ESSAY WRITINGTopics, Rules, Issues, Evaluation

Research Essay. Grading: 25%

Approx. 1800 words (with bibliography)

An independent analysis of any aspect of a story in the course pack. Examples of what to analyze: characters, motifs, figurative language, humour, irony, symbolism, background information, etc.). You can focus on one story or compare any two; if a screen version exists, you can compare it with the story it is based on.

Must include references to at least three external academic sources (books or articles). Only printed sources or their electronic counterparts count (ex., articles found in electronically published scholarly journals are acceptable).

Examples of Topics The Theme of Coming of Age in

Vincent Lam's "How To Get Into Medical School”

The Motif of Religion in Nathaniel Hawthorn's "Young Goodman Brown"

The Figurative Language* in Vladimir Nabokov's "Spring in Fialta"

The Role of Irony in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado.”

Research Essay

Please verify your topic with the professor before writing the essay, either in person or by e-mail.

You can submit an outline or a draft to get feedback.

Your topic might slightly change at any stage (except when you are revising the final draft).

Research Essay

Consult any MLA writing guide for proper documentation (especially bibliography).

Give your draft to someone to read for testing out your ideas and logic. Does what you are saying make sense? Verify your interpretation: is it believable? Is it well-explained? Avoid elliptical writing (omitting information and logical links, having no transitions).

Evaluation

How will your paper be evaluated? Here are the main criteria:

- originality of analysis; - thoroughness of research of topic; - logic, coherence of organization; - quality of sources and appropriate source referencing; - quality of language; - neatness of presentation.

Physical presentation and form. Checklist

Typed double-spaced in 12 pt Times Roman.

All pages numbered and author identified.

Initial page with all pertinent information: (student name, number, course number, name of professor,title of paper, word count).

All sources and statements referenced, and references keyed to a bibliography at the end of the essay; system of referencing should be consistent.

TEN “COMMANDMENTS”of essay-writing

1) The length of the essay should be as required.

2) Write in paragraphs. Each paragraph should be about 10 lines long (or longer).

3) Don’t leave extra space between paragraphs. Indent each paragraph instead.

4) Provide page numbers.

5) Avoid repetitions, especially in the conclusion.

TEN “COMMANDMENTS”of essay-writing

6) Italicize or underline titles of books. Take titles of poems, chapters, stories, articles, etc. in quotation marks.

7) Don’t waste paper on bibliography if it is short - put it on the same sheet as the last page, if there is space. No back cover!

8) Introduce quotes, don’t let them stand by themselves.

9) Mind your grammar! Know how to use apostrophe: its/it’s, sailors/sailor’s/sailors’. Check the difference between a colon and a semi-colon. Avoid run-on sentences.

10) Provide detailed examples, avoid generalizations and empty statements. Stay focused.