Literature 221 Essay

Essay 2 is due this week. Write a 750-950 word essay on one of the following topics. Aim for a 5-paragraph essay structure (introduction with thesis, three or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion). The word count does not include the Works Cited page or formatting.

• Write a critical analysis of Jack London: To Build a Fire.

• Compare and contrast J. Alfred Prufrock and Nick Adams. How are these men alike, different, and representative of the “Modern” man?

• Which author this week seems most representative of the Modern viewpoint as you understand it? Explain. Some research on Modernism might be required here! Be sure to identify at least 3 ‘reasons’ or points to explore in the body of your paper. You might examine 3 qualities of Modernism and discuss how those qualities appear in the poetry of ee cummings, for example.

Your essay should be formatted in MLA style, including double spacing throughout. All sources should be properly cited both in the text and on a works cited page. As with most academic writing, this essay should be written in third person. Please avoid both first person (I, we, our, etc.) and second person (you, your).

In the upper left-hand corner of the paper, place your name, the professor’s name, the course name, and the due date for the assignment on consecutive lines. Double space your information from your name onward, and don’t forget a title. All papers should be in Times New Roman font with 12-point type with one-inch margins all the way around your paper. All paragraph indentations should be indented five spaces (use the tab key) from the left margin. All work is to be left justified. When quoting lines in literature, please research the proper way to cite short stories, plays, or poems.

Should you choose to use outside references, these must be scholarly, peer-reviewed sources obtained via the APUS library (select Advanced Search and check the Peer Reviewed box). Be careful that you don’t create a “cut and paste” paper of information from your various sources. Your ideas are to be new and freshly constructed. Also, take great care not to plagiarize.

Whatever topic you choose you will need a debatable thesis. A thesis is not a fact, a quote, or a question. It is your position on the topic. The reader already knows the story; you are to offer him a new perspective based on your observations.

Since the reader is familiar with the story, summary is unnecessary. Rather than tell him what happened, tell him what specific portions of the story support your thesis.