READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS Using any of the four primary texts we have read this semester (Between the World and Me, Mrs. Dalloway, A Passage to India, Heart of Darkness), compose a 6-10 page double spaced (~1500 to ~2500 word) formal essay that puts forth an argument utilizing close reading techniques and examples from your text of choice. Your paper should be formatted in accordance with the MLA 8th edition style guide, and you must include a Works Cited page. You might include some secondary sources to provide historical context, but the evidence you use in support of your argument should come from your primary text.
Close reading is the backbone of any literary analysis. You will be graded on formatting an writing/proofreading, but the majority of your grade will be based on how successfully you present an original thesis/argument, and support that argument with internal/textual evidence in a well-organized manner. Be sure to focus on specific language from the text and avoid discussing the text more generally except for when you are supplying context to your textual analysis.
Grade Descriptions:
A-Level: An “A” paper will always have an innovative and interesting argument that is fully supported by textual evidence. The writer goes beyond the call of duty by providing in depth readings of evidence that display a deep understanding of the structure, meaning, and literary techniques of the text. The paper is exceptionally well-organized and logically builds to the point promised in the thesis. Paragraphs are both logically and explicitly connected through strategic use of transitions, repetition, and sign-posting. The language is also sophisticated, smooth, and compelling. Grammar errors, if any, are minimal and do not interfere with the delivery of the argument.
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