The Cask of Amontillado Edgar Allan Poe Sources: ONE–the work you are evaluating (no other sources/research allowed!) You must include at least one quote from the literary work with a parenthetical citation in MLA format. You must include a Works Cited page that provides a citation for the literary work in MLA format. Determine the criteria you will use to evaluate the literary work. As your textbook explains, when you evaluate, “you reach conclusions not simply about whether the work is ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but also about how effectively the work presents itself to you, the reader. To evaluate a work, you analyze it, breaking it apart and considering its individual elements” (11). o Your textbook offers some criteria on pgs. 11-13 to get you started; the goal is to analyze and evaluate the work on the aspects that everyone considers important when reading a work of literature… relatable characters? Realistic portrayal of real life? (etc.) What makes a literary work good? (Criteria for Evaluation) Good Plot Character development Meaningful Good Conflict Attention grabber Good ending Good climax Inconvenient plots/lifestyles Pacing Setting Use of language Clear theme Easy to understand Good imagery Relatability Style/Tone Is it something you would want to reread/re watch again? Popular books vs needle in the haystack type of book Twists and turns Unfamiliar plot brings audience to think o Once you’ve considered and determined your criteria, write a well-developed academic essay (introduction, thesis, topic sentences, supporting sentences, closing sentences, conclusion, etc. — consult the “Writing Academic Essays” module on D2L if you need assistance with this structure) that evaluates the poem/story/play by explaining how the criteria is and/or isn’t present in the literary work. The rubric on which your essay will be graded is available in D2L along with a variety of helpful resources and supplemental materials. Please spend time perusing the “Evaluation Essay” unit in “Content” so you know what is available to assist you in constructing your essay. Since an outline should make sense to the writer of the essay, there is flexibility in how you design your outlines for this course; however, it should be a formal sentence outline that allows me, the instructor, to assess the ideas you have and work youve done so far for your essay. There is a template on D2L that you can use (in Word format–download it to open it in Word on your computer) and just plug in your own information if you would like to make sure you include all requirements. Youre required to include in your outline: your working thesis statement (written out in complete sentence form) each topic sentence (each written out in complete sentence form) supporting points and examples for each topic sentence (notes/ideas are finecomplete sentences not required as long as direction is clear) Your outline will be graded on the components you include; make sure your thesis statement has a claim and reasons, and make sure each topic sentence has a thesis link, a transition, and the point from the thesis that will be discussed. Once you’ve completed your outline, submit it to the relevant D2L Dropbox for grading–make sure you submit by the deadline listed on the course schedule/calendar on the Instructor Information Sheet. Heres an example of an outline for the sample explication essay titled Effective Use of Plot in Luisa Valenzuela’s ‘All about Suicide,’ which is available on D2L; remember, format is flexible, but this is an idea of what you should include in terms of content: Thesis Statement: Luisa Valenzuela’s “All about Suicide” is a good story because it uses plot effectively and challenges the reader. I. First, Valenzuela’s “All about Suicide” is a good story because of its effective use of plot. A. story is told in backwards order 1. story starts with Ismael committing suicide: Ismael grabbed the gun and slowly rubbed it across his face… put it to his temple, and pulled the trigger (7). (i) if story had been in chronological order, this moment would have been at the end and not as surprising. II. Valenzuela’s “All about Suicide” is also a great work of literature because it challenges the reader. A. story told out of order–requires reader to put the pieces together, almost like a puzzle B. Ismael’s character development relies on reader’s perception 1. “Ismael in the bar with a glass in his handing thinking over his future act and its possible consequences… in the bar with the glass (his third) in his hand, and the irrevocable decision: better death” (7). (i) These lines tell us that Ismael has thought about killing himself before, and he always seems to be drinking when he does so. Is his decision fueled by the alcohol? 2. “Bang. Dead” (7) — repeated twice in the story, along with “Bang. One more person dead in the city” (7). (ii) suggests a quick decision and certain attitude towards death… reader has to determine Ismael’s motivation and reason for suicide
Hide
