Your June 4th in class theme paper instructions /See also previous post

Hello all,

I am posting here the full instructions for your June 4th in class theme paper.

 I have decided that it would advantage you to address a text with which you are more familiar in this assignment rather than asking you to read a new text and then write the paper all in one day. This will save time overall. I hope you see it this way too.

 However, I will provide a reading ("The Hallowe'en Party' by Miriam Waddington )for those who would rather do their theme paper on something other than one of our two former texts.

If you were unable to access a novel today and would like to come sign one out Friday(tomorrow) please feel free. The full text of the play is embedded here: The Taming of the Shrew and both texts will be provided to you on the 4th in class. You will write on only 1 of the texts.

The Rubric by which you will be assessed is located under a green label in the In class notes/links tab. Thanks all.

Assignment:  Essay:  An Analysis of a Theme

You will discover your interpretation of your chosen story’s theme by analyzing the story and presenting evidence for your interpretation. Incorporate quotations from and paraphrases of the short story to support your ideas, citing all literary evidence with parenthetical in-text citations in MLA style.

Please remember that theme is NOT plot; NEITHER is it the topic or subject of the story.  Your task is to arrive at an understanding of the author’s message by analyzing the story’s literary elements.  Your thesis will then assert that message, and your body paragraphs will provide evidence for your understanding of how the message is revealed to the reader by the author.  Think about the following:

• What is the dominant conflict, issue or question this story presents?
• How do certain passages point toward the theme?
• How do literary elements such as title, dialogue, names, characters, actions, setting, description, tone, point of view, symbols, etc., direct the reader to the author’s message?
• How do repetitious words and/or images point toward the theme? In other words, how does the author deliver his/her message?  How have you, the reader, been able to determine the theme?

  The theme paper will explore your choice of one of the of the following themes with regard to your choice of either The Taming of the Shrew or The Power of One:

Love                                                                  Revenge

Self-actualization/Self-realization                    Grief                                               

Loyalty/Honesty/Integrity                                Appearance vs. Reality                                    

Fate/Chance/Destiny                                        Victimization

Parent/Child or Sibling                                     Alienation

Dilemmas of Conscience or Morality

Important Ideas to Remember:

·      Remember to TAG and PEE.

·      Produce a strong thesis statement that makes clear which notion/theme you will be exploring.

·      Remember to answer ‘So What?’ What does your chosen thematic element do for our appreciation of the story in question and its larger aims?

·      Avoid using the first person (“I” and “me”) in your paper.

·      Do not use the phrases “I think” or “I believe.”

·      Do not use the second person (“you” or “your”).

·      Do not address the reader directly (“Have you ever wondered? etc...).

·      Do not end your paper with, “In conclusion...”).

·      This paper should demonstrate your ability to analyze literature and your ability to write fluently.

·      Your paper should be free of spelling and grammar errors.  Proofread your paper.