Researched Literary Criticism Essay

Literature Class

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Complete insructions are listed underneath Literature Class

Essay 2: Researched Literary Criticism Essay

Due Dates: Sunday, 11/8: Short Writing #3 (Topic Proposal, 25 pts)

Sunday, 11/15: (and Wed. 11/20): Discussion Forum #15 (Draft posted with Replies, 20 pts)

Sun., 11/22: Final Draft of Essay due, uploaded to the link “Turn in Essay 2” (100 pts possible)

Length: 6 full pages, minimum (double-spaced), with a maximum of 8 pages

Topic: Apply one of the critical theories on pages 1348-1360 to one of the texts listed below. Focus on one overall analysis of the text, based on the theory you have chosen. Remember to focus on the why – and really why – as you explore your text. You must use examples and quotations from the story or poem as well as your research to defend your analysis. If you aren’t sure about your topic or thesis, ask.

Short Story Options:

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” p.286

“The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” p.382

“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” p.263

Poem Options:

“Facing It” p.604

“America” p.520

“One Art” p. 536

Research Sources Required:

1. The story or poem from our textbook

2. At least 4-5 academic articles found using the NSU Library (One may be an overview of the critical theory you have chosen)

Eligible Academic Articles

Must be located within the NSU library, in the online databases or in the catalog.
Must an academic article or book chapter – it has an author listed and appears in an academic publication
Must discuss the story, poem, or author – search by the title or author’s last name
Must be a full-text article (not a book review)

MLA Format:

Layout: See the link for the OWL at Purdue or page 1261- 1262 and sample essays on pages 1266, 1269, 1271, 1274, 1286, 1301, and 1342 for help with format and appropriate academic tone. You will use MLA format for your essay’s layout and documentation, including a header, heading, and Works Cited list.

In-Text Citations: Quote directly from the story or poem in your essay to provide support for your ideas; use quotation marks and provide a page number or line number when you do so, even for a word or short phrase. If you mention a detail from the piece but do not quote directly word-for-word from the story, you should still provide a page number or line number, like this (Cheever 175). See p.1328-1331 for more on in-text citations.

Works Cited (Textbook): Use the MLA citation sample for “A work in an anthology or compilation” on page 1335 of your textbook to list the story or poem at the end of your essay.

Works Cited (Articles): Use the appropriate MLA citation sample for the article, book, or other document you are citing. “An article from an online subscription database or index” on page 1337 is the most common. See p. 1331- 1341 for more information.

Important Notes:

· Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Write your own essay – your research should provide support for your ideas only.

· No more than about 1/3 of the essay should be direct quotations.

· Keep your focus on the text. Be sure to relate all of your ideas back to quoting and analyzing the story or poem itself.

· Revise your writing to take out any wordy sentences and be simple and direct about your main point.

· This is not a personal reflection or a review (critique) of the text– leave that out.

· Avoid using first person (I) or second person (you). Your subjects are the text, the author, or the details in the text.

· If you are unsure about your writing, analysis, or research, seek help well before the due date.

Doing Literary Research at the NSU Library

1. First, think about the best search terms for your research.

Use the author’s full name or last name, the word “and,” and the title of the story or poem you are researching.

Example Searches: Marquez and “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”

Bishop and “One Art”

2. Go to the NSU Library website: https://library.nsula.edu/

3. Next, you have a choice:

Option 1: Click inside the small purple box to the left to enter your search terms.

This option will search the library catalog for books and book chapters, as well as all the library’s online databases, but you will need to select the “Databases” tab to see all of the results.
You’ll need to click the title you want to see, then click more than once on the purple buttons labeled “Full Text Link” or “Access Content” to get to the article itself.

Option 2: Click the purple box at the top of the page that reads, “Click Here to Search Database Directories.”

Click the subject “Literature, Language, and Linguistics.” On the drop-down menu, you’ll see several database titles.
Select a database, and then enter your search terms.
You should try each database, as they each have different items.
The literature databases that have complete articles available are:

Literary Reference Center Plus, Academic Search Complete, JSTOR, Scribner Writers Series, Twayne Author Series

4. Make sure you keep track of the information you will need later in order to cite your research.

Tip: Many (not all) of the articles will include a “Cite” button; you can scroll down to the MLA Citation format to view a correct Works Cited entry for the article.

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” p.286

I will be using the theory critical analysis Marxist Criticism

Oates’s, Carol Joyce. “Where Are you Going Where Have You Been.” Literature & Literary Criticism: Literary Contexts in Poetry & Short Stories; 2006, p1-8, 8p

I hope to analyze how Connie’s good looks are allowing her to be of high social class. How her mother and sister don’t like that someone considered of high class reside with them, so they try to put her down with words and criticism. Also how power over individuals is considered high class and how Arnold Friend is portraying to be of higher class because he knows Connie likes to be associated with people of higher class.