this paper will earn zero points without the possibility for revision. If you need help regarding plagiarism issues, reach out to your instructor or an on-duty instructor in the WRC. Click here.

 

ACCEPTABLE POEMS FOR ESSAY 2 ANALYSIS:

(All poems can be located in an internet search)

· “Daystar” Rita Dove

· “Legal Alien” Pat Mora

· “I, Too” Langston Hughes (NA 1279)

· “Poem for a Young White Man” Lorna Dee Cervantes

· “Hanging Fire” Lorde (NA896)

· “The Changeling” Cofer (NA 908);

· “Latin Deli: An from Ars Poetica” Cofer (NA 943)

· “Sonrisas” Mora

· “I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud” Wordsworth (NA 853)

· “Dover Beach” Matthew Arnold

*Contact me if you would like to do another poem.

 

HOW WILL THIS ESSAY BE GRADED?

You must copy/paste the Essay 2 Grading Rubric onto your essay’s last page before you submit it. The rubric indicates that the essay grade will be based on these areas:  

· Length: Essay meets the length requirements

· Organization & Structure: Essay follows the structure indicated in the E2 PowerPoint and contains-

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· Clear thesis w/ theme and listed literary elements

· Transitions and topic sentences with main element

· Explanation of literary element

· Specific examples of the element in poems that demonstrate theme

· Elaboration/Analysis & Significance of two literary elements/theme

· Sources: Essay uses/introduces/integrate two sources, including one peer-reviewed scholarly source, correctly according to the MLA and Quoting PowerPoints.

· Academic Language: Essay uses academic language as specified in the Academic Language page

· Clarity: Essay is generally clear and understandable, free of grammatical errors

· MLA Format: Essay follows visual MLA format indicated in the Essay 2 PowerPoint

· Works Cited Page: Works Cited page includes and correctly cites all sources used in the essay, including two poems

HELPFUL IN-CLASS RESOURCES TO CONSIDER:

· Library Resources

· Scholarly Sources

· Excerpt from White Fragility, DiAngelo (Links to an external site.)

· “Ethnocentrism” Darity

· “Positionality” excerpt from Merriam & Bierema

· “The Science of Antiscience Thinking” Kenrick et al.

· “Kinds of Thinking” linked in pages

· “Intellectual Traits” Paul and Elder

· Chapter 7 - What is Argument? ( Beyond Feelings )

· Chapter 8– “Mine-Is-Better” Thinking ( Beyond Feelings )

PENALTIES

· Not meeting word count: F or lower

· Not following directions of choosing two poems and analyzing common theme and 2 literary elements.

· Not following academic structure/organization indicated in E2 PowerPoint: D or lower

· Not including specific, detailed examples to demonstrate how literary elements manifest in poems to demonstrate theme: D or lower

· Not following the specific source requirement: D or lower

· Not following MLA Format: -10% or more

· Not following citation/MLA citation guidelines: -10% or more

· Plagiarizing anything: Zero without opportunity to revise.