Ms. Gokturk
Advanced Composition
Multi-Genre Essay
Assignment:
For Camus’ The Stranger and The Misunderstanding,
YOUR TASK: Compare three of the four works we discussed
in class in an articulate and interesting essay. Use evidence from the works to develop your
controlling idea, and show how the author used specific literary
elements or techniques to convey ideas.
Guidelines:
·
Your
paper must analyze three works we
read/watched. Use ideas from all works to establish a controlling idea that
enables you to analyze the works in an interesting manner.
·
Use
specific and relevant evidence from all three works to develop your controlling
idea
·
Show how
each author uses specific literary elements (for example: theme,
characterization, structure, point of view) or techniques (for example:
symbolism, irony, figurative language) to develop theme.
·
Be sure
to have at least three categories that are developed to support the thesis.
·
Use
PRESENT tense when writing about literature.
·
Use a
variety of evidence from the works (direct quotes and paraphrase).
·
Use
proper MLA parenthetical citing: Meursault says, “I could feel my fate sealed”
(61). See below for more details.
·
Organize
your ideas in a logical and coherent manner. Be sure that each section is developed
equally. Use language that communicates ideas effectively. Follow the conventions of standard written
English.
Suggested Topics:
·
Do the
characters find meaning in their lives? What does waiting signify?
·
Explore
how indifferent or hostile settings impact characters’ lives.
·
Why use criminal
or rebellious or odd characters?
·
Explore
how routines define purpose.
·
Examine
free will.
·
Analyze
how personal philosophy dictates action/purpose/meaning.
·
Examine
how the theme of isolation.
·
How
perspective works in both works to demonstrate the emphasis on the individual
freedom of choice; show how choice, not fate or God, shapes characters’ lives.
·
Use
Stephen Crane’s short poem as a critical lens. Analyze each part and apply to
the works.
·
How do
you define the characters’ choices?
·
Do the
characters find happiness?
·
Examine
how blindness and/or not knowing plays a role.
·
Choose a
minor character from each work and analyze his/her role in illustrating the work’s
message.
·
Why is judgment
important in the societies of these works?
·
What do
the characters do to create meaning in their lives?
·
What
does each work reveal about human nature?
·
Contrast
the concrete with the abstract in the works and how this reveals meaning/theme.
·
How does
the lack of meaningful relationships/connections serve to illustrate the human
condition?
· Critical Lens: “Life is for each man a solitary cell whose walls are mirrors.” – Eugene O’Neill
o In this way, you can use a lens as the basis for your critical essay in which you discuss all the works from the particular perspective of the statement that is provided for you. In your essay, provide a valid interpretation of the statement, which implicitly agrees or disagrees with the statement as you have interpreted it and how it applies to the works. Support your opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements from the works.
· Find your own lens.
· Other ideas? Be fresh, be creative. As long as you can support your thesis with specific evidence from the texts, everybody will be happy!
How do I incorporate literary
elements into my essay? Glad you asked!!! It’s easy!
·
Meursault is characterized as indifferent and self-centered.
·
Camus’ characters are isolated, symbolically situated in settings that keep them apart from
others.
·
Choice is a reoccurring motif in Camus’ works.
VOILA! Simple!
Quoting and Citing
FROM A NOVEL
The novel illustrates one man’s honesty towards himself. Lenny says, “I have to live with myself, and so I want to be fit for myself to know. I want to be able, as days go by, always to look myself straight in the eye” (17-18).
Notice that the quote ends, but that the sentence doesn’t. The page numbers are still part of the sentence. Keep them cozy! Also note that there is no p. or pg. or page or Page… just the number!
Within a sentence:
Holden Caulfield admits that he is a “terrific liar” (11).
He fails at being honest not only with others, but with himself.
If the quote is more that five lines, then indent and use NO QUOTATIONS MARKS unless they appear in the text; in other words, copy the text exactly. The text is double spaced and the quote is single spaced….
The novel illustrates one man’s dedication to his loves, his art and
his wife. The two are intertwined as he ponders his existence while painting
the portrait of his wife.
The yellows glimmered in the painting, catching Beatrice’s blond
highlights. It reminded him of her childhood, of their childhood, when they
laughed in the sun. Now he thought of how sad she looked all the time and had
to wonder how much of it was his fault. He sighed and reached for the paints,
deliberately choosing blues and browns to capture the tired expression weighing
down the carefree yellows. (28)
The paragraph
continues to explain. Notice there’s no indent here. Guest illustrates how experience
inevitably steals youth and joy.
Note that that page number is not before the period. This is because the indentations and single space create the break.
FROM A PLAY
Follow the same format as above for short lines; or, preserve longer dialogue in the single spaced, indented style:
Camus contrast mother
and daughter criminals when their crime is revealed. Mother is horrified by her crime, while
Martha still maintains a cold, indifferent state. The only thing that matters to her is her
mother’s love:
MOTHER: Oh my goodness, I have killed my son!
MARTHA: But you still have your daughter, don’t leave me, mother. (45)
Because Mother
recognizes the truth, she cannot bear to continue living. Martha, however,
gives no value to her brother’s life. Etc.
ARGUMENT STRUCTURE
When making an argument, the structure is
When making an argument, three is the magic number. See the outline.