Critical Thinking about Literature
Overview

For your final essay, you’ll write a 1,200–1,500-word comparison and contrast essay. You’ll choose one of the following options from fiction or poetry.

Using all of the information you’ve learned in the course, compare and contrast the literary techniques used in two short stories or two poems. You can explore each text’s point of view, characterization, theme, and language. Organize your paper around a central idea and discuss the similarities and differences to reveal something about both texts. Your essay should have a thesis statement that states the focus of your analysis. Each paragraph should identify a single point that supports your thesis statement and develops your analysis of the texts. You shouldn’t only identify the similarities and differences between the two texts, but think deeply about each to make connections to generate an analysis.

Review “The Reading and Writing Process” in your textbook. Pay close attention to the “Comparison and Contrast” section. Also, refer to the “Questions for Responsive Reading and Writing” to help you think about each text.

If you research or incorporate information that’s not considered common knowledge into your prewriting, you must cite it according to MLA format.

Decide whether you would like to write about fiction or poetry, and then choose one of the options listed for your paper.

Fiction:

· Compare/Contrast “Eveline” by James Joyce and “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” by D.H. Lawrence.

· Compare/Contrast “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor.

Poetry:

· Compare/Contrast “America” by Claude McKay and “Harlem” by Langston Hughes.

· Compare/Contrast “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” by William Shakespeare and “How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Instructions

Planning

1. Work through the writing process as outlined in your textbook for your essay.

2. After you’ve chosen which questions you would like to answer, review the texts in your textbook. Use the “Questions for Responsive Reading and Writing” to develop your ideas about the ways each text uses character, point of view, imagery, figures of speech, style, tone, and theme.

3. List evidence from each text that relates to the ideas you’ve developed in your answers to “Questions for Responsive Reading and Writing.”

Drafting

1. Read the section on how to develop a thesis in your textbook. Draft a thesis statement that states your claim and perspective on the texts.

2. Read “Organizing a Paper” in your textbook. Develop a brief and informal outline to organize your ideas to support your thesis. Use the outline to help you establish an order and focus for your essay. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point of your analysis and provide evidence to support your thesis statement.

3. Read “Writing a Draft” and “Writing the Introduction and Conclusion” in your textbook. Write a draft of your essay, paying close attention to developing, organizing, and supporting your ideas.

4. Cite the original text using correct MLA format. Review “The List of Works Cited” in your textbook. An example citation looks like this:

Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2015. p. 1250–1298. Print.

Revising

1. Read “Revising and Editing” in your textbook, paying close attention to the revision checklist. Use the checklist to help you revise your reflection. Is your thesis clear? Is the paper logically organized? Does each paragraph begin with a topic sentence? Are your paragraphs developed, unified, and coherent? Have you used evidence from the original text to support your claims?

2. Ensure your essay employs correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, mechanics, and MLA format.

3. Use standard 12-point font and left justification. Use 1-inch margins at the top and bottom and 1-inch margins for the left and right sides of the document. The reflection should be double-spaced.