Documented Literary Analysis

Essay Assignment # 2: Documented Literary Analysis
Your literary analysis essay will be on ONE of the topics below. Your literary analysis should be between 2 ½ and 3 pages (2 pages IS NOT 2 ½ pages. If you do not reach a minimum of 2 ½ pages, you did not develop the essay enough to give substantial evidence of your understanding of the material). This total does not include the Works Cited page. Remember these are Gordon Rule essays! You must write a minimum amount of words this semester to pass! The essay must be double spaced, in Times New Roman, and 12-point font and must include:
A clearly articulated thesis that states, somewhere in your introduction, the assertion (position, interpretation) that your paper will prove
An introduction, a minimum of three (3) body paragraphs, and a conclusion
At least two quotes from the story itself that are integrated into your discussion
Topic sentences that focus the discussion in the body paragraphs
Examples, details, explanations in the body paragraphs that clearly support your thesis
Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs
Proper MLA style format in the heading, in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited page
Works Cited page
Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics
The story is your ONLY source. In other words, NO OUTSIDE SOURCES will be allowed.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
You will submit your final draft through the Turn-it-in drop box designated for this purpose in the course. Please be aware, that although Turn-it-in does allow for similarities for quotations up to 24% of your paper, any similarity above 24% is considered too high for an original paper and will be flagged as plagiarism; thus, your paper will earn a zero.
There are a lot of free and tempting essay online. Imagine if another student submits the same exact essay as you? Do not be tempted to plagiarize from an online source. Remember, turn-it-in will pick up all internet copied material from all online database ever uploaded on the World Wide Web.
You can get help with your paper at any of the campus writing centers (see the link in the course with this information), and you can also receive online help via SmartThinking, the online tutoring service provided by the College. This service is available by clicking on SmartThinking in the left-hand menu bar of the course under Tools & Resources.
Topics:
1) In William Faulkner’s short story, “A Rose for Emily” in Section II it becomes clear that Miss Emily may be suffering from some form of mental illness or psychological disorder. Write an essay that explores the evidence within the story if Miss Emily is or is not mentally ill or psychologically disturbed. Make sure you provide examples from the story and support them with details.

2) Explore the relationship between Emily and Tobe. What do you think each character gets out of their relationship? Why does Tobe stay with Emily even though he must know what happened in the house? Why do you think he leave in the way he does? Explain what you think these two get from each other.

3) Closely analyze and examine the roles that are created for male and female characters in “How to Date….” Discuss how such gender roles affects both the male and female characters. Use the following questions to develop your thesis. How are gender norms created for females in the story? What is the effect of the gender norms that are created? For example, is one gender given more autonomy, value, or freedom? Is there a double standard in this story?

4) From Junot Diaz’s short story, “How to Date a Brown Girl…” write an essay on the narrator’s attitude toward sex? How do the girls seem to feel about sex? What about the parents? Do teens of different races/ethnic groups have different attitudes toward sex? Use examples from the story to support your claim(s).

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