Essay Instructions: The official guidelines for the paper fairly straightforward. The paper should be approximately 2000-2500 words in length and must contain a minimum of 5 outside sources, only two of which can be references (dictionary or encyclopedia). The remaining sources must be critical in nature, essays that respond to issues and ideas within "The Awakening." As noted above, you can find some essays in your book that may work with your ideas, but you''ll also find a wealth of sites available to you on the web. The work must utilize standard essay and MLA-style format. See the supplement page for general guidelines for both. NOTE: BE VERY CAREFUL TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL IDEAS AND WORDS FROM YOUR SOURCES. Final paper must include a title page with relevant title as well as a works cited page listing all sources you used to write the paper including the novel.
You''ll notice that your final journal asks for a 500 word summary / proposal of your paper. At the top of this journal, before you get into the meat of your paper, I would like you to relate your formal thesis. Example: Though criticism often finds Richard as the dominate character in Richard III, an analysis of the language and actions of the women show that it is they, not Richard, who predict, manipulate, and drive the play towards its fateful end. This statement reveals the topic...the women...but it also tells the reader what the paper will say about the women. After reading this statement, the reader can assume that the following paper will analyze the words and actions of the women of Richard III and show how they contradict the proposed idea that Richard is in control and embodies the idea of power in the play. This is the focus. In other words, it tells the what (topic), and the how and why of your paper. The statement sets the paper up for the reader. Your thesis should be strong and assertive...don''t water it down by beginning "In this paper, I intend to prove...." This is redundant...don''t announce your paper, just write it!
The Awakening by Kate Chopin.
Writing Critiques by Susan Katz and Jennie Skerl (http://www.rpi.edu/dept/lic/writecenter/web/critique.html)
Source of Info: Rosen, Leonard J. and Laurence Behrens, eds. Allyn and Bacon Handbook. 1994.
When college professors ask you to write a critique of a text, they usually expect you to analyze, evaluate, and respond with your own ideas, not just summarize.
A Summary merely reports what the text said; that is, it answers only the question, ?What did the author say?? A critique, on the other hand, analyzes, interprets, and evaluates the text, answering the questions how? why? and how well?
A critique does not necessarily have to criticize the piece in a negative sense. Your reaction to the text may be largely positive, negative, or a combination of the two. It is important to explain why you respond to the text in a certain way.
STEP 1. ANALYZE THE TEXT
As you read the book or article you plan to critique, the following questions will help you analyze the text:
What is the author?s main point?
What is the author?s purpose?
Who is the author?s intended audience?
What methods (compare/contrast, define, argument) does the author use to
support the main point?
What evidence does the author present to support the argument?
What are the author?s underlying assumptions or biases?
You may find it useful to make notes about the text based on these questions as you read.
STEP 2: EVALUATE THE TEXT
After you have read the text, you can begin to evaluate the author?s ideas. The following questions provide some ideas to help you evaluate the text:
Is the argument logical?
Is the text well-organized, clear, and easy to read?
Are the author?s facts accurate?
Have important terms been clearly defined?
Is there sufficient evidence for the arguments?
Do the arguments support the main point?
Is the text appropriate for the audience?
Does the text present and refute opposing points of view?
Does the text help you understand the subject?
Are there any words or sentences that evoke a strong response from you? What
are those words or sentences? What was your reaction?
What questions or observations does this article suggest? That is, what does the
article make you think about?
STEP 3: PLAN AND WRITE YOUR CRITIQUE
Write your critique in standard essay form. Begin with an introduction that defines the subject of your critique and your point of view. Defend your point of view by raising specific issues or aspects of the writer?s argument. Conclude your critique by summarizing your argument and re-emphasizing your opinion.
You will first need to identify and explain the author?s main ideas. Include
specific passages that support your description of the author?s point of
view.
Offer your own opinion. Explain what you think about the argument. Describe
several points with which you agree or disagree.
For each of the points you mention, include specific passages from the text that
provide evidence for your point of view. You may summarize, quote, or
paraphrase.
Explain how the passages support your opinion.
Sample Breakdown
The first paragraph of your critique should include:
1. The title and author of the essay you are critiquing; the author?s overall purpose and the author?s claim, thesis, or controlling idea. Example: In ?Broken Families, Broken Children,? Roger Smith contends that the sudden rise in youth violence is solely attributable to children being raised in single parent families.
2. The qualifications and/or background of the author and his/her principal method of defining the claim: Example: Smith, a pediatric psychologist, provides numerous case studies of emotionally disturbed children being raised by single parents, and he successfully demonstrates that two parents are probably better than one in most instances.
3. YOUR overall assessment of the writer?s argument: Does he/she convince you? Why or why not? This sentence should clearly indicate your position concerning the writer?s claim and give a brief explanation as to why you feel/think the way you do. Example: Though Smith is well versed in the problems of today?s youth, he fails to consider other factors which might influence an increase in youth violence and tends to oversimplify the problem by laying blame on working mothers without husbands.
In the next one to two paragraphs, you should include a clear, concise, objective summary of the essay?s structure and main points. Do not rewrite what the author has said. Keep it short and sweet, but thorough and complete.
The emphasis and magnitude of your critique should be spent on analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of the writer?s argument.
1. The writer?s use of language: Does he/she define technical terms or abstract words? Is the language ambiguous, biased, emotionally loaded, full of jargon, or insulting to the intended audience? Is the writer?s tone condescending, manipulative, sarcastic, or pompous?
2. The writer?s use of evidence: Does he or she support statements with specific details, examples, statistics, or opinions of authorities on the subject? Is the support relevant, reliable, suitable for its purpose? Does the author offer opinions as if they were indisputable facts? Does he or she cite real authorities or rely too heavily on popular notions? Does the writer base his/her general statements on underlying assumptions that are really faulty?
3. The writer?s logic: Refer to the list of logic fallacies: Some of these include oversimplification, hasty generalization, non sequitur, circular reasoning, false analogy, personal attacks, either/or reasoning, using emotional manipulation, faulty cause and effect.
In this section, focus only on how you think the writer succeeds or fails in advancing his/her argument.
In one or two paragraphs, offer the reader your response, to the writer?s central argument. How do you stand on the issue? Why? With how much of the author?s argument do you agree or disagree? What support or counter arguments can you offer? Be sure to be specific in the develop of your own position. Use examples and information to support your opinion, avoiding the logical flaws noted above.
In the final paragraph, offer a conclusion. Consider recapping the author?s central argument and your overall sense of his/her ability to successfully support it and convince you. On which major points do you and he/she agree and/or disagree? What closing comment can you give your reader that clearly and effectively sums up your take on the writer?s argument?
I''VE ALREADY PAID FOR THE 500 WORDS SUMMARY PROPOSAL WHICH I HAVE NOT RECIEVE. PLEASE INCLUDE IT IN THIS PAPER. THANKS
P.S Do i get a discount?