Formal Essay #2 – Poetry
As with the previous essay, the focus on this essay will be on ANALYSIS. We will talk about this in class and I will be passing out “Establishing Arguments” which I hope will help you in formulating your argument and thesis. As always, if you get “stuck” or need help, please email or make an appointment to speak with me; but please don’t wait until the day before the essay or draft is due.
Step #1 - The first step in this assignment is to read through the poems in the packet passed out in class and then decide which two poems you would like to write about. Be sure to select poems that appeal to you and ones that you will be able to connect in terms of style, theme, use of literary devices, etc.
Step #2 – Read the selected poems a second time, underlining anything that draws your attention, including any particular literary elements you notice. You will want to annotate the poems, making notations on anything else you notice (you will be handing in this annotation with your final essay).
Step #3 – Read through your poems a third time, now that you have a clearer understanding of them, and then write a two page “response paper” of about two pages (this will be due on Thursday). If for any reason you are absent on Thursday, please cut and past your response into an email and send it to me (as I will be responding to these initial reactions and giving you tips on your essay). Please feel free to bring in any biographical aspects of the poet’s life that may have influenced her or his choice of themes, style, etc. or whatever else you see through your interpretation. – Due 3/8/07 in class!
Step #4 – Using my comments on your “response paper,” explore the way your pair of poems “works.” You will want to develop some kind of focus for your essay; and the most critical piece of this is your thesis statement. Once you have a thesis statement, you can begin to organize your ideas (outline, chart, etc.) and write a draft paper. Your thesis statement will be due by 3/20 (you may email it to me any time after you receive my initial comments on your response paper). I will respond to your thesis statement, so please plan on considering this in your draft, which is due in class on 3/22 when we will have a peer edit.
Step 5 – Peer editing will be done in class on March 22; please bring three (3) copies to class. I will respond to your essay via email. Please take advantage of these comments in revising your essay—it is my way of helping you to get a better grade on the final essay! My comments will be emailed by 3/25. Final essays are due on 3/29 in class.
Plagiarism - PLEASE DO NOT risk plagiarism by taking chances with citation; plagiarism is a very serious academic offense that will result in automatic failure. For this essay (and for your research paper) you will be using Turnitin.com as a check for areas where you are in danger of plagiarizing; additional instructions on how to use Turnitin will be passed out separately in class and posted on line before the due date. Only essays turned in through Turnitin.com will be accepted for the next two essays.
Writing Center – Please note that you will not be required to meet with a tutor, but please feel free to take advantage of this wonderful FREE resource! Another reader is always a good thing!
Essay Deadlines & Grading
Step #1 – Read all of the poems (at least skim them)
Step #2 – Choose the poems you will write about
Step #3 – Re-read your selected poems and write a two-page response – due 3/8
Step #4 – Thesis statement due in class or via email – due 3/20 in class
Step #5 – Draft Essay (minimum of 3 pages) – 3 copies due in class 3/22
Step #6 – Final essay due 3/29 in class
What to hand in with final essay
1. Final essay – you will hand in a hard copy as well as electronic
2. Two peer edits from classmates only
Formal Essay #1 – Short Stories
A common theme in the stories you have read so far is “reality.” In a five-page essay, you will consider the ways in which writers develop these realities and influence the reader’s perception of this reality. You should consider not only what the author does, but also how she accomplishes this. (Be sure to use quotations and paraphrases!) The following are your additional guidelines:
For this paper, you will choose, analyze and compare any TWO (2) of the following short stories:
“Sonny’s Blues” (Baldwin)
“Saboteur” (Jin)
“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” (O’Connor)
“The Yellow Wallpaper” (Gilman)
Next, you will consider ONE (1) of the following in BOTH of the Short Stories chosen (Focus on depth, not breadth):
1. Tone
2. Style
3. Point of View
4. Setting
Remember that this is a FORMAL essay, which should follow MLA format as explained in your Bedford style guide. We will be discussing some aspects of MLA in class, but it this should be a review. If you have any questions about this paper please see me after class, or make an appointment. The Writing Center tutors are also available for help. DO NOT risk plagiarism by taking chances with citation; plagiarism is a very serious academic offense that will result in automatic failure.
Essay Deadlines & Grading
This essay utilizes Process Writing and any missing step will result in a deduction of five (5) points from your final essay grade. All steps must be complete and turned in when you pass in your final paper:
Step #1 – Draft passed in on February 13 - Bring three (3) copies to class
Step #2 – Two Peer Comment Reports (Performed by class members ONLY)
Step #3 – Session Report – must be completed NLT February 20*
Step #4 – Final Essay – due February 22 – Papers not received in class will be downgraded as late unless accompanied by an excused absence.
*NOTE: Although I will be collecting Session Reports from the Writing Center, you should be sure to keep YOUR copy as insurance.
Grades will depend upon how well you develop your thesis statement in the essay and how closely you engage with the requirements of the assignment. The following are the main areas that I will evaluate:
1. Structure/Form – Introduction, thesis statement, conclusion
2. Development of ideas
3. Organization
4. Style and Tone
5. Mechanics
NOTE ON WRITING CENTER APPOINTMENTS: Please make your appointment with a tutor in Writing Center ASAP. This appointment must be held NLT February 20 in order to allow sufficient time for revisions. When you hold the appointment, it is YOUR responsibility to assure that the tutor completes a “Session Report.”
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