Essay Assignment 1: Documented Literary Analysis

Topic: 

How and by whom is love expressed in the novel? In what ways is the love in the novel a ease the suffering of the characters? How is love not enough to appease the characters in light of their suffering?

Your literary analysis essay will be on the novel Sula by Toni Morrison. You can choose from any of the topics listed below (recommended) or explore further topics in the chapter on Sula, pp. X to Y in the book How to Write about Toni Morrison (linked here for your convenience). 

Your literary analysis should be between 2 ½ and 3 pages (600 to 750 words), not including the Works Cited page, should be double spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and must include:   

A clearly articulated thesis that states, somewhere in your introduction, the assertion (position, interpretation) that your paper will prove

An introduction, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion

At least two quotes from the novel itself that are integrated into your discussion

At least two citations of outside sources (such as literary criticism on the novel, preferably from articles from the MDC databases)

Topic sentences that focus the discussion in the body paragraphs

Examples, details, explanations in the body paragraphs that clearly support your thesis

Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs

Proper MLA style format in the heading, in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited page (see the template for the heading and margins in this lesson) 

Works Cited page includes articles from two sources and from the novel for a minimum of three total listed sources 

Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics