College Composition II
Researched Literary Criticism Essay Assignment Sheet
What is it?
Literary Criticism is what you have been practicing all semester: taking a piece of literature and formulating an analytical interpretation (thesis) about it.
This essay uses research of other literary critics, biographical information of an author and/or historical research to prove the thesis of the writer (that’s you).
In other words, this is an essay that wants to persuade the reader of your viewpoint about literature and uses research to do so.
How do I pick what to write?
You can write about any author, story, book, play, playwright, poems, poet, body of work, anything as long as it is encapsulated by the subject of literature.
Huh?
Throughout the semester, you have written about pieces of literature without research. Now, you have the opportunity to go deeper.
What is the prevailing theme of an author’s body of work?
What historical, or biographical, event influenced the creation of which work?
What is the central idea of a famous author’s novel, and what can you find outside of the book that helps you prove this?
The sky is really the limit. Start thinking about what you have read that you liked, that you would like to know more about.
Ask yourself a question about literature, research it, and then state the answer to your question in the form of a thesis.
Example:
Topic: Nathanial Hawthorne.
Research Question: Did Nathanial Hawthorne’s religious beliefs influence his work?
Research: Shows that the answer to this question is yes.
Thesis: Hawthorne’s seminal work The Scarlet Letter was heavily influenced by his Puritan views.
In order to prove this thesis, one would have to research Hawthorne’s life, the Puritanical religion, the novel The Scarlet Letter, and the time in which it was written.
The body of the paper will use research on the topic to prove your thesis. But, don’t let the research become the essay: your thoughts and observations about the research are key.
Sources?
You must have a minimum of 5 sources.
4 of your sources must be either a book or a scholarly article.
How long does this have to be, teach?
1,200 + words or roughly 5 pages.
When is it due?
Final draft is due by midnight on December 9th.
How will this be evaluated?
This assignment is worth 150 points.
I will be looking for essays that:
Have a clear introductory paragraph that introduces the topic to the reader and clearly states the thesis in the last sentence. (10 points)
Display an overall consideration for clarity, demonstrating the care the author has put into both proofreading and documentation, as well as making sure any reader can understand the topic, the research, and the conclusions presented. (15 points)
Include a clear stance on the issue being researched, and show focus and intent on the part of the writer to persuade the reader. (15 points)
Include an understanding of the many facets of the literature and the research, particularly as a means to the audience in order to persuade them of the writer’s thesis. (15 points)
Reinforce the thesis with focus throughout the body paragraphs of the essay. (20 points)
Conclude with a closing paragraph that reinforces the thesis and summarizes the ways in which it has been proved. (15 points)
Utilize proper grammar and showcase a mastery of these basic skills as well as the emphasis the writer placed on proofreading. (20 points)
In MLA format, the use correct citations for the research done, and the proper amount and type of sources. (20 points)
Use the sources effectively to back up the thesis and not as padding to make the paper longer. (20 points)
