Paper Three: In-Class Analysis of a Scholarly Text and Argument
Assignment:
Analyze a scholarly text and construct an argument that counters some aspect of that
text.
Audience:
Literary Scholars
Sources:
“Good Country People” Flannery O’Connor
“The Yellow Wall-Paper” Charlotte Perkins Gilman
“The Fall of the House of Usher” Edgar Allan Poe
“Bartleby the Scrivener” Herman Melville
“Rappaccini’s Daughter” Nathaniel Hawthorne
Oroonoko Aphra Behn
*You will focus on the same text that is the subject of your group annotated
bibliography.
Length:
This paper will be written in class. It should be fully developed. See syllabus for inclass paper guidelines.
Citation:
Grading:
Due Date:
MLA Style
15%
April 7, 2016
Purpose
Thus far this semester, you have learned that it is very important that you do close readings of both visual and written
texts in order to understand how the smaller elements of the texts work together to make larger meaning. Your first paper
required you to do rhetorical analysis of a speech. Your second paper required you to do a rhetorical analysis of
periodical artifacts in order to discern the attitude of specific periodicals. For this assignment, you will take the skills that
you have learned, in regard to rhetorical analysis and archival research, and apply them to research in academic databases.
You will be introduced to scholarly articles, scholarly databases, and the challenges of trying to understand scholarship.
Writing the Analysis
You have chosen a fictional text for your group annotated bibliography. That same text will function as your primary text
for this paper. You will do a great deal of research for your annotated bibliography and you need to read all of the texts
included in your bibliography. Pay attention to how those scholarly articles are written. Notice that those articles are in
conversation with each other. Some of your sources may reference each other. Some of your sources may reference the
same sources. You will be joining the conversation. After reading your fictional text and doing some research, you must
find one scholarly article with which you disagree. You may disagree with an article in part or in its entirety. I suggest
that you make this article one of the texts that you include in your annotated bibliography. Do not select an article that
that has as its critical crux biographical information about the author. These articles must be articles and not book
reviews. They must be at least four pages long, not counting the works cited page. They must also be scholarly and not
from popular periodicals. Longer articles give you more information with which to work. You will construct an essay that
crafts your own argument about the element of the text with which you disagree.
For example, if I found an article that argues that the character Jim in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a buffoon
who reinforces racial serotypes, I could write a paper that argues that Jim is a dynamic character who invalidates racial
serotypes. Essentially, you are constructing your own counter argument to another scholar. However, this paper should
be a response to the ideas raised in that scholar’s essay, without having the entire text seem reactionary. Remember that
when a scholar disagrees with another scholar about an aspect of a text, he or she is able to craft his or her argument
without constantly revisiting every point made by the other scholar. It might be helpful to think of the paper in these
terms: I will not spend my entire paper proving that Jim is not a buffoon. I will spend my paper proving that he represents
Twain’s progressive nineteenth century notions of race. This means that your topic sentences should not begin by
referencing a claim of another scholar. In order to write this paper, you need to have a clear understanding of the thesis of
the scholarly article that you chose. You cannot argue against a concept if you do not clearly understand it.
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Introduction
You should introduce the scholarly article with which you disagree, noting the thesis of the text. You should also
introduce the aspect of the other scholar’s argument with which you disagree. Remember this will be the place where you
will most directly acknowledge the conversation in which you are entering. Make sure that your introduction lays a
foundation that eases your reader into your analysis. End your introduction with a clear and specific thesis statement that
articulates your argument about the aspect of the text with which you disagree.
Body
Pick two to four main points (sub claims) on which you will focus. You need to be able to sufficiently argue against the
points with which you disagree. It needs to be clear that you understand both your primary text and your scholarly article.
Critical topic sentences that state sub claims and transitions are essential to the clarity of this paper. None of your sub
claims should refer to other scholars. As you are writing, you need to remember that you do not need to summarize the
story or novella. If you are summarizing, you are probably not analyzing. You should assume that your reader has
already read your text. This paper requires you to be able to adeptly move back and forth between your primary texts and
a scholarly text to make strong arguments.
Your evidence for this paper will come from your fictional text. You need to make sure that you cite your material
properly. You also need to make sure that you integrate your quotations into your paper properly and that you analyze
any quotation that you use. You also need to remember that when you write about literature, you should use present
tense. You should also never refer to authors by their first names only.
Conclusion
Make sure that your conclusion does more than restate your thesis and sub claims. You should also emphasize the
significance of your argument in this paper. You could also discuss the significance of the literary text to its historical
moment or our contemporary moment. Remember that conclusions should also consider the broader implications of a
topic or argument.
Be Mindful of the Following:
Pay careful attention to the grammar, style, citation, and formatting concepts that we have discussed in class. I will
deduct two points for each occurrence e of errors in the following areas:
-Parenthetical Documentation
-Works Cited Documentation
-Formatting Titles
-The use of personal/collective pronouns (I, we, you, etc.) and contractions
-Comma Splices and Improper use of Semi Colons
-Subject Verb Agreement
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