literature

Prince George’s Community College

English 1020

Prof. Kpalukwu

Summer 2020

Essay #3 – Drama/Play Analysis Essay

Essay Requirements:

1. Write an analysis of the Drama/play we read in class, Trifles, or you may choose any of

the plays listed in our textbook. Nothing outside our textbook should be considered.

2. Essay should include:

1. Your own title

2. Introduction

3. Thesis Statement

4. Topic sentences for each paragraph, and supporting details.

5. In-text citations and Works Cited

6. Conclusion

3. There are two goals of the essay:

a. To analyze a drama/play using formalist elements: Exposition/theme, character,

protagonist/antagonist, conflict, plot, crisis, resolution, or style; or a combination

of all, as you see fit. DO NOT summarize (meaning to retell) the play line by line in

your paper (boring to read!). You are encouraged to use the chapter checklists to help

you with your analysis, but do not just answer the questions. This should be a

developed essay.

b. To use outside research to expand the analysis / discussion of the play through

either application of a school of critical theory (if using reader-response, you

must use an additional school of criticism) or literary criticism. You must

conduct research for this paper using academic sources or by using literary criticism

written about the play (use Artemis as accessed through the PGCC

Databases). Sparknotes, CliffsNotes, GradeSaver or any study guides, or Wikipedia

or free essay websites cannot be used as research for the papers in this class.

4. Do not use first person (I, my, me, we, us) or second person (you, your) when writing the

essay (unless quoting a source that uses first or second person or including reader

response criticism).

5. The audience for the paper is an academic audience. Academic audiences expect very

few (if any) sentence level errors and a professional, formal tone.

6. Essays must follow MLA format, both in appearance (Times New Roman 12 point

font, double spacing, first page heading, pagination, etc.) and citation (works cited AND

in-text citation). Refreshers on MLA format are in Course Contents in Blackboard and

Chapter 3 in your textbook.

7. The minimum length of each essay is 4 full pages. Essays may exceed the minimum;

however, do not go over 8 full pages. Essays shorter than 4 pages or over 8 pages will be

penalized one letter grade (ten points). The works cited does NOT count towards page

count.

8. The minimum amount of sources required for the essay is two. One must be the play

(if you would like to see an example of a works cited page with a citation from our

textbook, do so,) and the other is the student’s choice. Students are encouraged to use

more than this, but two is the minimum.