Essay 1 - Close Reading
For this assignment, you will be close reading a text from our first unit in order to argue for an interpretation of it. Your essay should be 3-4 pages in length, and must be in MLA format, which means 12 point Times New Roman font, double spaced, and following the standards for citing and documenting all sources (including both in-text citations and a Works Cited page).
Due Date
On Wednesday, Week 6, bring to class your word processing device of choice and the most recent draft of your paper — we will be working on them in-class that day. Failure to bring something to work on will result in an absence.
Essay 1 will be due in electronic form at 11:59PM on Friday, Week 6.
Your second draft will be due at the end of the semester in your portfolio. You will receive further instructions on second drafts later in the semester.
Detailed Description
Meaning in many texts is not obvious; texts need to be interpreted—and interpretations need to be defended! This means that your work should not involve summary; rather, it should involve careful analysis of symbols, themes, images, and so on. A good close reading depends on the ability to use the details of the text in order to justify an interpretation of it. Keep practicing the close reading skills we have been working on!
Often good close readings follow a pretty set pattern:
- Focus on some details of a text (including but not limited to repetition, contrast, key concepts, important words, alliteration, or striking imagery)
- Interrogate those details in order to understand their conceptual importance (including but not limited to the meaning, feeling, idea, or nuance being conveyed)
- Locate other instances of the concept (or similar concepts) in the text
- Interpret these different depictions of the concept in order to understand what the text as a whole is trying to say about them in relation to each other
Of course, following any formulas — even this one — will not ensure a good grade on this essay. What really matters is that you have an argument for how the text should be interpreted (its meaning!) and you defend it well using evidence from the text. Evidence can be used in several different ways: most often through direct quotes, but occasionally through summary or paraphrasing.