Second Essay Assignment Option A
English 1302
Spring 2013
Doc Rowe
Options: Choose one of the following three focuses with respect to Raisin in the Sun.
-You may focus on a character you find particularly interesting or significant from Raisin in the Sun.
-You may also focus on a particular relationship or kind of relationship that one of these plays deals with.
-You may focus on a particular issue with regard to our course themes of family, work, education, or love.
You may make use of your own experiences and observations in exploring one of these issues, but that
will not substitute for the required second source.
Essay should be thoughtful, focused, and firmly rooted in a close reading of the text. Avoid vague
generalities. Each of your body paragraphs should be unified around a clear focus and be fully developed.
Show an easy familiarity with the character or issue and work you have chosen. Use precise language
concerning what, when, where, how, and who issues.
Bring into your discussion a second text of some kind. It could be one or both of the film versions of the
play in question or it could be something else in our main anthology that bears on the issue on which you
are focusing. However, if you make use of an article outside our anthology, you will need to photocopy
that article and attach it to your essay with specific parts to which you are referring clearly marked.
You will have at least two items to cite on your Works Cited page. Also, I want you to give the date of
original publication after the title of the specific work in an anthology.
A photocopy of any article that you use outside of our textbook needs to be attached to the physical copy
you turn in, with the specific part(s) specifically referred to or quoted marked or highlighted.
Reminders:
-- You should read the selection multiple times and think carefully and deeply about what you have read.
Annotate and mark the text, especially as you reread and reconsider it. This will help you as you write
about the work.
-- Your essay should contain and discuss very specific references to the selected text in the form of
paraphrase, quotation, and (brief) summary. However, avoid longer summaries, or worst of all, only
summarizing.
-- While your discussion should make the context of your specific references clear, also make use of intext parenthetic references to page numbers.
--Technical specs: Follow MLA format and any other specific instructions I give you, including uniform
double-spacing and one inch margins all the way around. Paginate properly in plain style. Use 12.5 Times
New Roman font. Add the time of class meeting, and the assignment designation to your academic
heading. Select an interesting title that indicates the focus of your discussion.
Turn in both physical and electronic copies of your essay. See schedule for due dates.
When revising and editing your final draft, keep in mind my markings and comments on the first essay.
Have draft of Essay Two ready to workshop on Mar. 25 and 27. You will turn in the final draft on April 2.
Updated 3/19/2013 See reverse side or next page for Option B