Critical Essay 2 (With Research)

• You will submit a college-level paper of 4-5 full pages (in addition to the Works Cited page), choosing one of the topic options listed below. If you need some assistance in brainstorming your topic, I am willing to help you.
• Your paper should put forth an original thesis of your own and should be primarily concerned with an interpretation of a primary text or texts along the lines of the suggested topics below.
• All papers will be submitted electronically and through turnitin.com.
• Any late paper will be penalized a letter grade/day late.
• The paper will be evaluated according to the English Department’s rubric and instructions given in class.
• You must use at least one primary source and three scholarly sources (a minimum of four sources total) other than plot summaries, abstracts, and other sorts of general reviews as found on the web. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, Wikipedia, Spark Notes, and similar sources, while helpful in beginning research, do not constitute a required source.
• All documentation must conform to MLA guidelines.
• (The online librarians stand ready to help you find solid sources if you need them. )

Topics:

1. The topic you used for Essay 1 may be enlarged upon, especially in light of added research that you will do. Yes, you can revise it, add to it, and make it better IF the outcome is a stellar paper. Simply fixing grammatical/mechanical errors will not insure that you make even the same grade as before.
2. Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions is considered an early reflection of Romanticism Discuss how this work reflects the Romantic characteristic of wanting radical change.
3. How do specific physical struggles in Douglass’s Narrative affect spiritual struggles?
4. Examine the evidence that suggests that Madame Lubov Ranevskaya never intends to save the estate and, in fact, gets exactly what she wants at the end.
5. Contrast Trofimov and Lopakhin in their ability to change the world.
6. There are several romantic (or potentially romantic) relationships in The Cherry Orchard. Why does each fail?
7. Discuss the theme of escape and/or freedom in The Cherry Orchard.
8. This play often alludes to time and the passage of time. What does the emphasis mean?
9. Discuss irony in this play, especially what you consider to be the chief irony.
10. Discuss the impact of the setting(s) and cultural differences in Daisy Miller.
11. Compare and contrast Daisy Miller and Winterbourne, deciding which one is truly the protagonist of this work.

General Evaluation Standards with Research

Thesis Statement and Support

• Thesis statement demonstrates superior critical thinking (analysis, evaluation, or synthesis). All paragraphs are clearly related to the thesis statement.
• Thesis statement demonstrates excellent critical thinking. All paragraphs are clearly related to the thesis statement.
• Thesis statement demonstrates adequate critical thinking. All paragraphs are related to the thesis statement.
• Thesis statement demonstrates inadequate critical thinking. Paragraphs are not all clearly related to the thesis statement.
• Thesis statement demonstrates no critical thinking, or no thesis statement is present. The thesis statement is not supported sufficiently. The essay may also demonstrate a failure to answer the prompt or to follow directions for the assignment.

Organization

• Essay demonstrates superior organization and reflects careful consideration of audience.
• Essay demonstrates excellent organization and reflects careful consideration of audience.
• Essay demonstrates adequate organization and reflects a general consideration of audience.
• Essay demonstrates inadequate with little to no consideration of audience.
• Essay is not arranged logically or reflects no consideration of audience.

Grammar and Mechanics

• Essay contains minimal if any errors in grammar and mechanics, none of which distracts from communication.
• Essay contains only occasional errors in grammar and mechanics, none of which distracts from communication.
• Essay contains some errors in grammar and mechanics, but not enough to distract seriously from communication.
• Essay contains numerous errors in grammar and mechanics, interfering with communication occasionally.
• Essay contains widespread serious and distracting errors in grammar and mechanics that interfere with communication.

Development

• Essay demonstrates superior development, using evidence, discussion, and credible sources as appropriate. Essay reflects effective use of stylistic elements and keen awareness of rhetorical situation.
• Essay demonstrates excellent development, using appropriate evidence and discussion. Essay demonstrates awareness of rhetorical situation.
• Essay demonstrates adequate development, but evidence and discussion are lacking in some areas.
• Essay demonstrates inadequate or incomplete development.
• Essay development is severely lacking.

Research and Documentation

• Essay is free of errors in research and documentation.
• Essay is comparatively free of errors in research and documentation.
• Essay is comparatively free of serious errors in research and documentation.
• Essay contains some serious errors in research and documentation.
• Plagiarism is present and/or incorrect research and documentation style throughout the essay.

Note Well:

If failing work is demonstrated in any of the above areas, the entire essay may receive a failing grade.  Moreover, any form or amount of plagiarism is grounds for a failing grade on an essay.