Women's Literature

Literary Analysis Essay Guidelines

Due Date:  Last week of the semester.

Essay Format Requirements:

1.

1.

1. Length: Your essay should be 4-5 pages long.

2. Formatting: Please format your essay in double-spaced text, following the MLA style guidelines.

3. You are required to use at least one article form an academic, peer-review journal from the JSTOR database on the SLCC library website. Be sure to cite correctly any outside sources. Refer to the MLA tutorials on how to correctly use in-text citations.

4. Citations: Direct quotations are required and should comprise no more than 15% of the total word count. Ensure all quotes are correctly attributed with in-text citations.

5. Works Cited Page: A Works Cited page is mandatory, but it does not contribute towards the overall page count.

 

Research

For this assignment, it is critical that you utilize credible and academic sources to support your ideas. The SLCC Library provides a host of databases which contain an abundant selection of peer-reviewed articles. Specifically, I recommend using JSTOR, a digital library filled with academic journals, books, and primary sources from a wide variety of disciplines.

To access these resources, navigate to the SLCC Library's homepage and select 'Databases' from the 'Find' dropdown menu. Look for JSTOR in the list of available databases. Once you're in JSTOR, make sure to filter your search to include only peer-reviewed articles. This will ensure the credibility and academic rigor of your sources.

I strongly advise against using non-academic internet sources. While they might appear helpful at first glance, they often lack the rigorous scrutiny and peer-review process that academic sources undergo, and therefore might contain unreliable or inaccurate information. Always aim for academic, peer-reviewed sources to maintain the integrity and credibility of your research.

Assignment Guidelines:

This essay assignment involves a thematic analysis of two texts (either short stories or poems) from our course. Your task is to identify a common theme related to women's literature and articulate how this theme is represented in your chosen texts.

Procedure:

1.

1. Select two short stories from our course readings that share a specific theme from the list below.

2. Read, analyze and take note of the texts and extract relevant quotes or parts that pertain to this theme.

3. Analyze these extracts, breaking them down into smaller elements and considering how they contribute to the overall representation of the theme.

4. Develop your interpretation of these moments, discerning what the texts communicate about the theme and how the authors' approaches differ.

The outcome should be a well-structured essay that begins with a clear thesis statement (the overall point of your argument) and supports this statement with specific evidence from the texts (quotes, images, ideas about character, etc.).

Choose ONE theme from the list below:

·

· Fairy Tale Motifs

· Spaces or Objects (Physical & Symbolic)

· Motherhood/"Mothers"

· Insanity/Illness

· Death

· Ethnicity

· Women as "Artists"/Use of Art

· Spirituality/Faith

· Marriage

· Sexuality

· Conflict of Binaries (Examples: Passion/Reason, Sanity/Insanity, Freedom/Enslavement)

If you'd like to propose a different theme, please email me for approval.

Evaluation Criteria:

Your final essay will be evaluated based on:

·

· A clear and precise thesis focusing on a specific theme in both stories.

· Relevant examples, textual evidence, explanations, and their relation to the thesis.

· Comprehensive analysis and development beyond mere summary or unexplained quotes.

· Correct integration of quotations and citations.

· Logical organization of paragraphs and coherence of ideas.

· Minimal stylistic or grammatical errors.

Here is an example of how to begin this essay assignment by starting with some note taking and writing an outline:

Let's consider the short stories "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain" by James Tiptree Jr. (the pseudonym of Alice Sheldon) and "The Evening and the Morning and the Night" by Octavia Butler for an assignment based on the theme "Motherhood/‘Mothers’".

I. Possible Title: Unconventional Motherhood in Women's Science Fiction: A Study of "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain" and "The Evening and the Morning and the Night"

II. Introduction paragraph and Possible Thesis: The short stories "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain" by James Tiptree Jr. and "The Evening and the Morning and the Night" by Octavia Butler challenge traditional representations of motherhood and propose new interpretations within a science fiction context. This paper will argue that both authors exploit the genre's possibilities to subvert conventional notions of motherhood, proposing new dimensions and implications.

III.  2 page of Analysis of "The Last Flight of Dr. Ain": This section will analyze the portrayal of Earth as a suffering mother figure in Tiptree's story. The protagonist's desperate attempt to "cure" Earth can be seen as a reflection on the role of mothers and the responsibility society places on them. Specific quotations and moments from the story will be used to support this interpretation.

IV.   2 pages of Analysis of "The Evening and the Morning and the Night": In Butler's story, the protagonist's mother's actions have direct consequences on her daughter's life, thus presenting a more nuanced and complex representation of motherhood. The section will delve into the genetic disease that ties mother and daughter together, representing a unique metaphor for the bond and responsibilities inherent to motherhood. Key passages from the text will be highlighted to underline this analysis.

V.  1 page of Comparison: This section will draw parallels between the two stories, comparing how each author uses the theme of motherhood to offer innovative and thought-provoking perspectives on the role and perception of mothers within their science fiction settings. Differences in their approaches will also be explored.

VI.   1  paragraph for the Conclusion: The essay will conclude by restating the thesis, summarizing the main points, and suggesting further implications of these unconventional representations of motherhood in women's science fiction.

As always, ensure that the focus remains on thorough analysis and interpretation, backed up by evidence from the texts. Your unique insights and interpretations are the core of this essay assignment.

 

Thorough research, comprehensive note-taking, and a detailed outline are instrumental in crafting a successful essay. Thorough research ensures you have a deep understanding of your topic and provides a robust base of evidence to support your arguments. To manage the wealth of information you'll encounter, note-taking is key. As you research, jot down key points, significant quotes, and your own ideas or questions. This will make it easier to recall critical information, and also makes the process of referencing and citation more straightforward.

Furthermore, an outline helps to structure your essay effectively. By breaking down your essay into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, you can focus on one section at a time, making the task feel less daunting. For each section, write a brief note of what you plan to include there, based on your research notes. This provides a roadmap for your essay, ensuring you stay on track and cover all necessary points.

Remember, the writing process is more manageable when you are well-prepared, so investing time in research, note-taking, and outlining is an investment in the success of your essay.

Submission Instructions:

Please submit your assignment as a Word document in Module 9. Submissions in any other format will not be accepted.

Note: Remember to proofread and edit your work carefully before submission for clarity, grammar, and punctuation. Good luck!

Essay Grading Rubric

1. Format (20 Points)

· Length: Is the essay 4-5 pages long?

· Formatting: Is the essay double-spaced and in MLA style?

· Citations: Are direct quotations correctly attributed with in-text citations, and do they comprise no more than 15% of the total word count?

· Works Cited Page: Is a Works Cited page included, and does it not contribute to the overall page count?

2. Research (20 Points)

· Source Selection: Does the essay utilize credible, academic, and peer-reviewed sources, as accessed from recommended databases such as JSTOR?

· Quality of Information: Is the information taken from the sources accurate, relevant, and properly cited?

3. Content (40 Points)

· Thesis Statement: Is there a clear and precise thesis focusing on a specific theme from the list provided in the assignment?

· Textual Evidence: Does the essay provide relevant examples, textual evidence, and explanations that relate to the thesis?

· Analysis: Does the essay offer comprehensive analysis and development beyond mere summary or unexplained quotes?

· Comparison: Does the essay draw meaningful comparisons between the two chosen texts and their treatment of the theme?

4. Structure (10 Points)

· Paragraph Organization: Are the essay’s paragraphs logically organized, and do they collectively build towards a convincing argument?

· Coherence of Ideas: Are the ideas in the essay clearly connected and well-articulated, guiding the reader smoothly from one point to the next?

5. Mechanics (10 Points)

· Grammar and Style: Does the essay demonstrate proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure?

· Integration of Quotes: Are quotations correctly integrated into the text, rather than awkwardly dropped in or improperly formatted?

Please note that any essays that do not meet the basic requirements (e.g., essays that are less than 4 pages long or do not include a Works Cited page) will receive a substantial penalty. Essays that do not choose a theme from the provided list or receive approval for a chosen theme will also be penalized.

Final scores will be out of a possible 100 points, and will be determined by the cumulative total of the points earned in each category.

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