Essay Guidelines
This analytical essay will challenge you to address one of three questions posted below. You should come up with an argument or thesis statement and use evidence drawn from the readings to support your thesis statement.
You should draw from sources assigned in class and base your argument primarily in written materials. You may also draw on the film. This is not a research paper or an opinion piece.
I encourage you to write a draft of your essay and revise. You may have a peer or a writing tutor look over a draft on your behalf. I will not read full drafts, but will be willing to meet with you during the planning process.
Format
The essay should be 5 pages long, double-spaced, and 12 pt. font (Times Roman) with 1-inch margins all around.
It must include a bibliography or a works cited (not included in the final page count). It should include a title and page numbers at the bottom.
It should be checked over for spelling and grammatical errors. It should also include your honor statement.
The essay is due on Friday, March 25 at 5:00 p.m. Please email it to me at rjoo@middlebury.edu as a word document and please include your last name in the document name.
Common pitfalls
Please avoid any universal generalizations, i.e., Since the dawn of civilization; all people like ice cream; Everyone has prejudice; Tribes are always at war.
Avoid floating quotations. You should place quotations in context and also explain the quotations. Quotations should not be doing the work.
Think about your transitions between paragraphs and make sure that you are tying the paragraphs together smoothly.
Try not to “wrap” up each paragraph with a statement that explains how the paragraph works towards proving your thesis statement. This should be clear from the content of the paragraph.
Assessment Criteria
Clarity of your argument
Your thesis statement should come in the first paragraph and the rest of your essay should work to support this thesis statement. You should draw on evidence from the texts that support the thesis statement.
Integration and synthesis of course material
Your essay should effectively analyze and synthesize ideas, and apply them in the appropriate context. You should demonstrate that you have clear knowledge of the concepts and use examples that show that you know the concepts. You should not assume that the reader understands your use of terms, and clarify your terminology when necessary.
You should be as specific as possible in offering your statements, and provide evidence that demonstrates your level of understanding. You should be economic in your choice of details, however. Excessive use of detail will take away from your argument and will be considered “filler.”
Clear, Concise, and Focused Writing
You should have a strong thesis and a clear organizational structure. Your essays should be checked for spelling and grammatical mistakes. Please do not misspell the authors’ names.
You must cite appropriately using a standard citation style (preferably Chicago Manual of Style or MLA). Failure to cite will result in a failing grade.