When reading literature, we often find ourselves completely immersed into a world created in print. Often, we get so involved that we identify with some characters in the story or develop a tremendous dislike for others. If you are like me, you?ve screamed at characters in the pages of books (or on the screen) not to undertake an action OR to act! This paper allows you to explore specific characters and evaluate their actions (or inactions).
Assignment: In this paper you will carefully analyze at least TWO choices of a character in the Jason Reynolds? novel, Long Way Down. Your goal is to explain/defend/rationalize/critique the action, choice or decision. The most obvious character to analyze is Will, but there are many options in the novel (Shawn, Buck, Uncle Mark, Dani, Frick, Mikey, Tony, Carlson Riggs, the collective neighborhood). There should be some kind of connection/commonality in the choices/actions of the character.
In your essay, first explain the key act{s} and the possible motivations of the character. You can introduce motives or reasons that do NOT fully explain the behavior, renouncing them through intellectual rebuttal. Also, use the text as a means to support your argument. This is your primary source of evidence. Application of your own logic and reasoning is critical. You may use ONE outside source (psychology, sociology, grief counseling, crime statistics, etc. However, do not consult ANY PROFESSIONAL OR STUDENT ANALYSIS/INTERPRETATIONS CONCERNING THE NOVEL. The analysis needs to be yours alone. Ultimately, you are explaining/defending/rationalizing/critiquing the actions of the character.
A few more thoughts concerning this paper:
Make sure your analysis is written in the form of a literary argument. You are trying to show that your interpretation is valid.
Make the paper engaging and interesting.
Have a strong introduction and claim.
Don?t forget to include all critical information (author, title, publication date, and very brief summary) early in the paper?but not necessarily the first paragraph.
Have an effective conclusion
Use the text to back up your claims, but don?t over quote.
Explain your quote carefully. Don?t just expect your readers to understand.
Cite all sources and quotes (remember?you are quoting poetry/verse)
Always discuss literature in the present tense.
Avoid 1st person ?I.?
Avoid major sentence level errors (comma splices, run-ons, and fragments) and edit your essay closely.
Provide clear, decisive, zestful language, avoiding boring, lifeless, repetitive word choices.
Audience: Your audience has read Long Way Down once.
Criteria for evaluation: This paper should be TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACED, MLA formatted and about 5-6 pages. A works cited page should be included with your essay (although it doesn?t count toward the page limit).
