Our in-class activities and discussion leading up to this first essay have focused on close reading, a skill necessary to any type of literary analysis, regardless of its length.
The aim of this first essay is to incorporate close reading skills with an ability to articulate your thoughts in a thesis-driven, analytic essay.
The essay:
For this assignment, you will an analyze one work from our initial reading list of Georgia authors. Your thesis-driven analysis should interrogate a theme or something similarly worth discussing. As you do so, consider the elements discussed in class and acknowledge literary techniques employed by the author(s), including:
- word choice -- figurative language, word patterns, tone, difficult or confusing words, etc.
- dialog
- form
- context -- significant historical or personal event, setting, etc.
- topic or subject
Primary source requirements:
For assistance, refer to websites consulted for the Georgia authors we've read, including Documenting the American South project at UNC, the Georgia Writer's Hall of Fame at UGA, the New Georgia Encyclopedia, and additional author-specific sites.
- 1000-1250 words (type word count after last entry on Works Cited page)
- NO outside or critical sources. While our other essay assignments will require outside research, this analysis depends solely on primary sources.
- typed preliminary and final drafts, applying MLA standards to both
- preliminary, peer-reviewed draft submitted in accordance with the schedule below
- properly cited quotations from the primary sources
Grade distribution and schedule
[consult the daily schedule for additional assignments during the paper cycle]
[consult the daily schedule for additional assignments during the paper cycle]
| component | due date Tuesday class | due date Thursday class | special instructions | points |
| SFD | 7 February, 11:59pm Google Drive | post at least one single-spaced page (font no larger than 12pt. Times New Roman) on the drive in the folder shared with me. | - | |
| first draft | 11 February, in class | 13 February, in class | bring/post complete first draft to class for peer review workshop. Anyone lacking a complete first draft will be excused for the class and be counted absent for the day. | - |
| peer review | 11/13 February, end of class time | using guidelines posted on the course website, we will conduct peer review electronically on the Google Drive on two essays | - | |
| second draft | 18/20 February, in class | bring/post complete, revised second draft to class | - | |
| final draft | 21 February, 11:59 p.m | submit final draft of turnitin.com | 100 | |
