The Critical Reading Essay (CRE)
Your CRE is a 4-5 page paper in which you make an argument about one of the plays we have read/ discussed in class and online. Using the text as your main source you will try to prove something about your reading of the play.
Because this is about YOUR critical analysis of a play, you DO NOT NEED outside sources. Just the text, and your brain!
Possible arguments INCLUDE, but are NOT LIMITED TO:
The significance of the play in its historical context
The problematic nature of the play given its historical time period (ie. This play is REALLY racist/ sexist/ homophobic/ etc.!)
The progressive nature of the play given its historical time period (ie. Given that it was written in the 1900s, this play is rather amazing in terms of its treatment of women/ people of color, etc!.)
How this play changed the way that plays were written/ interpreted
How this play/ movement influenced the development of scenography/ writing/ acting/ directing/ etc.
How this play influenced the culture around it (or vice versa)
DEATH TO THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY
NEW IDEA = NEW PARAGRAPH
In this paper you should write a clear introduction which includes the name of the play in italics, the name of the playwright (and translator, if applicable), and a THESIS STATEMENT in which you make an ARGUMENT about the play (see above).
Assume that you are writing this for someone who HAS NOT read the play… as such, you will need to SUMMARIZE the play briefly someone in the first few paragraphs. A summary is a short, concise, explanation of what the play is about.
For example: “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, who are determined to be together in spite of their families long-standing war against one another. Between secret meetings, marriages, and miss-communications, their undying love comes face-to-face with the real-life consequences of hatred and teaches everyone in both households the tragic outcome of their hate.”
Once your reader is aware of the matter of the play (which should take NO MORE THAN 4-5 sentences) and your argument, the rest of the paper should be about convincing your reader about YOUR reading of the play in the following (general) format for EACH point you make in the paper:
This is what I THINK
Based on…
What I READ
Here is where you describe a specific incident (with page numbers) or insert direct quotes (with page numbers)
And THIS is why it matters
UNPACK IT
Here is where you EXPLAIN to your reader WHY the incident you’ve just described BUILDS your argument
Your conclusion should remind your reader of what your argument is and tie it all up in a nice, little, bow to remind us why we should agree with YOUR reading of the play.
ALL ESSAYS MUST SUBMITTED WITH THE FOLLOWING FORMATTING:
Times New Roman
12pt font
Double-Spaced
1 in margins on all sides
MLA Links to an external site. header
with
Play titles in italics
Song titles (if applicable) in “Quotation Marks”
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