Prof. Jonathan Glance
Dates: Monday, 15 Nov., in class. Draft workshop on 9 Nov.
Length: 4 typed pages
In this paper you will analyze in detail some brief episode (no longer
than three pages) from Shakespeares Henry IV, Part 1 or Dickenss
Great Expectations. I want you to select some scene which may to
the casual reader seem incidental to the main plot line, and argue why
that scene in fact is significant; in other words, you will argue why
an understanding of that scene is important for an appreciation of the
story. You might analyze various aspects of that scene, such as the way
it illustrates an important theme, or how it develops our understanding
of a character, or its method of narration, its point of view, its structure,
its use of imagery, etc., but make sure you focus your attention; stick
to a single aspect, and emphasize that. Concentrate on details, and quote
portions of the scene to show how the text supports your thesis. Make
sure you also explain, however, how that quotation illustrates your thesis,
and why the quotation means what you claim it does. Then offer comments
that show how the portion youre interpreting contributes to the
work as a whole. As a general rule, say more about less: limit
your focus to a small enough topic so that you can cover it in some detail
in this brief paper.
the third paper, this assignment calls for you to consult and incorporate
secondary sources (these usually mean articles and books which contain
scholarly interpretations of the story, and possibly even statements by
the author). While you will still be presenting your own views, you should
bring in two other critics readings: one should come from the critics
and documents in the back of our editions of the texts, the other from
material available on the Internet. It is usually best to try to find
both support for your thesis and opposition which you will refute.
these outside sources will create certain challenges:
1) Limit your focus. Choose a small enough topic so
that you can cover it in detail. You need to pick an aspect that is brief
enough to allow you to analyze both it and critical remarks about it in
a 4 page paper.
2) Defend your thesis. It is not enough merely to state
a generalization about the selected aspect. You must also back up your
claim with detailed, specific evidence (such as quotations from the text,
or a statement by a critic who agrees with your reading); for your paper
to be truly convincing, you should go even further and explain why the
evidence supports your point.
3) Document all outside sources. Whenever you quote,
paraphrase or summarize either the text or a critic, you must supply a
parenthetical citation providing the authors name and the page number(s).
If you have several consecutive sentences paraphrasing one particular
source, you must either provide a citation for each sentence or (preferably)
attribute the passages to the author, and cite the page number after the
last sentence. [For example: "M. H. Smith disagrees with that reading,
and asserts that we should read Great Expectations as a dramatic
monologue. He goes on to argue that Dickens was more a Modern than a Victorian
novelist" (33-35).] Finally, you must include a Works Cited page,
which identifies the primary text and the critics you cite in your essay.
Use the MLA format for all documentation. We will discuss that format
4) Turn in photocopies of secondary sources. Part of
your grade for this assignment will come from your ability to quote accurately
and use correct citation formats. I will require copies of your secondary
sources so that I can determine this. You may copy just the pages you
cite. Please place your paper, the rough draft, and these photocopies
in a manila envelope (not a folder) when you turn it in.
paper is due in class. I will penalize late papers by one letter grade
per day. Please see me if it appears your paper will not be finished on
time. I will be happy to discuss ideas for this paper, or examine rough