Critical Analysis Essay Assignment Purpose: The purpose of the critical analysis paper assignments is to help you develop skills in literary analysis, critical thinking, and written communication. For these papers, you will have to make an argument about a literary text and then support your thesis with explanations and specific evidence from the text. Assignment: Write an analytical essay about children’s literature that is approximately 1000 words (at least 4 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font). Address your paper to undergraduate peer-scholars in children’s literature (colleagues very much like your classmates) who have read the literary texts and would be interested in your analysis and findings. This audience knows what happens in the stories, but doesn’t know your thoughts and interpretations. Readers would not need a thorough summary of the plot, but might need reminders of specific episodes that are essential for making your point. Requirements: Your paper should meet all of the following requirements. · Length: Papers should be at least 4 double-spaced, word-processed pages. · Format: Double-space, using 1-inch margins and a 12-point standard font (i.e. Times New Roman). Please save as a Word (.doc or .docx) or rich text (.rtf) or pdf file. Files with other extensions (.wps for example) will not be accepted because I will not be able to open and grade them. · Subject matter: The main focus of your analysis must be a literary text assigned for ENGL 4893 Children’s Literature and Storytelling. Respond to one of the assignment prompts (lists will be given for papers 1 and 2) or propose a thesis of your own (get it approved before writing the paper). · Thesis: Your paper must have a thesis, an assertion or argument that you make about a literary text. DON’T merely summarize the novel with a few comments. DON’T merely respond to the text on a superficial level (e.g. “This book was about Z.”) or purely responsive level (e.g. “I just loved [or hated] X.”) Place your thesis prominently at the end of your introduction. · Specific support: Your paper must develop the argument raised by your thesis and support it with specific examples and brief quotations from the text. · Use of sources: You must follow MLA style for citing sources. o At a minimum, you will have a work cited entry for the literary text you analyze. (Most paper topics will not require you to use secondary sources. If you do consult sources, you will need to document them fully.) o You will cite the work(s) within your paper when you paraphrase, summarize, or quote passages. o Introduce your citations of sources within the text ( “We see evidence of Stanley’s changed character in his reflections while on God’s Thumb: ‘quoted material here’ (##)) and be sure to include page numbers in parentheses at the end of the summary, paraphrase, or quotation. o Avoid using long quotations, which allow another voice to take over YOUR paper and are a sign for readers to skim ahead. Instead, select the most vivid, compelling quotations that you couldn’t possibly word as effectively and mix these brief, choice quotations with paraphrases. o Be sure, also, to follow up your quotation with an explanation or tie-in to the point you are making. Don’t drop a quotation in and leave it to do all the work! Your reader may not see the connection you want to make. · Process: Writing each paper should be an experience of discovery. Think, plan, explore, and play with ideas before locking yourself into a thesis. Don’t just run with your first thoughts, but question your ideas and push your analysis deeper. Writing a paper isn’t supposed to be easy—it will be hard work writing and revising—but it can be rewarding as you see your ideas developed! Be sure to revise (improving big-picture issues related to the thesis, development, and organization), edit (improving sentence structure, etc.) and proofread (correcting errors in grammar, spelling, etc.) your draft. When writing this essay, I recommend that you review the handouts in the “critical analysis essays” folder, especially: § Step 1: before you write § Step 2: planning and structuring § Thesis statements § Common weaknesses to avoid § Analytical essay checklist Grading Criteria: Papers will be evaluated on how effectively they demonstrate mastery of content/literary analysis (accurate understanding of literature and of literary concepts and genres; depth of analysis; strong, assertive thesis; and effective use of supporting evidence to develop your thesis) and mastery of professional communication skills (unity and focus; clear organization/coherence; sentence style; use of Standard Written English). See the grading sheet for specific details.