econd Essay assignment:

Choose a pair of passages or moments from either Much Ado About Nothing, The Way of the World, The Importance of Being Earnest, or The York Corpus Christi Plays (for the purposes of this assignment you may think of the Corpus Christi Plays as a single text, though you should note in your paper the fact that they were performed, and probably written, by different authors) and chose a concept/keyword on which you would like to focus.

After analyzing your chosen passages in conjunction with your chosen concept, create an argument concerning that concept as it appears in the text. Offer a thesis-driven paper consisting of two single spaced pages that offers your analysis of your chosen passages/moments. In order to successful defend your argument you will have to quote the original text and then analyze that text within your paper. Your analysis should be based on close reading of the passages and should involve careful attention to detail, including but not limited to word-use, rhetorical devices like metaphor or irony, and stylistic choices.

This prompt offers you a great deal of freedom to choose elements of the text that have leapt out in your mind. Take advantage of that freedom to explore elements of the text not thoroughly covered in lecture or discussion. This prompt also works to focus you on the text itself. While referring to outside information may be useful, the text is to be the main focus of your work. 

Criteria:

-Topic: Are your choices of details/ passages/ moments/ etc interesting? Are they truly related and useful for analysis? Are you original in your choice or merely following the ideas offered in lecture? (10%)

-Thesis: Do you have an argument? Is your thesis informed and the product of careful thought? (20%)

-Analysis: Do you look at connections and ideas within the text rather than summarize? Do you use the text to support your argument? Are your observations original and insightful? (30%)

-Coherence/ Organization: Does the paper exhibit a control of introduction, middle material, and conclusion? Is there a clear means of moving from one topic to the next? Do pps make sense as individual units? (15%)

Style: Is the paper written so as to be engaging? Is your style mature and sophisticated? Does it reflect complex academic thinking yet remain clear and direct? (15%)

Mechanics: Does your paper contain many grammar mistakes? Are your sentences coherent and fluid? (10%)
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