English 2111 paper 1


Write an analytical or argumentative essay on a topic of your own choosing from the list of options below. Your paper must meet each of the following requirements. Read each of these requirements very carefully, more than once.

  • 4-6 pages in length, 1200 words minimum, 1800 words maximum (in the body of the essay, excluding headers, name, date, title, works cited entries, etc.).

  • Formatted carefully and correctly, following MLA guidelines as outlined on my "simple stuff" web page.

  • A minimum of six quotations from the work or works you examine is required: six is an absolute minimum—you may certainly offer more than six to illustrate or substantiate your primary claims thoroughly and effectively.

  • I'm not expecting research with this paper, but you may, if you like, incorporate some research, offering quotations or other information from secondary sources of legitimate scholarly criticism or commentary on the work(s) you examine.  ("Legitimate" means truly scholarly sources, so items from the popular press, reviews of performances, encyclopedias, and study aids such as Cliff's Notes, SparkNotes, Master Plots, etc., are not acceptable.) You should most emphatically not consult any world wide web pages outside of our course materials while preparing your paper. For access to many scholarly articles and other materials in full-text electronic form, see the MSC Library website.

  • All quotations and other source material must be documented according to MLA guidelines as outlined on my "quotes and documentation" page, including the MLA conventions for citing poetry (QD4). A works cited page is mandatory even if you cite only one work.

  • Note that you must submit the final draft in both hard copy (printed on paper) and electronic form as an email attachment, sent to chip@chipspage.com.

  • Paper proposals: as indicated on the schedule page, and as a graded assignment, you are to turn in a paper proposal in the form of a topic sentence outline, beginning with the question your essay will strive to answer, followed by each body paragraph's complete topic sentence as it might appear in the essay itself, and ending with a thesis statement that a) answers the question you are addressing, and b) ties together the primary points in your topic sentences. The question you raise for this outline should be a literal question—an interrogative sentence ending in a question mark, not merely a statement of what your topic is. You may send your topic sentence outline in the body of an email message—that is, it’s not necessary to send the outline as an attachment. For full explanation of a topic sentence outline, including examples, see the paper proposal assignment page.

Options:
Note that in all options below you are restricted only to works we have read for this course. Comparisons or other significant concentration on works we have not read is off-limits for this assignment.

  • The continuing relevance for contemporary American readers of any major thematic issues in any two or three of the works we've read thus far: Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Lysistrata.

  • Comparison and/or contrast of the heroic ideal in Gilgamesh and the Odyssey.

  • Comparison and contrast of religion in any two or three of the works we've read thus far: Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Lysistrata; or, discuss the involvement of the gods in the mortal world in any two or three of these works.

  • Examination of the cultural values and ideals of ancient Greece suggested in in any two or three of the Greek works we've read: The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Lysistrata.

  • Examination of the depiction of women in any two or three of the works we've read thus far: Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Lysistrata.

  • Examination of the importance of the chorus(es) in commenting upon or conveying the central theme or "message" in any one of the plays, Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Lysistrata.

blue bulletI encourage you to seek my help with your paper outside of class. If my office hours don't mesh with your schedule, let me know, and we'll make arrangements for other times.

Tips:

  • Offer concrete evidence (i.e. quotations) to support every one of your major assertions.
  • Make every body ¶'s topic sentence answer the paper proposal question directly.
  • Avoid plot summary: see nugget 1; introduce all quotes: see nugget 3.
  • Sweat the details: see the "Golden Rules," "Nuggets," "Simple Stuff," and "Quotes & Documentation" pages and proofread carefully.
  • Call or email if you have questions or problems. 

    Use the ARC (Academic Resources Center)! I encourage you to see tutors for help with your papers at the ARC on either the Macon or Warner-Robins campus. We have well-trained certified tutors who can give you plenty of one-on-one attention with any aspect of the writing process. Be sure to take a copy of this assignment with you to any tutoring session, or show your tutor this assignment page on the web.