Midterm Literary Analysis Paper

Literary Analysis Paper [Midterm] - Week #7
URL: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/midterm.htm

Literary Analysis Paper [Midterm] = worth 20 % of Course Grade.
Revision Option is available if Worksheet, Seminar #3 and Literary Analysis Paper are completed on time. Revised Literary Analysis Papers will be re-graded only if original graded version is attached to revision!
Late Literary Analysis Papers will be penalized at least 1/2 letter grade (from ENG 104 SYLLABUS on Course Grading & relevant policies).

Deadlines: See ENG 104 COURSE PLAN: Weeks #6 & #7.

Directions & Requirements:

1. MANUSCRIPT FORMAT:

Paper must be typed/word processed and double-spaced or it will not be accepted for grading; and prepared according to standard manuscript standards--e.g., leave 1 inch margins at top-bottom-sides; type/print on standard sized 8 ½” x 11”white paper, using only one side of each page; use readable fonts in standard point sizes (10 point for larger fonts, 12 point for smaller fonts), etc.

MLA-style Heading (in upper left-hand corner of first page) and Running Page headers (in upper right-hand corner of subsequent pages) must be used to identify your paper:

MLA-Style Heading Example (to be placed in upper left-hand corner of first page):

Janet Mikulski (your name)
English 104, Prof. C. Agatucci (identify course & instructor)
Midterm Literary Analysis Paper (identify assignment)
4 November 2002 (identify date assignment is due)

MLA-Style Running Page Header Example
(to be placed in upper right-hand corner of subsequent pages):

Mikulski 2
(your last name and page number)

2. TOPIC CHOICE: Literary Analysis-interpretation of one of the required literary works and authors of narrative fiction assigned for study in ENG 104 thus far (i.e. in Weeks 1 - 5):

Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring

Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado"

Maupassant's "The Necklace"

Chekhov's "The Lady with the Little Dog"

Chopin's "The Story of an Hour"

Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"

3. TOPIC FOCUS of the Midterm Literary Analysis Paper: [See also Worksheet]

Identify, analyze and interpret how at least two literary elements [see Worksheet, part C] of the selected literary work of narrative fiction work together to shape its meaning [theme] and impact on readers; Advice: Focus your paper on a limited number of points - that is don't try to discuss all the literary elements of the work--then proceed to explain, support, and illustrate these limited number of interpretive points in depth, as clearly, effectively, and specifically as you can.

Integrate and discuss "context" information [see Worksheet, part B] relevant to your Topic Choice and Focus that helps readers understand and appreciate the selected literary elements, meaning, and overall impact of the literary work;

Integrate and discuss points made in others' literary criticism relevant to your Topic Choice, Focus, and your essay's Thesis and Main points [see Worksheet, part D].

Feel free to use your previously completed ENG 104 assignments (e.g. Seminar Notes, Critical Review of Sources, Response Writing #1) and ENG 104 course materials if relevant to this assignment.

4. LENGTH: Your essay of Literary Analysis should be 1000 to 1300 words. Overall, that would translate into 5-to-6 double-spaced typewritten/wordprocessed pages, including the separate Works Cited page to be placed at the end of your Literary Analysis Paper.

5. GENRE: Your Midterm Literary Analysis Paper will be written in the genre of the essay, controlled by a thesis (see Charters 1017-1021). In supporting your essay thesis and developing your interpretation of the selected work of narrative fiction, you will be combining different types and approaches of literary criticism discussed by Charters (1021-1031): Analysis (e.g. of well-selected parts of the story that support your thesis interpretation & supporting points), Explication (of specific passages that explain & illustrate your points), Comparison and Contrast (e.g., of two or more elements of fiction within a single story), and Context (see Worksheet part B: relevant background information by and about the author, relevant statements/literary criticism by the author, relevant characteristics of literary period/movement and/or sub/genre).

Note: In class on Wed., Oct. 30, we will examine examples of student literary criticism reprinted in Charters. Bring Charters textbook to class!!

6. PLAGIARISM MUST BE AVOIDED in your Literary Analysis Paper, by providing:

In-text parenthetical citations with all quotations, paraphrases (indirect quotations), and summaries taken from your sources--and "sources" includes both your primary source (i.e. the literary work of narrative fiction that you select as your topic), and secondary sources of information (from our Charters textbook and/or other "outside" sources)

Works Cited page, giving full bibliographical entries for all sources cited in-text (i.e. in your Literary Analysis essay) must be given at the end of your paper.

Note: In class on Wed., Oct. 30, further directions and models will be given for in-text parenthetical citation and Works Cited.

7. WRITING GOALS & AUDIENCE:

Your primary writing goal is to help you and other ENG 104 readers better understand and appreciate the literary work of narrative fiction that you interpret in your Literary Analysis Paper.

Your target audience is Cora and other ENG 104 class members, so assume that your audience has already read the literary work in question - i.e. you do NOT have to give a lengthy detailed plot summary of the story;

Present your analysis and interpretation of the selected work of narrative fiction as only one among many possible interpretations. You want your readers to learn something of value from your interpretation, but you need not set out to convince each and every one of us to accept only your interpretation of the literary work. Keep in mind that there is no single “right” or “correct” interpretation of a given literary work. Diversity of opinion and interpretation is not only inevitable, but also thought-provoking, valuable, and interesting in the study of literature. Considering multiple perspectives and interpretations enriches (deepens and broadens) our collective understanding of a literary work in new/different ways.

While you are certainly entitled to your own "private" literary opinions in a climate that encourages diversity of opinion, simply asserting "this is my opinion" is not enough to earn your opinions serious consideration with other college-level ENG 104 literary critics in formal "public" literary criticism. Literary analysis and interpretation requires coherent explanation and persuasive support to be successful with your ENG 104 targeted audience of readers.

ENG 104 class and seminar discussions have demonstrated that even though everyone in English 104 has been studying the same works and materials, no two readers may read, understand, and interpret a given literary work in exactly the same ways. What may seem “obvious” to you may very well not be “obvious” to other Eng 104 readers ( who may have very different interpretations of the literary work).

Write to communicate clearly with your target (and diverse) ENG 104 audience, and to convince your readers that they should take your interpretation seriously and can learn from it. That means you must not only state ("tell"), but also develop your thesis and supporting points clearly, fully and effectively with cogent explanation, specific illustration, and analysis to "show" your readers how and why you arrived at your interpretation.

8. PROOFREAD AND EDIT your Literary Analysis Paper before submission. Grammatical errors that hurt the clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of your written expression will be considered in grading. NOTE: Neat handwritten corrections in black or blue ink on the typed/wordprocessed pages of the final draft are acceptable.

See also Worksheet & Seminar #3 - Week #6
URL: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/worksheet.htm
Using Sources Effectively - Week #6
URL: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/usingsources.htm
Citing Sources Correctly (MLA Style) - Week #6
URL: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/citingsources.htm

Cora's ENG 104 Course Web Site: Index
Fall 2002 Syllabus | Course Plan | Online Course Pack | Assignments Index | Other Links? go here

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URL of this webpage: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/midterm.htm
Last updated: 27 September 2003

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