Choose one of your earlier essays and compare your original reading of that fairy tale text to
a second, different critical reading of the same text. How are they alike/different, and why
are the variations significant? Does the shift in approach fundamentally change the meaning?
IT IS THE SECOND TOPIC!!!!
The first reading was a structuralist reading of the Wolf and the Seven Little Kids. Do the essay with another one of your choice!ESSAY 3
EXPANDING ARGUMENTS
Objectives: This 5-6 page essay builds on your close reading skills, in-class experiences, and your previous writing to develop longer, more in-depth arguments. This assignment also requires practicing common techniques for structuring academic essays.
Topic: Write a comparative analysis of two things (choose from the following 3 options):
1.Compare the single fairy tale from one of your earlier essays against a second fairy tale, applying the same critical lens to both. Your second tale can be a variant of your original one (make sure there are enough differences to assess) or a completely different tale (make sure they share at least one basis of comparison). This text doesn?t have to be one from class.
2.Choose one of your earlier essays and compare your original reading of that fairy tale text to a second, different critical reading of the same text. How are they alike/different, and why are the variations significant? Does the shift in approach fundamentally change the meaning?
3.With case-by-case approval (email me), you may choose entirely new texts and write a completely new essay, if you are dissatisfied with both previous essay text.
Writing Notes:
?The essay should be provided with a new, unique academic title
?The introduction should offer an identification of what texts and approaches are being compared
?The first paragraph should conclude with a new thesis statement that includes what/how/why
oYour thesis should do more than identify what the similarities or differences are (those are factual). Make your claim statement about why the similarities/differences matter or what lesson we can learn by comparing them
oNote: this time I refer to the lesson that your analysis teaches us, not the moral of the text
?Subsequent paragraphs should start with thesis-driven topic sentences
?Logical connections between ideas should be identified with transitions
Recycling Material:
?This essay can pull heavily from the older essay if you want. Because we?re practicing essay development, you have permission to cut, paste, and edit directly from Essays 1 and 2.
?Rethink and reapply that work. You cannot just add 3 new pages to the beginning or end of the original. Your new purpose and new thesis will require approaching your older material differently and editing the order of ideas and paragraph structures.
?Once you decide what you?re trying to argue, outline the new essay, marking what sections you want to borrow and in what new order. Make sure you update the analysis and significance of this material accordingly.
?Apply feedback edits, as applicable to your new essay topic.
Evidence:
?The essay should include quotations from your literary resources
?The essay should have a minimum 2-3 sources: your primary text(s) and at least one critical resource
?All quotations and paraphrases should be provided with parenthetical MLA in-text citations
?Quotations should be fully integrated with an introduction before & explanation after: who says the thing, and in what context? How does the idea in the quote relate to and support your thesis claim?
Formatting and Length:
?No less than 1250 words or 5 pages, not including Works Cited
?Be sure to double-space the essay, use 12pt font, and 1? margins all around
?All cited sources should be identified in the Works Cited in MLA-style citations
?Proofread. Grammar and syntax should not inhibit clarity of argument
