Character analysis
Rough Draft: Post on Peer Review #1 on the Discussion Board by class time on Tuesday, November 10. The paper MUST BE in a Word .doc or .docx format so that peer review partners can type comments on them. The Rough Draft must be 50% complete to earn credit. [If you would like my feedback on your Rough Draft, you must email me by the 13th or attend my office hours during this week. If you would like 5 points extra credit points on your essay, submit it to the Writing Center (online) or Tutor.com for review (instructions on D2L).]
Peer Review: complete Peer Review #1 on D2L on the Discussion Board by class time Thursday, November 12. This includes filling out the Peer Review form that is posted under Essay #1 Materials, as well as downloading your partner’s paper and writing in comments on it. Full directions for Peer Review are located on D2L.
Final Draft: Due on D2L by 11:59 pm Sunday, November 15. Post to Assignments. Must be in .doc or .docx. format.
Assignment: The purpose of this paper is to analyze characters in order to understand one of the larger themes or messages in a short story. These are your steps:
Select TWO characters from our readings so far (including “Girl,” “New York Day Women,” and “Sonny’s Blues”) to compare and contrast. You can select two characters from the same work, or two characters from different works. For example, you could compare/contrast the two mothers from “Girl” and “New York Day Women” to discuss the role mothers play in teaching their cultural societal expectations to their daughters. Or you could compare and contrast Sonny and his brother from “Sonny’s Blues” to talk about how the two young men represent the different paths a black man could take in the context of 20th Century America. There are several different connections you can make among the characters within stories and across stories.
The goal of the analysis is not simply to compare the two characters, but to reach an understanding of WHY the characters are SIGNIFICANT and WHY their relationship/similarity/difference to one another is SIGNIFICANT. Ask yourself: SO WHAT? Why is this interesting? What does each character tell us about the world, society, etc. in a larger sense? What do these two characters reveal about one another that interesting and important?
Requirements: Your paper must have these things:
A clear introduction and conclusion that are separate paragraphs from the body.
Clear analysis of each character. Explain how each character is described or what is significant about him/her that leads you to the larger significance of the character. Don’t use too much plot summary, but explain briefly what the character goes through, how they are described, what choices they make, or anything that you might think is relevant to your analysis, including the literary terms we’ve been discussing.
A thesis statement that states something about the characters’ meaning and how that relates to the “so what?” aspect of the story. We will look at samples in class.
Specific evidence to back up your point. This means that you will use some quotes in your paper from the story, and use examples to back up your point. Do NOT talk generally about the story. Example: instead of saying “the narrator in ‘Girl’ is judgmental and mean,” find a quote in the story that shows this harsh judgement, quote it, and explain its significance. Who cares if the speaker is mean? What’s your point? Use at least one quote in each body paragraph, but not more than two quotes. Limit yourself to only one block quote per paper, if that.
Structure and development: I suggest that your paper should have three body paragraphs, and they should be organized and developed. This would make a 5-paragraph essay. (A 4 or 6 paragraph essay could also be acceptable for this assignment, but no more or less).
Proofreading: fix errors that you already know about it and make sure that the paper is formatted correctly and looks good, in MLA format.
Reflecting lessons learned in class. In class, we will go over thesis statements, paragraphs, development, formatting, grammar, etc. Your paper should show that you paid attention to these lessons. In other words: take notes!
Your paper should be minimum 1000 words long. It will be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman size 12, NOT bolded or enlarged. Your header should follow the MLA format as described in the MLA Guide on D2L, and on Purdue OWL.
NO RESEARCH will be done for this paper. The only source will be the story(ies) you select. You will still need a Works Cited page for this one source. I will go over how to write citations in class.
Must meet all the deadlines above. Not turning in a Rough Draft will drop your grade 10 points.
