English Literature

English 2030 Response Paper Due: See class schedule for dates . You can submit your essay in the D2L Dropbox on any one of three deadlines. If you choose the first or second deadline, you will be eligible to revise your essay if you are not pleased with your original grade. If you choose the third deadline, you will not be able to revise. The D2L Dropbox scans each essay for evidence of plagiarism. Be sure to document your sources if you consult websites or other resources. Requirements:  Meet or exceed 500 word (that's about 2 pages) minimum  Use 12 point font , double -space , s tandard margins (usually 1 -1.25 inches)  Use MLA or equivalent page format: you should have a heading (your name, my name, date, class at top left), a title, and page numbers.  Use MLA parenthetical citation format for quoted and paraphrased material  Provide Works Cited page with correct M LA entry for the appropriate text(s) in the Norton Introduction to Literature (does not count toward your word/ page requirement) and for all other sources (websites, articles, books, etc)  Your response should reflect your own ideas and your sources (if yo u consult websites, books, articles, etec) should be properly documented per MLA guidelines. Essays with evidence of plagiarism (intentional or unintentional) will receive an F.  Your response should be supported by specific quotations from the literary text.  Your essay should be written for a college academic audience and demonstrate evidence of careful editing and proo freading. Essays written like text messages or with several grammar/ proofreading issues will not receive a passing grade. Response Ess ay Topic : Choose one of your discussion board posts and revise it into a more formal response paper in which you critically engage the literary text you discussed in your post . In other words, you will need to move beyond basic plot summary (here’s what happened in the text) and your r eaction to the text (I liked it, I didn’t like it, It reminded me of my brother, etc.) to a critical analysis . The bulk of your essay should consist of your own ideas in your own words ; t his is not a research paper. Your e ssay should have a clear thesis (your main point) and evidence from the poem, short -story, or play to support your point. See the Sample Response Pape rs in the Norton on pages 50 -53, 502 -503 ,794 -96 . Review Norton “Writing About Literature” Chapter 17 Parap hrase, Summary, Description; Chapter 18 The Literature Essay ; Chapter 20 Research Essay (note — you are not writing a research essay but you may find the section on Integra ting Source Material useful if you consult sources); Chapter 21 Quotatio n, Citation, and Documentation. The Dos and Don'ts of Response Papers: DO NOT: Only summarize plot DO: Analyze the thematic and symbolic significance of events in the story DO NOT: Say you didn't like a character DO: Explain how a character was unlikable, how that effects the reading experience, and why that may or may not have been the author's intent DO NOT: Generalize and pro vide vague reasons behind your text a nalysis DO: Use specific examples from the text (including quotes ). DO NOT: Make superficial, obvious insights (poor thesis: Doll’s House is about a bad marriage .) DO: Think deeply, and look closely into the work.

Notice things that a casual reader would not. DO NOT: Simply repeat ideas mentioned in class by the instructor or by other students. DO: Build off ideas mentioned in class, adding your own thoughts and insights to the discussion.