Take-Home Essay 1
Available: Wednesday Feb 23
Due: Tuesday Mar 1st (4:30 pm; Leo 110)
  1. Main Tool Box Concepts: Theory, Reading, Author, Authority, Subjectivity
     
  2. Minor Concepts: author function, death of the author, found meaning, produced meaning, arbitrary signifiers, open-ended (or indeterminate), person/persona, self, subject, interpellation (to be called or hailed)
  3. Literary Works: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, The Yellow Wallpaper, The Awakening, Mars Needs Terrorists, Blood Wedding, Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. 

Assignment

Imagine that your roomate, who will register for a ENGL 121 this fall, asks you how knowing and reflecting on the Toolbox concepts changes the way you read for a class like Humanities Literature.  Write an essay that would demonstrate the difference a theoretical concept might make in contrast to a naive or "common-sense" reading.

Choose one main concept, two minor concepts, and two literary works from the list above. 

 

Advice: Start work early, giving yourself time to plan, draft, and revise.  Take advantage of my office hours (I'll gladly discuss concepts or answer specific questions, though I won't be able to read and "fix" a whole draft).  Consider using the Writing Center (Eicher Hall) as a resource if you have any questions about your ability to organize and edit. 

 
Grading: The syllabus indicates that you should aim for an "organized, edited and succinct (300-500 words) essay[...];" it should "demonstrate your ability to independently apply critical concepts from the class to select readings;" and it should "give you the chance to synthesize toolbox concepts, class discussion, and independent responses to literary texts."

You might keep these in mind as you write and revise; I will have them in mind when I grade.

Content (1-10):

  • shows modest or excellent grasp of chosen concept(s);
  • shows familiarity with literary text (s)
  • can employ the concept in discussing particular details from a literary text;
  • ideally exhibits both familiarity with class discussion and individual insight

Organization (1-10):

  • well organized, with a clear thesis
  • and use of paragraphs to develop and deepen ideas;
  • integrates quotations or references to multiple texts, especially through use of transitions

Mechanics (1-10): 

  • varied and effective use of sentence forms; minimal comma splices, run-ons, etc.
  • punctuation, spelling, and word choice do not detract from clarity
  • evidence of care and proofreading in preparing the document
  • secondary material properly incorporated and attributed; quotation marks  or block formatting used to distinguish verbatim material; summary or paraphrased materials also attributed ( MLA Parenthetical format; a separate Works Cited page is not required if using only assigned course texts)
  • Appropriate (MLA) format: assigned length; legible 12-pt font; 1-inch margins; double-spacing; first page, top left: Name / Take Home Essay 1 / Course and Time/ Date; original and meaningful title, centered, with initial capitals and no other formatting

Courses | Sherwood |IUP English | IUP
Last Updated: 09 December, 2008