Assignments--Modern European Novel (Fall 2005)

Goal: To produce sophisticated essays and documentation that point to original interpretation, linguistic clarity, and  academic maturity and integrity.

Requirements:

• Essay (25%)

• Oral participation, discussion questions, attendance, and in-class writing projects (25%)

• Midterm (25%)

• Final exam, cumulative, with emphasis on Unit II (25%)

Grading Rubric: 98-100  A+; 93-97 A; 90-92 A-; 87-89 B+; 83-86 B; 80-82 B-; 77-79 C+; 73-76 C; 70-72 C-; 67-69 D+; 63-66 D; 60-62 D-; 0-59 F

Cite and acknowledge the source of information not discussed in class (according to the MLA/parenthetical citation method); all web resources, especially, must be cited (see this link on how to cite web resources). Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, which insults the integrity, respect, and honesty that make up academic rigor. Plagiarism, cheating, and pretending another’s words are your own are unethical practices subject to academic sanction and failure in this course. Please cite all consulted material, from websites, books, articles, to the backs of books, as critical engagement with and acknowledgment of others’ words is part of the larger academic conversation and ethic.

Late papers are still accepted until the final day of the course, though two points are deducted from the grade for each class day the paper is late (i.e., a paper turned in a week late is deducted four points, or about a half grade—from 91/A- to 87/B+). This levels the playing field for your classmates who submit work on assigned dates.

The academic literary essay embodies many qualities: analysis, close reading(s), thoughtfulness, and originality; a provocative and inquisitive nature accompanied by a clearly articulated argument and position; and a secure command of English literacy as practiced in a university context.

Please do not summarize any of the ‘plot’ (narrative, action, etc.) of the text. Rather, analyze the 'deeper meaning' of literature, drawing attention to and citing details that a reader might miss reading them the first time; you should reread key passages prior to writing. Each supporting paragraph should be centered on analysis of literary elements like themes, symbols, plot, and other recurring/repetitive details that expose hidden meanings; consult this Vocabulary page for more ideas. Additional tips for writing literary essays (including general evaluative criteria and information sources) follows at the end of this page.

 Modern European Novel    Close Literary Analysis of Crime and Punishment

Due dates--

Group A (M 10/3): Kate; Lisa; Michael; Natalie; Julie; Mercedes; Brandon; Jessica; Heather; Steven; James; Taina

Group B (R 10/6): Maria R.; Erin; Heidi; Maria A. Lashawnda; José; Gosia; Miguel; Shannon; Scott; Andrew; Sam; Nicole

M 10/10      Revised Essay I: Close Reading due

1. Description: The basis of all literary criticism is the analysis of data, in our case the literary text. Your first essay topic asks you to present a close reading of a passage from Crime and Punishment and to outline the themes, motifs, symbols, and philosophical issues this passage embodies about the rest of the novel. The argument for your essay will be based on this close analysis; you might consider arguing why the passage you choose (above all others) is important for understanding a theme or issue in Crime and Punishment. Such a theme or issue might be: the role of women/gender in the novel; religion; Raskolnikov’s “two separate personalities” (Dostoevsky 182); a particular motif; or hallucinations and dreams. The final essay should be 3 to 7 pages (ca. 800 to 1800 words). Such a range should give you room to demonstrate your sophistication in analyzing literature and ability to come to an argumentative conclusion about the novel.

This is your only formal writing assignment for this class. The rest of your final grade is determined by a midterm, a final, and your participatory work in class, in order to ward off cheaters and plagiarists; in-class writing, at least, makes it impossible to copy essays from the internet. If you use five or more words from another source or borrow significantly from another writer’s ideas, you must cite that person using the MLA citation method. Please note: if you do not cite where your information comes from, you will be charged with plagiarism, which means you will fail this class and be reported to the Dean of Students. To help you avoid this fate, you must participate in the Pre-Writing Steps in order to pass this assignment.

2. Pre-Writing Steps: Group A (M 10/3) and Group B (R 10/6):

Good writing is predicated on good editing and taking time to solicit feedback. To that end, you are required to participate in the Pre-Writing Steps leading to the final draft of this essay assignment. You do not have to submit a final, polished essay for these pre-writing dates / group-writing assignment. The purpose is to help you along in your writing process by encouraging the development of a working draft. At the very least, you should come to your writing date with material that represents an essay topic: the passage you are examining; maybe a list of questions your essay plans to address; and/or a working thesis you’re not sure how to formulate. Group A will read Group B’s work and vice versa; in this way, we can build a writing community that is mutually supportive and beneficial. Please post this material to Blackboard under Discussion and bring a couple of copies to class. You are required to come to both days of class, when we will also be discussing the final chapters of the novel.  As we get closer to the writing assignment, I will help you to formulate a more specific essay topic based on your concerns about the novel. In-class writing assignments and your own discussion questions will work towards building this essay topic as well.

What is Close Reading / Literary Analysis?

Please visit the Assignments webpage, which outlines how this paper will be evaluated:
http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/anovel.html Half of the paper will be graded according to its content (originality, introduction, argument, supporting evidence, sophistication and clarity, and conclusion); another 50 points cover the linguistic and stylistic clarity of the paper (remember to proofread!!). It is also strongly suggested that you show that you know how to closely analyze a literary passage, especially by employing the tools of literary analysis, an overview of which follows.

Overt meaning = Plot

Analysis (definition from Dictionary.com):
   1. The separation of an intellectual or material whole into its constituent parts for individual study.
   2. The study of such constituent parts and their interrelationships in making up a whole.
   3. A spoken or written presentation of such study: published an analysis of poetic meter.

Subtext = The meaning beneath the plot that can be uncovered through literary elements such as:

Keywords: What have you underlined? Which words jump out as important? Which terms are repeated or stressed by the author?

Allegory: A narrative technique in which characters representing things or abstract ideas are used to convey a message or teach a lesson. Allegory is typically used to teach moral, ethical, or religious lessons but is sometimes used for satiric or political purposes. Ex.: The allegory of blind justice holding scales teaches us that justice should be objective and impartial.

Metaphor: a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity

Setting: The total environment (time, place, historical milieu) for the action of a fictional work.

Symbol: Something that on the surface is its literal self but which also has another meaning or even several meanings. May be universal (generally applicable) or specific to the way an author constructs it.

Simile: A figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as

Tone: The writer's attitude toward his readers and his subject; his mood or moral view.

The success of your paper will depend on linking the ways in which these details relate to the larger picture, your analysis and interpretation of the novel.

Additional Tips and Evaluative Criteria

Please note:
- You should have an original title for your essay

- These are prompts, designed to prompt you into thinking about your own writing. You should revise and specify the exact kinds of questions your essay will be addressing.

- Please avoid plot summary. Focus, instead, on specific motifs (symbols, repetitions, allegories) and narrative techniques (position of narrator, genre conventions) and clearly articulate their interpretation/meaning.

- If you are struggling to find the significance for a thesis (a.k.a. the ‘so what?’ of any good controlling idea), consider the purpose of literature; what purpose does it serve, how does it critique society, and how might it teach life lessons?

- Cite information according to MLA parenthetical citation method (author #) and include a Works Cited. Cite web resources.

- Struggling for vocabulary? Take a look at this page about Vocabulary for Literature and Writing.

• Please simply staple, number, and label each page with your last name (no cover pages or booklets). Include a title. 
  
• Late papers will be penalized.
• Please carefully proofread your paper; grammatically sloppy papers will have points deducted.
• In order to avoid plagiarism and to guide your readers in following your sources, please cite texts according to MLA standards. You may use outside sources but are not required to do so. If you do use outside sources, please be sure to cite them properly.
  

• Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: Definition of Plagiarism (from Student Handbook)

  "Plagiarism means the use of another's words as if they were your own, and the unacknowledged incorporation of those words in one's own work offered for credit.  The following guidelines for written work will assist the student in avoiding plagiarism:

              a) General indebtedness for background information and data is acknowledged by inclusion of a bibliography of all works consulted.

              b) Specific indebtedness for a particular idea, or for a quotation of four or more words from another text, is acknowledged by footnote reference to the actual source.  Quotations of 4 -5 words or more from a text are indicated by the use of quotation marks."

  Honesty is expected of you.  It is expected that the work you hand in will always be your own, and that you will never copy sentences, phrases, paragraphs or whole essays from any other person's work, for that is plagiarism.  Plagiarism is dishonest, and against both University policy and my own.  If you are ever unclear about how to cite another person or author's ideas, come see me or consult the staff in the Writing Center.  We can help you do this correctly.  It's important to understand that plagiarism is a big deal in this university and in my class.  Don't make this mistake.  Students who are caught plagiarizing will fail the course and be referred to the Dean of Student's office for disciplinary sanctions.

  
  
• This paper will be evaluated according to the strength and clarity of its argument, validity of its support, and originality of its conclusions. In addition, evidence of each student's ability to communicate these ideas in writing weighs considerably on the final evaluation. Therefore, you are encouraged to engage in peer-review and extensive proofreading.
  

• Students are encouraged to make use of the University Writing Center, located in Dickson Hall 285 (655-7442); students are benefited most by making an appointment, but drop-in hours are also available. I am more than willing to provide extra help and extra office hours! Please come to my regular office hours in Dickson Hall 324 or email me at nielsenw@mail.montclair.edu for an appointment.