Fall 04
English 1010
The Simpsons and Quality Television
Watkins
Essay #4—Comparison/Contrast Essay
DUE DATE: November 4, 2004
Assignment: Write a 2 ½-3 page essay comparing and contrasting your reaction (not the text)
to either:
a.) Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and the Simpsons version of “The Raven”
or
b.) W.W. Jacob’s “The Monkey’s Paw” and the Simpsons version of “The Monkey’s
Paw”
The purpose of this assignment is to recognize different patterns of organization through a realworld comparison.
Pattern 1: Point by point
Pattern 2: Block by block (*See SCW pages 332-334)
The final draft of this assignment will be evaluated on the usual general levels: how effective
your introduction is, how well you organize the entire essay and individual internal paragraphs,
how well you use primary and secondary support (details) to describe your specified topic and
support your thesis, and how well the overall paper is edited for grammar, mechanics, and
spelling. In addition to the above criteria which are usually evaluated, make sure you
include the following which are particularly important for a comparison/contrast essay: a
clear purpose, a clear audience, a logical and interesting thesis, and effective use of an
organizational pattern that fits your topic.
You will be given class time for both a revision workshop and an editing workshop; you need to make
sure that you take these workshops quite seriously before turning in your paper for grading.
Make sure your paper is double-spaced, has one-inch margins, is in a dark 10 or 12 point Times New
Roman font, and has the following title block, also double-spaced, at the top of the left side of the paper:
Your Name
Prof. Watkins
English 1010-75 or 79
9 November 2004
Essay #4
Traps to Avoid:
 Failing to apply appropriate standards of evaluation
 Seeking to analyze the subject from memory only
 Failing to support the judgments with evidence
 Using first or second person (i.e. “I,” “me,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “you”)
 Failing to properly document ALL information that you take from the poems and clips.
If you quote, paraphrase or summarize any information from either source, then you must
give proper MLA documentation. NOTE: THIS ASSIGNMENT DOES NOT
REQUIRE QUOTING, PARAPHRASING, OR OUTSIDE RESEARCH!
Due Date for Revision Workshop (bring two copies): Thurs., October 28, 2004
Due Date for Editing Workshop (bring two newly revised copies): Thurs., Nov. 4 , 2004
Due Date for Final Draft: Tues., November 9, 2004
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2004!