English paper

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Paper 1 Details  I’m giving you the opportunity to produce some self-directed writing.​ For this  first essay, you’re going to need to ​compose a reading response of one of the  texts we have read together so far this semester.​ Which texts you select are  entirely up to you—however, ​in these responses you must draw a connection  between that text and something that we either see in contemporary media,  or deal with in the everyday world. 

What you write on is up to you—that is, you select the ​texts​ that you find most  interesting, provocative, troubling, or entertaining. While what you do is  wide-open, there are still some “rules” for this essay. One of the goals of this  course is to help you see connections between the kinds of texts that we’ve been  reading and what you do in the everyday world. So, to that end, you should draw  a connection between what you read for class and some outside text or situation  you've encountered on your own.  

A​ ​text​ could be a number of things: 

● On one hand it could be another book, story, play or poem (not  necessarily of the same genre as the class reading)  

● On the other hand, it could be a movie, song, graphic novel,  television show, billboard, or news report  

● A third option is a specific real-life personal situation 

While your ideas are clearly the most important element of this paper, it  should still be a polished piece of writing.​ The difference between a truly  insightful connection and an under-developed connection is the difference between  excellent and above-average marks. (See “Paper 1 Rubric” on Folio). 

You’re going to need to draw on some of the terms and concepts we've been  discussing to help clarify your points. In addition, you’ll need to provide some  specific comparisons​ between the texts and what you are discussing. Make sure  that you limit your focus to make the analysis specific. Don't feel like you have to  cover everything. 

 

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Again, here are just some ideas of how you might want to think about forming these  responses when you actually begin to write them out: 

● Explain a ​“text”​ (see first page) that we have not studied together and how it relates to  something that is covered in one of our readings -- What are the connections between these  things? How does one thing help you to understand the other? Is there a similarity between  the impact these two pieces had on you or the world?  

● Compare something that we've read together with an outside text -- Explain the similarities  and differences. What made you connect these things with each other in your brain?  

All of these require that you provide some research to clarify, complicate, or  support your thesis. Yes, ​you must have a clear thesis​.  

Think about it this way: Why should a reader care about what you are  saying? What can they learn from it? What does it say about the nature of  your theme? And so on.  

● A good thesis says, ​this is what you’re going to read about​.   ● A GREAT thesis says, ​this is what you’re going to read about ​and why.  ● An EXCELLENT thesis says, ​this is what you’re going to read about ​and why 

with ~style~​.  

The paper should be ​2-3 pages​ (or 750-900 ​of your own​ words) and should be in  MLA format​. ​You should incorporate at ​least three of the critical concepts​ that  we've engaged with in class to help bolster your argument or clarify how you see  things working​.  

You DO need to quote from the text we read in class together that you choose to  discuss. ​You do not ​need​ to quote from a secondary source,​ ​though you might choose to  use one to help you figure out how to discuss some of the theories and concepts that come up in  your response. ​You may also be writing on, or referencing other secondary (less scholarly)  items which will need to be cited properly as well.​ Your sources could be about your texts, or  the ideas (say like hegemony or patriarchal representation) that you're using in the paper.​ ​Just  make sure that no matter what you are quoting, you are giving credit and citing your work  properly in your paper. Not doing this is called plagiarism. Do not plagiarize and make sure  you’re not unintentionally plagiarizing. If you want a crash course in scholarly research (which is  what 1102 should have given you), check out ​Purdue's library guide​. The Purdue program is  really the gold standard for this material. ​This means you will need to include a Works  Cited page.​ ​In fact, if you're stuck on how to cite something, ​Purdue's OWL​ is an invaluable  resource as well. 

** This essay should be submitted to the Dropbox on Folio by Sunday,  October 25th @ 11:59 pm at the very latest!** 

    

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The Criteria of Good Analysis & Some Advice for your Essay: 

DO NOT​ write LARGE summaries of your texts—develop discussions, analyses, or  critiques NOT a recap of the story, book, or poem. ​DO​ use your analytical skills that  we’ve been developing by using ​specific details and examples ​from the texts to support  your reading. You need to fully develop your answers by using specific examples, ​AND  making sure that you ​contextualize or explain them.​ Make sure that you are saying what  you mean to say. Don’t assume I will understand what you are trying to explain.  Remember, there is an implied element that you should address with any topic  when writing a paper: “why is this idea important?” -- Don’t forget to address this in  your conclusion. 

Analysis is not summary​. This may seem obvious, but it is easy to write several pages of  summary and think you have analyzed the topic in depth because it is all factual and fills  the requirement. Summary does not go beneath the surface; analysis does. 

I am not looking for your interpretation based on a summary of the text—that will lead you  in very obvious and uninteresting directions. I’m asking you to see it in a different way, to  see the issue’s complexity and allow me to see the work through your eyes—that kind of  analysis will lead you to insightful and engaging discoveries. 

Your examples should relate directly to the point you are making​. What is the  significance of the event or plot point you are describing? How does the event help prove  your point? What part does the description play in your argument? If it’s not clear how  what you’ve written relates to your point, then you should either take the summary out  or reevaluate how it fits into your analysis. 

More than a sentence of summary is usually too much​. Don't make the mistake of  trying to relay the relevant summary information, then feeling you need to explain every  detail of the story surrounding it. If you are trying to prove that Rousseau’s need to  dominate every situation comes from his marginalized background as a child, you only  need to mention that. Where he grew up is irrelevant background information. What  you do want to do is explain how this is a coping mechanism, and use details or examples  to support that idea. 

Of course, the content of your response is most important, but your readings must  make sense—​proorfeading will be you’re fiend​. 

  ** This essay should be submitted to the Dropbox on Folio by Sunday, 

October 25th @ 11:59 pm at the very latest!**