Close Analyses
Students will closely
analyze an important passage from most of the texts we read. Each
entry begins with any key passage from the work at the top of the
page, followed by a 1-2 page (250-400 words not incl. the citation or
Works Cited) close
analysis
of details in that passage. This page
about literary elements might also help you identify the
function of keywords in the passage. The purpose of this
assignment is to practice literary analysis, which argues for the
importance of symbols, tone, and word choice in understanding
larger themes in a literary text. Sometimes
we don't get a chance in class to really focus on one passage
the way I hope you will do in these close analyses. Please
include a Works Cited.
These short writing exercises are not
officially graded until they are presented in a revised
Portfolio at the end of the semester (see below).
When we meet on campus, please bring a copy to
class--the only copy which I will read and comment on--and post your response to Canvas/Discussion as
well, so that other students can learn from your work, and you can better understand your reading
audience. Owing to
scheduling difficulties, I am afraid I am NOT able to read late submissions,
although I do expect to see them in the final Portfolio. I will
neither accept emailed submissions, nor evaluate postings on
Canvas when we meet on campus. If you cannot attend class, I
suggest you ask a fellow participant to bring your hard copy to
class. If you are unable to turn in your analysis on time, you
could ask a fellow student to read and evaluate the
work-in-progress, or visit me in office hours.
The Final
Portfolio includes a cover letter, your TOP 3 analyses + at least 1 revision that
highlights your editing skills, and all originals you submitted
with my comments on
them. If you wish to submit all 4 assigned analyses,
you may; I average the top 3 scores. The cover letter should
self-evaluate your own analyses and address the following
questions: How have these writing exercises aided your thinking
this semester? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your
analyses? What is your best analysis, and why? What grade would
you give yourself for this assignment? Consider the following
guidelines in averaging your grade:
- Check plus = Very
Good/Great/Excellent (88-100 range): Shows excellent
understanding of the material. Provides a close and an
original analysis that articulates the reader’s position on
the text, and demonstrates an ability to argue for the
importance of details in a literary passage. Needs very little
or no revision.
- Check = Okay/Fine/Good/Very Good
(78-87 range): Shows fine understanding of themes and
issues in the text, and may provide more summary than close
analysis of details in the passage. Provides a summary that
may need some revision, such as articulating the reader’s
position and argument, providing support for assertions, and
writing in an academic style.
- Check minus = Unsatisfactory/Okay
(0-78 range): Shows poor understanding of the material.
Provides an unclear summary or analysis. Needs a lot of
revision in terms of clarity and/or style. May be too short.
Although you are only
required to revise one analysis, if you revise others, I will
reevaluate them. Immediately following the cover letter, place
your mandatory revised journal, and the original analysis with my comments on it behind it. The rest of the Portfolio should follow this
format (revised analysis, original analysis). Or, if you are not
revising the analysis, please just include it in the Portfolio;
it's a waste of paper to reprint an unchanged analysis. You should
of course include any analyses that you’re handing in late. Here’s
a final list of everything you should include: 1) Critical
introduction/cover letter; 2) Mandatory revised analysis; 3) Any
other revised analyses; 4) Original analyses with my comments on them;
5) Any late submissions. Please simply staple everything together,
or use a binder clip. No cover pages, please. Please also upload a copy of all
analyses to Safe Assign (as one continuous document).