Formal Analysis:
Identify a specific concern, issue, or problem that the text raises; consider whether or not you agree or disagree with the author's position on the issue and give reasons for your own stance. Examine how the text leads its readers to reflect on a wider social issue or problem. (For example, Le Guin may prompt you to think about or define who or what is a 'pharmakos' in the 21st century and why this role still exists; Tan might encourage you to think about 'broken English' or divisions and hierarchies in a language (or between languages); reading Pinker may get you to reassess the efficiency of academic writing while Sturm may encourage you to reconsider the limits of an academic essay.) Analyze how effectively the text builds its case and presents its ideas.
Requirements:
- Style: Use a formal register appropriate for an academic essay. (This includes correct syntax, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and accurate word selection.)
- Be mindful of the layout of your essay. Use 1 ½ or double spacing.
- Choose an appropriate 'academic' font. (New Times Roman, Cambria, Calibri, Garamond, etc.)
- Use direct quotes or paraphrasing to support your discussion.
- Create a 'working title' for your essay.
Additional:
- You do not have to use external sources for this essay.
- Structure: You can write a point first OR a point last essay.
- Quotes are excluded from the word count
Criteria:
- Is your essay engaging?
- Have you responded to the original text?
- Are your sentences clearly written?
- Have you clearly outlined the text's central thesis?
- Is your essay clearly structured and coherent? (Is there a discernible introduction and conclusion? Do all of your main points link or flow on from one another?)
- Are your quotes cited using footnotes (Chicago) or in-text references (MLA or APA)?
- Is there a separate Works Cited, Bibliography or Reference page at the end?
- Have you paid attention and used the feedback you were given?
Word Limit: 900-1000 words