English 3200
First Analytical Essay assignment:
Due September 24
Directions: Select
a short story from Madden's A
Pocketful of Prose: Vintage Short Fiction that is not on
our reading list and write a brief (4-5 page) analytical paper
interpreting the story. Linda Wagner-Martin's essay on "The
Yellow Wallpaper" (104) will serve as a good model for you. While
you may include biographcial and/or historical information that seems
appropriate, your primary objective is to demonstrate how an element in
the story (point of view, setting, tone, etc.) or a set of closely
related elements involves a careful reader in the process of revealing
the story's meaning, or, to put it another way, what the experience of reading the story
reveals to an engaged reader.
If you prefer, you may write about a story publshed in a source other
than the Madden text, but you must get the instructor's permission in
advance.
You paper must be typed, double-spaced, with one inch margins, in MLA
format.
The following
criteria apply to all English courses:
GRADING
CRITERIA FOR
ALL
ASSIGNMENTS 2000-LEVEL AND ABOVE
Note: A
passing grade on
any assignment first assumes competence in the mechanics of standard
written
English.
C
To earn a “C,” a student must
- Respond to
the constraints of the assignment.
- Focus on the
topic.
- Provide a
clear thesis.
- Maintain a
tone appropriate for a scholarly audience.
- Order essay
logically, from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, idea to
idea.
- Provide
sufficient evidence and detail throughout the essay.
- Have
sufficient control of standard written English and MLA guidelines such
that errors, including any in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and
formatting, if present, do not cause serious confusion and/or
distraction.
- Provide
adequate, reliable, and relevant secondary documentation, where
applicable.
- Demonstrate
an understanding of context and purpose in relating secondary sources
to paper’s claims/ideas.
- Exhibit
nearly error-free incorporation of documentation into the body of the
essay.
B To earn a “B,” a
student must meet the minimum requirements for a “C” essay plus
- Provide a
well-framed and insightful thesis.
- Recognize
complexities and show evidence of serious consideration of the topic.
- Support
most points with appropriate, well-analyzed examples and intelligent
arguments.
- Show
logical development and organization throughout.
- Offer
writing that is relatively free of grammatical and technical errors.
- Provide
substantive and relevant documentation, where applicable, in support of
most claims/ideas.
- Demonstrate a
thorough understanding of context and purpose in relating secondary
sources to paper’s claims/ideas where applicable.
- Exhibit
error-free and varied incorporation of documentation into the body of
the essay.
A
To earn an “A,” a student must meet the minimum
requirements for a “B” essay plus:
·
Provide
a sophisticated thesis that demonstrates independent thinking.
·
Support
all claims/ideas with appropriate, fully analyzed examples and
compelling,
insightful arguments.
·
Show
persuasive logical development and organization throughout.
·
Maintain
a distinctive voice and consistent viewpoint that incorporates
interesting and
varied style.
·
Provide
secondary sources, where applicable, that demonstrate
independent research in the field.
·
Enter
into meaningful dialogue with secondary sources, such
that the student is not just proving someone else’s point but
developing
original ideas in relation to research material.
D A
“D” grade
results from
·
Failing
to respond clearly to the assignment, or
·
A
lack of qualities listed under the minimum requirements for a “C,” or
·
Insufficient
control of standard written English, resulting in substantial errors
that cause
confusion or incoherence.
F
An
“F” grade results from
·
Two
or more of the faults listed in “D” above.