Write a clear thesis statement that communicates the work you are analyzing and the critical approach(es) you will be using to do so.

Assignment Summary

This assignment asks you to create an essay that interprets an assigned piece of literature. The piece of literature is the short story or poem you selected for your discussion board. This essay should be at least three pages long, should use resources provided by the library, should be in MLA format, and should only interpret the assigned reading. You should use the short story/poem(s) and at least one additional scholarly source.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to build on the material you developed for the 3.3 Assignment. You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of critical analysis as it pertains to art and literature.

Skills

Computer skills, including the use of Canvas
Netiquette
Critical thinking and reflection
Formal Tone in written assignments (see Quick Guide to Formal Writing)
Research skills using scholarly sources (see the video on Navigating Scholarly Sources and read How to Access the Literature Resource Center at SCC)

Knowledge

Canvas LMS (learning management system)
MLA Formatting
Finding and using scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources
Basic understanding of research and interpretation of researched information
Ability to read the information available on a selected topic and determine its academic worthiness by determining its level of objectivity and purpose for publication
Ability to develop a clear purpose based on a critical approach and analyze a work in the context of your selected critical approach.

Instructions

Read Module 3.0 and pages 53-76 and 187-204 in They Say, I Say. Review the template summary we provided you in the course.
Review the sample essays in the course content for examples of how you can approach this prompt.
Read How to Access the Literature Resource Center at SCC.
Open Assignment 3.2 and review the feedback you received from your instructor.
Research and find one additional scholarly source for this work.
Open a document and format the work to MLA 8 standards.
Develop a paper that specifically analyzes your chosen work using the critical approach(es) you have selected and researched.
Write a clear thesis statement that communicates the work you are analyzing and the critical approach(es) you will be using to do so. Avoid making any “paper announcements” in your thesis statement (i.e. “In this paper, I will be talking about…”) Just go ahead and state your thesis. Example: “William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” uses symbolism…”
Be sure to have a clear introduction and conclusion in your work with a thesis statement included in both sections. (Note: Do not copy and paste your thesis statement; re-word the thesis for your conclusion.)
Include clear examples/illustrations from your selected work and additional research to make your point.
Cite your selected short story/poem and the scholarly source(s) used to support your argument in the text using MLA 8 format.
You must write a minimum of three pages of text. The third page must be at least ¾ full and the work must be appropriately formatted to receive full credit. For each page you are short, 20 points will be deducted from the final grade.

Include a page break after your conclusion. Title the next page Works Cited and cite each work used in the essay in alphabetical order.
Proofread, edit, and revise your document using the essay checklist. Try to give yourself some time between finishing and proofreading your work. You may also find it beneficial to read your paper out loud. Be sure to search for the following common errors:
Second person pronouns (‘you’)
Missing commas
Contractions
Run-ons
Fragments
Comma splices

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