AP Literature and Composition
The Awakening Process Essay
Due: Monday, October 26th
Write a well-organized, multi-paragraph critical analysis essay about The Awakening by Kate Chopin. All essays require
the writer to examine the entire novel.
The first paragraph, the introduction, must reference the author and title. A one-sentence thesis appears as the last
sentence of the introduction. The body paragraphs should prove your answer by offering evidence from the text (quotes)
and your analysis (commentary). Each body paragraph is governed by a topic sentence, and each body paragraph should
incorporate no fewer than two direct quotes from the novel. The final paragraph is the conclusion; this paragraph makes a
judgment based on what you proved in the essay. Do NOT merely give plot or summarize your essay. Your essay
requires strong analysis/commentary. Use the language of the prompt to guide your answer and discussion. All essays
must follow MLA format (including a works cited page) and must be submitted to turnitin.com. The turnitin.com receipt
should be attached to the back of the essay on the day the essay is due. This covers you in the event that I cannot see your
paper in turnitin.com.
The essay must be between 2-3 pages. Papers less than 2 FULL pages will be considered too short and will fail. Any
paper that does not satisfy the minimum requirements of the assignment will fail.
All students must submit their essay to turnitin.com before 7:15am on October, 26th. The hard copy of the essay is due at
the beginning of class on Monday, October 26th. If you are on campus for any part of the day, including extracurricular
activities, the hard copy of the essay is due along with the turnitin.com receipt. If you are absent the entire day, including
extracurricular activities, the essay must still be submitted to turnitin.com by 7:15 am on the due date. Failure to submit
the essay on time will result in a late grade (see campus late work policy). The hardcopy of the essay and the turnitin.com
receipt are due the first day you return to school, whether you have English class that day or not.
The Prompt:
In many works of literature, society is portrayed as stifling or frustrating one or more characters. Discuss how this
is true of The Awakening and how the stifling/frustrating nature of society serves to develop the novel’s themes.
Remember to:
--write in present tense.
--develop your ideas with appropriate support (assertions about the text should be backed up with textual evidence.
--cite your source (Chopin 16).
--Proof for style and convention issues.
--respond completely to the prompt (make sure you are connecting to the meaning of the work as a whole.
--your essay will be scored based on the process paper rubric (received during the 1st week of school; also posted on
website).
--meet deadlines.
--ask someone to review your essay before you submit it for a final grade.
Writing Workshop: (handwritten work is NOT accepted) ***Students without the required work will write another essay during class as we
will all be working on writing skills.
Monday, October 19th: (Bring two TYPED copies of your intro. w/thesis statement and the first body paragraph. Keep in mind that college
paragraphs should fall between 8-12 sentences. ***If you are absent, you must email the work to your instructor before 3 pm or it will be
counted late. You are also encouraged to meet with your instructor during scheduled tutorials if you feel you are struggling with the topic,
style and conventions, or any other writing issue you may encounter. You will not receive credit without the two required copies.
***The workshop will continue into Tuesday’s class; however, all work is due on Monday.