Purpose: To learn how to use “evidence” reasonably and logically to make your case persuasively; to learn how to analyze and critique literary texts to make an original thesis; to master using expected academic “moves” or conventions in argumentative writing; to perform an analysis of multiple texts and provide textual evidence to support a claim; to write a clear, cohesive, explicit thesis statement for your argument and support it with relevant supporting details and evidence.
Task: Chose one of the author’s we’ve read and discussed as a class this semester that you particularly enjoyed, and locate other works by that author (either in our textbook or elsewhere). Read those works and choose at least three that you want to write about. Identify a shared major theme of the works and explore what literary techniques the authors use to establish and develop the major theme.
You must have a clear, focused thesis statement that serves as a forecast for the body
You must have organized, coherent body paragraphs that point out literary techniques used by the author and explain how they relate to and support the theme you’re arguing.
You must have evidence to support your claims by way of quoted passages from the texts themselves to demonstrate your points
You must analyze and explain this textual evidence in relation to your thesis.
Logistics: 3-4 pages, typed, double-spaced, in Times New Roman Font size 12, with MLA Header in the upper left hand corner of page one. Must include a works cited page with correct MLA citations. Your essay must use at least 3 works by the chosed author.
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Other resources for MLA format and citations are on our Bb page for your use.
Due Dates: See course schedule/Bb.