Description
Critical Essay Assignment
At this point, you have engaged with the terms and contexts of drama, and discussed review writing. Our last approach to drama emerges from literary studies. Critical writing about dramatic literature – like much literary criticism – draws upon skills of close reading (among other skills) in order to share new interpretations of texts. These new interpretations further develop and contribute to ongoing conversations about literary works and/or their contexts.
In the critical essay assignment, you will draw upon textual details to forward a thoughtful and significant argument about one of the plays we have read in the modern drama unit. One of the assumptions of the assignment is that both an overall understanding of a text and careful attention to detail are necessary for moving past initial insights and into more compelling territory: please focus your attention on specific lines, passages, stage directions, etc.! What kinds of insights might you offer an interested reader who cares about drama? The essay should be 3-5 pages long.
Options (Choose ONE!):
- What is the role of comedy in Waiting for Godot? Please use specific examples from the play (including stage directions, when relevant) to illustrate.
Waiting for Godot
Click http://www.napavalley.edu/people/LYanover/Documents/English%20121/English%20121%20Samuel%20%20Beckett%20Waiting%20for%20Godot.pdf link to open resource.
the link above is the text
HOW SHOULD YOU APPROACH THE ASSIGNMENT?
The literary critical essay is a genre of writing with certain conventions or expectations. Once you have an understanding of those expectations, you will have an easier time succeeding in writing in this genre! Your purpose is to offer an intriguing and convincing understanding of the text to your reader (me!). With this goal in mind, please provide and work with specific examples from your text to support your claims. Use an engaging, effective title, introduction, paragraphs, signposts (e.g., topic sentences and transitions), and a conclusion to guide your reader through your idea and reflect upon its significance. Your introduction or conclusion should present a clear, 1-3 sentence thesis statement that summarizes your main claim. Please be precise with your language. I recommend taking a look at the “Help with Your Critical Essay” folder on Moodle for links/handouts. Feel free to come to office hrs!
HOW SHOULD YOU FORMAT THE ESSAY?
Please type in Times New Roman 12 pt font. Put your name at the top of the document. Reference page numbers when paraphrasing or quoting in the essay itself. If you draw upon outside texts (whether paraphrasing or quoting), be sure to cite them in a Works Cited page using MLA format.
WHEN IS THE ESSAY DUE?
Submit your essay as a Word doc, a PDF, or an editable google file to the “Critical Essay Dropbox” on Moodle by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28.
HOW WILL THE ESSAY BE GRADED?
A: Argument/ Significance: Forwards and reflects upon a specific, significant, and insightful argument.
Evidence: Convincingly supports its claims by presenting and explaining specific textual evidence. Addresses the nuances, implications, and/or connotations of language/ stage directions.
Organization: Skillfully uses a title, intro, conclusion, thesis, paragraphing, and signposts to engage and guide the reader towards an understanding of its specific ideas.
Language: Precisely communicates ideas. Proofread.
Citation: Cites sources in MLA format, both in the body of the text and in a works cited page (when relevant). Pays attention to detail.
B: Argument/ Significance: Forwards a specific argument, briefly reflecting on significance.
Evidence: Convincingly supports claims by presenting specific textual evidence.
Organization: Effective title, intro, conclusion, thesis, and paragraphing. Sufficient signposting.
Language: Effectively communicates ideas. Proofread.
Citation: Cites sources in MLA format, both in the body of the text and in a works cited page.
C: Argument/ Significance: Forwards an argument that indicates a sufficient understanding of the text. (Required to pass the assignment.)
Evidence: Sufficiently supports its claims by presenting textual evidence.
Organization: Intro, conclusion, thesis, and paragraphing do not disrupt comprehension.
Language: Typos, spelling/grammar errors, etc. do not disrupt comprehension. Sufficiently proofread.
Citation: Cites sources.
D: Argument: Attempts to forward argument, but needs substantial development.
Evidence: Insufficiently supports claims with examples.
Organization: Organization may disrupt understanding.
Language: Typos, spelling grammar issues, etc. may disrupt understanding.
Citation: Attempts to cite sources.
F: Does not meet basic expectations of the assignment, or plagiarized.
Sample Solution
