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Literary Analysis Assignment

Task Overview

Drawing from the ideas generated in our class discussion, write 850-word (1100 max.)

essay that analyzes one of the stories or poems shared in class. Avoid simply

summarizing the text. Instead, assert a position on the meaning of the story/poems, and

show your readers how the elements in the story/poems contribute to the overall meaning.

Course Goal and Objectives:

 To demonstrate the analysis processes through the stages of the writing progression

 To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and making appropriate communication choices

 To enhance literary skills

 To distinguish how the elements of fiction/poetry work and how/why a writer makes her/his decisions

 To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper

 To apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency in the development of literary analysis

Topic: (Choose one prompt):

 Select a story we have read in class and analyze the decisions the

protagonist makes. Think about his/her decisions and whether or not they are followed by any repercussions, and if not, why? Could the author be implying

anything significant? Explain. Does the writer want the reader to feel sympathetic

for the narrator and/or protagonist? Whether the choice is right or wrong, does the

writer allow the reader enough information to see the choice in that light?

Explain. Keep in mind the author’s purpose, time it was written, and how readers

respond to the stories. As you develop your interpretation, you must explain the

functionality of the various short story terms (i.e. plot, conflict, setting, symbols,

characterization, etc.).

 For this writing assignment, you are to choose two poems we have

examined and write a comparative analysis. Your

analysis must examine the functionality of their

structures- internal and external. You are also to explain the audience, purpose, and speaker of the poem based on evidence –the text and

scholarly sources. You must create a strong thesis statement and be as thorough as

possible, but your analysis must explain the authors’ message and how the various

poetic elements support your interpretation. Consider the following: Is the poem

argumentative or artistic? Who is the speaker? What is the tone? Setting?

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Formatting (i.e. sonnet, villanelle, free verse) Meter? Rhyme scheme? Could a

word or phrase have more than one meaning?

Length1 and formatting: 850 word minimum (1100 max. not including works cited

page). Use MLA style for formatting your paper and citing your sources (in a works cited

page).

Resources: You must have at least four sources; at least three MUST be peer-reviewed,

academic sources (books or journals); you may use a newspaper, magazine or internet

source; however, I must approve all websites prior to use. You are not to use Wikipedia, Shmoop, Cliff notes, Spark Notes, eNotes, Book Rags, Wiki Answers,

etc.

This is a formal literary paper; you may not use first or second person (no “I think,” “I

believe,” “I discovered,” “you can see,” “you should understand,” etc.)

Audience: For this essay you will be writing to literary critics; therefore, you should assume that they have read the text. Therefore, less than a third of your paper

should be a summary of the text.

Essay Guidelines

1. Introductory Paragraphs: Your introduction should (1) engage the reader, (2) provide appropriate background information about the text (a brief summary and

biographical information), and (3) assert your thesis. In this case, your thesis will

be your assertion of what the intended meaning of the text is: What is the central

of purpose of the story/poems?

2. Body Paragraphs (at least 3 points): Each point should include a topic sentence that clearly supports the thesis. Each point should (1) identify an element of the

literary text that contributes to its overall meaning, (2) briefly describe the

element to establish context for your readers, and (3) explain HOW the element

conveys or contributes to the central meaning of the literary text. Answering the

“HOW” part is crucial to your analysis. It is not enough just to identify the

characteristics; you must also discuss how these characteristics create meaning or

make a statement.

3. Concluding Paragraph: The concluding paragraph should (1) evaluate the effectiveness of the text(s) and (2) lead the reader out of the essay.

1 You are limited to only one block quote (four lines max) for the entire essay, but you must

rationalize the quote in your own words as well.