LIT 1000 - Final Essay For this essay, you will be constructing an argumentative essay. An essay is a relatively short written composition that articulates, supports, and develops an idea or claim (an argument). Explaining in this case entails both analysis (breaking the complex “thing” down into its parts and showing how they work together to form a meaningful whole) and argument (working to convince someone that the analysis is valid). In an essay about literature, the literary work is the complex “thing” that you are helping a reader to better understand. The essay needs to show the reader a particular way to understand the work, to interpret or read it. The purpose of this argumentative essay is to provide a specific interpretation of your chosen literature and its larger significance using textual evidence (select specific scenes from the chosen course literature) and one type of literary criticism explored during the course. Literature Selections: ✓ Choose any literature read for class (a poem or short story) + 1 type of literary criticism (this will serve as the lens or framework of the argument) Argument: ✓ What (subject) + How (how you plan to examine the subject) + Why (significance of your argument) ✓ Thesis: The thesis statement is a roadmap for your essay. It should appear (1-2 sentences) at the end of your introduction. ✓ Topic Sentences: Topic sentences are the first sentences of each body paragraph (except the introduction) that states the significance of the main idea you explore in the paragraph. Avoid: Outside sources citing summaries, biographies, blogs, and websites. Addressing the author by their first name. Evidence (quotes) without introductions and explanations. ✓ Incomplete and run-on sentences. ✓ Addressing the reader (e.g. "The reader can tell” or “The reader can see"). ✓ Inserting your opinion (e.g. In my opinion, I think, I feel, or I believe). Instead work to provide evidence and explain what the interpretation means. ✓ Summarizing the text. MLA Format for Essays: All formal papers must be submitted using the following format: 1. 5-6 full pages (excluding Works Cited page), 12 pt, Times Roman font, double-spaced with one-inch margins; 2. Text is left-justified and title in center-justified; 3. Heading is on the upper left-hand corner of the paper and consists of student's name, course number and section/instructor's name, assignment title, and due date; 1 4. Header is in the upper right hand corner and consists of student's last name and the page number; 5. The first lines of paragraphs are indented 5 spaces with no extra line space between paragraphs. 6. No title page, cover page, folders, or hand-written essays. 7. Include a Works Cited page. 8. Carefully proofread you final draft. 9. Visit Purdue OWL MLA webpage for additional information: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ 2