ESSAY ONE - WEEKS 1-8 - ENGLISH 2333 - ESSAY LENGTH: (600 WORDS MINIMUM)
Paraphrase and parenthetically document examples and evidence according to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
Document all textbook references to prose by page number, poetry by line number(s) and drama by act , scene, and line number.
Avoid quotes (paraphrase and cite). Place a word count at the end of your essay.
CHOOSE ONE:
1.
Molière and de la Cruz suffered condemnation by the state churches of France and New Spain. Based on specific
examples from the text, argue whether or not the state's position was justified.
2.
Choose a specific character in Molière's Tartuffe and analyze his or her contribution to the events in the
play. Why is the character indispensable to the play?
3.
Analyze the arguments and statements from the Bible, hagiography (saints' lives) and classical literature in the text
of de la Cruz. Are her examples applicable to her arguments? Give specific details and discussions.
4.
Contrast Rousseau's sensibility about nature and society with that of Basho's, Wordworth's, or Blake's. Which
author describes human nature and experience more accurately? Support your thesis with appropriate examples.
5.
Contrast Blake's religious disposition with that of Wordsworth as evidenced by ideas they present in their poetry of prose.
6.
Analyze the imagery and/or poetical devices in a poem by either Blake and/or Wordsworth as they give meaning
and focus to ideas in their respective works.
7.
Examine the description of women by one or more of the authors in this section. Are they acceptable images for the
present world? Choose your examples carefully.
8.
Examine the description of men by one or more of the authors in this section. Are they acceptable images for the
present world? Choose your examples carefully.
9.
Examine and analyze how a poet or author develops a single image, metaphor or theme throughout one the works
studied [through Keats]. How does the author reveal the meaning of the work through such devices?
10. Optional: Develop into a full essay a response paper prompt from weeks one through eight not submitted previously.
Revision checklist items below cross-reference to The Brief New Century Handbook (4/e).
CLARITY & CONCISENESS : PASSIVE VOICE, AUXILLARY “BE” VERBS, USAGE (VERBS, NOUNS, PRONOUNS)
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[ PV ] Revise passive voice for active voice. [ 25g ]
Example (passive): The character is described as foolish. Revision (active): The author describes Tartuffe as foolish.
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[ be ]: Omit auxiliary or helping verbs (unless an ongoing action): is / are, was / were, be / being
Revise or replace with active, concise verbs. [ 25c ]
Example: “The author argues that…” (concise: argues) versus “The author is arguing that…” (wordy: “is arguing”)
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[ U-V ]: Avoid these nonspecific verbs: use / utilize / employ, seem, show, display, exhibit, portray [ 32 ]
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[ U-N ]: Avoid these nouns as subjects in sentences: thing(s), the reader, the audience, today
Keep the focus on the author and/or thesis, unless a prompt-specific question about “audience.”
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[ U-P ]: Avoid these pronouns and pronoun adjectives as subjects: I, me (my), you (one, your), we (us, our)
Keep the focus on the author and/or thesis subject, – unless a prompt-specific personal experience question (“I,” “me”). [ 5d ]
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[ phrasing / logic ]: informal or vague phrasing; reasoning. [ 36c-f ]
ORGANIZATION & CONTENT
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[ analysis / develop ]: Follow examples with a well-developed discussion, analysis, point, or claim. [ 7h ]
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[ ex ]: Introduce and document appropriate examples and evidence - see MLA and PS below. [ 10, 12 ]
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[ combine ]: Subordinate and coordinate sentences. Do not begin with conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs. [ 33 ]
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[ MLA ]: Paraphrase and parenthetically document examples and evidence according to the MLA Handbook.
Parenthetically document all textbook references to prose by page number and poetry by line number(s).
Avoid quotes (paraphrase and cite), and check for plagiarism. [10, 12]
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[ P / ¶ ]: Paragraph length (4 to 7 sentences on average). [ 5f ]
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[ PS ]: Do not write long plot summaries. Support your analysis with brief documented paraphrases. [ 1, 10 ]
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[ thesis ]: Define the thesis clearly, according to the textbook prompt. [ 6 ]
BASIC GRAMMAR & PUNCTUATION
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[ AGR ]: Agreement between subject-verb / pronoun-antecedent. [ 26, 24 ]
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Punctuation: [ c or no c ]: commas , [ sc or no sc ]: semi-colons, [ a or no a ]: apostrophes, [ p ]: periods, [ h ]: hyphens,
[ qm ]: quotation marks, [ col ]: colons, [cap or no cap] capitalize. [ 39-45 ]
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Sentences: [ FRAG ]: Fragments, [ RO ]: Run-on sentences, [ CS ]: Comma splices. [ 28, 29 ]
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[ SENSE ]: Basic grammar and sentence structure – subject-predicate, etc. [ 23-25, 30-31 ]
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[ sp ]: Spelling [ 49 ]