HUMN 142 Studies in Literature

Essay 1 Instructions with Sample Essay

Essay 1 Assignment

Compose a three- to five-page essay using one of the following questions:

1. As Henry James sees it, characters are only as interesting as their responses to particular situations. Explain how in each of two works of fiction, either assigned or unassigned (from text or other source), a particular character communicates to us his reaction to a situation, and what effect that reaction is apparently intended to have on the reader.

2. In his acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize for Literature, William Faulkner identified "the human heart in conflict with itself" as the only subject truly worth writing about. Discuss how in two pieces of fiction, either assigned or unassigned (from text or other source), we become witnesses to a character's struggle with himself and what the outcome of that struggle reveals about the character.

Successfully completing this assignment will involve using quotations and references to specific scenes from the works you select. Ensure that such material is documented correctly. Review "Document Sources Using MLA Style," beginning on page 1863 of the Kennedy and Gioia text. In addition, you will need to follow these guidelines:

·         create a clear and limiting title (a title page will not be necessary);

·         double-space your essay;

·         use standard margins;

·         number your pages;

·         set off and indent ten spaces, and double space quoted material over three lines;

·         proofread your work carefully.

This first assignment may be revised for a higher score. After reviewing the feedback on your essay, if you choose to, revise and resubmit it by your instructor's deadline.

Note: Turnitin, a plagiarism detection service, will be enabled for this assignment.

Sample Essay

The sample essay included here, “Characters of Interest,” was submitted by a student at the Daytona Beach Campus. Read it carefully, and note the suggestions for improving it. Remember, for your first assignment you will receive extensive feedback, and you will have an opportunity to revise your essay to improve your grade.

A Critique of "Characters of Interest":

            Although "Characters of Interest" is generally well organized and clearly written, there are several ways it could be improved. When you design your essay, remember that it should have an introduction, body and conclusion. (No doubt, you've heard this once or twice before. . . .) Let's analyze these aspects of this sample essay.

            The introduction to "Characters of Interest" is adequate, but it could be strengthened by explaining more carefully what will be accomplished in the essay. In the essay, the student seems to suggest that the unpredictability of the character's actions in either story is a source of interest for the reader. If so, this element of unpredictability could/should be the focus of the essay—why are the characters' actions and outcomes unpredictable? What does that reveal about the nature of either character, and why does that make them interesting?

            An introduction can forecast the shape of the argument or discuss the kind of evidence that one intends to use. It is not necessary to limit it to one paragraph.

            The body of the essay should contain evidence to support the thesis. Paragraphs 3-5 in this essay lend some support to the student's contention that Sarty is an interesting character. But the bulk of "Characters of Interest" focuses on retelling the stories rather than explaining how scenes or the characters' actions affect the reader.

            At the conclusion of the discussion of "Barn Burning," the student asserts that "the reader cannot help but have an interest in this little boy's fate. Had he had a normal childhood, uneventful and dull, the reader would surely find himself bored." This implies that our interest in Sarty Snopes is aroused only because of his unusual, eventful and exciting existence; but we can imagine an almost infinite number of equally eventful narratives. James asks us to consider more closely how this character responds to his specific circumstances. The student needs to probe more directly how Sarty's hesitancy and then his eventual choice to act is apparently intended to affect the reader. Simply recounting his actions is not to evaluate those actions.

            Further, the last sentence of the Poe discussion needs to be more pointed—". . .The reader is completely interested due to curiosity." Curiosity about what?  Responding specifically to this question, rather than assuming that the reader must understand what is implied, would help to clarify the student's position regarding the story's intended effect.

            Another way the body of this essay could be strengthened is with transitions. Remember, take very little for granted with readers. Don't ask them to work too hard to follow the structure of your argument. "Characters of Interest" jumps abruptly from one story to the next. It's necessary to explain why the essay moves to the second story. A transition could be created by illustrating a difference or similarity between the two stories.

            The conclusion can briefly summarize the evidence and show that the writer has, in fact, made his or her point. Note that "Characters of Interest" does not have a conclusion; it simply ends with the discussion of Poe's story. The separate analyses of unpredictability in either character could have been summarized and fused in a conclusion.

            A final weakness in this sample essay is the proofreading. There are numerous punctuation errors which detract from the professionalism of this paper's presentation. To insure that your essay is error free, try reading it aloud. If you find yourself stumbling over a sentence or phrase, you probably need to revise. Another editing technique involves reading your work backwards, looking at each word to see if it is doing what you think it's doing.

AccountingQueen

(3)

Status NEW Posted 07 Aug 2017 02:08 PM My Price 10.00

Hel-----------lo -----------Sir-----------/Ma-----------dam----------- T-----------han-----------k y-----------ou -----------for----------- us-----------ing----------- ou-----------r w-----------ebs-----------ite----------- an-----------d a-----------cqu-----------isi-----------tio-----------n o-----------f m-----------y p-----------ost-----------ed -----------sol-----------uti-----------on.----------- Pl-----------eas-----------e p-----------ing----------- me----------- on----------- ch-----------at -----------I a-----------m o-----------nli-----------ne -----------or -----------inb-----------ox -----------me -----------a m-----------ess-----------age----------- I -----------wil-----------l

Not Rated(0)

• Buy Answer