The essay should be 5 – 7 pages on a topic of your choosing related to the novel.
1″ margins, 12 pt Garamond or Times New Roman double-spaced, MLA format and style. You are allowed to incorporate scholarly sources into the essay although this is not necessary.
The essay should, of course, be organized around a thesis that is explicit and introduced in the first paragraph. Close-reading of the text is essential–you cannot base an argument on plot summary and broad descriptions of what is happening in the text. Select small sections of the text you can quote and explicate in order to prove you larger points. Your arguments should not simply refer to plot, but should take into account the novel’s style and form.
