Moby Dick Essay Requirements
DUE DATE:
1.
Select one of the topics below for a literary analysis essay. Do not merely plot summarize.
 Analyze Queequeg’s role in the story
 Analyze Ishmael’s role as the narrator
 Analyze the Pequod
 Analyze the concepts of free will versus fate in this story
 Analyze another topic that MUST be pre-approved by instructor
 Select one of the ten literary criticism approaches and build a case for it through analysis
SWHS Formal, Academic Writing Goals
Identify five (5) weaknesses to your previous formal academic writing submitted for grading (grammar,
organization, ideas, MLA, sentence fluency, word choice, etc…but more specific).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Plagiarism/Cheating Notation:
The use of any text or ideas from a source must be quoted or cited; it is otherwise considered plagiarism. Copying another student’s
writing is considered plagiarism. Submitting the same paper for more than one class without the permission of the instructor is
cheating. Students are expelled from college for such infractions. Here you receive a zero grade and a one hour detention for the first
infraction. Additionally, if you are an NHS member, you will be dismissed for any cheating or plagiarism infractions.
If you need assistance about citations, MLA format, punctuation or organizing the paper, you may seek help before/after school. I will
not correct or write a paper for you, but I will assist with specific questions to help you become a better writer.
The writing process must be demonstrated:
o Draft/outline,
o Revising,
Content:
Develop body paragraphs:
Establish your topic sentence/argument
Use narrative details, anecdotes, examples, data
Elaborate with analysis, rationale of thinking
Paraphrase as needed, but do not merely summarize
Include textual support:
Provide a minimum of one textual quotation per body paragraph
Add commentary, analysis of quotation
Organization:
Introduction:
Introduce a broad concept/theme from the text
Lead into the text
Provide title, author, and year of text
State clearly your thesis/claim
Make sure your intro sets a strong tone for your reader (11th/12th)
Body paragraphs:
Connect all ideas/examples back to your thesis/claim
Keep body paragraphs balanced in size
Conclusion:
Connect specific details from body paragraphs back to thesis/claim/theme ideas
Read aloud fluency:
Diction (Word choice):
Develop varied vocabulary
Avoid weak sentence structure: “There is/are/was/were” or “It is/was” sentences
Limit the use of the word “that” and did you mean who/whom? (11th/12th)
Find alternatives for conjunctions and transitions “but” and “and”…However, also...
Eliminate unnecessary words for concise writing (11th/12th)
Avoid redundancy, repeating what is already said, instead elaborate or explain
Syntax: Mix up sentence structure
o Editing,
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Grammar:
Avoid using contractions unless in a quotation (can’t = cannot)
Follow standard punctuation rules
Ensure subjects and verbs are in agreement
Ensure singular-plural nouns and their antecedents are in agreement (a person…their)
Keep verbs IN THE PRESENT tense for literary analysis/ as appropriate for other modes
Avoid Dangling/misplaced modifiers (11th/12th)
Keep words, phrases, and clauses in parallel form (11th/12th)
Voice:
Avoid FIRST person (I, my, me) unless writing a personal essay or in a quotation
Avoid SECOND person (you, your) unless in a quotation
Keep language formal since this is a formal, academic essay
Homonyms/spelling: (there, they’re, their)
COLLEGE READINESS PIECES REQUIRED:

USE MLA format
o 1” margins,
o Header (space) page #
o Heading (Your name, Teacher, Class/Assignment, international date…5 January 2010)
o Double spacing
o Title

USE parenthetical citations when appropriate (Frost 13).

ALWAYS submit a Works cited page for any information researched whether used in text or not
o Use a works cited page/ www.owl.purdue.edu is an excellent MLA works cited reference for proper formatting

DEVELOPED essays should be 3-5 PAGES in length (11th/12th)