Essay 1 questions: Response

Answer one question only. You may write on one or a combination of texts, and you are encouraged to incorporate discussion of other texts if and as needed. Try to make your responses text-based (your primary evidence is likely to come from close textual analysis). There may be a research element in your response (so you are encouraged to explore and demonstrate some knowledge of prevailing criticism if appropriate), but the essay must be individual and personal in approach, offering your perspective of the text, and demonstrating your understanding and appreciation. You will score more strongly for an engaged personal response than a response using external sources.  In the event that you use any other sources, either paraphrased or directly quoted, you must punctuate (using quotation marks) and accurately cite the source using MLA format. (Research is not required in this first essay.)

To be eligible for full points on this paper you must submit all elements in the drafting process —each missed element will reduce your final grade by 10 points.

Aim for a 4-5 (minimum) page paper, double spaced, single sided. Use Times New Roman 12 as your font of choice, and MLA style documentation if you use secondary sources (due as an electronic submission to Turnitin—polished draft—by noon Feb 11th for a peer review session; and the final draft due as an electronic submission on by Feb 18th. As a general guideline you should aim for no more than a low, green indicator in Turnitin—i.e. less than a fifth (20%) of your paper ought to be quotation.

• Focusing on two or three texts of your choice, explore and explain how they share similar themes, techniques or effects.
• In a close textual analysis of a single poem (not line by line) offer a perspective on the work that is aware of its complexities, but identifies and reflects on dominant themes and impressions.
• Take two or three texts of your choice that conflict with one another in terms of theme—and explain what their relationship is, what the poets are attempting to achieve in them, and why they are so different.