Ms.
Gokturk
Advanced
Composition
Multi-Genre
Essay
YOUR TASK: Write a multi-genre
essay comparing the two works we read. Your essay should be approximately 1000
words and use direct quotes and evidence from the works, The Stranger and The
Misunderstanding. Be sure to incorporate the literary
elements/devices/terms we discussed through our studies to demonstrate an
understanding of the author’s purpose.
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The
multi-genre essay. |
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You
will write a comparative essay in which you will analyze the two of the pieces
of literature we read. After reading
and analyzing the pieces, create a controlling idea about what you see (a
thesis statement) that will drive your essay. |
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GUIDELINES: ü
Use specific evidence from BOTH texts to
establish a controlling idea (thesis) that finds common ground between the
two works. This controlling idea should establish the basis for your
analysis. It should be interesting and manageable. ü
Use specific and relevant evidence (TBE) from the works
to develop your thesis. ü
Show how the author uses specific literary elements (characterization,
symbolism, irony, repetition, etc.) to portray how the theme(s) is/are
developed. ü
Be sure to follow the assertion/evidence/analysis or
commentary structure we have previously discussed. ü
Organize your ideas in a coherent way. |
TIPS
We often tend to look at literary elements
separately: structure (plot), symbolism, point-of-view, setting, theme, etc. In
general, though, it’s often wise to combine
these elements in an analytical essay. You may also write about character as
long as you are combining it with an analysis of one or more of the above
elements. Therefore, you can choose to focus on one of these elements, or you
can write an essay which considers two or more of these elements. Which
element(s) you choose to write on is entirely up to you, as is the choice of
story, but if you choose to combine elements, you must show how these elements are related (for
example, how setting helps us to understand how a character acts).
You probably want to begin by formulating a
question, then answering that question in your thesis. Your question can
involve any element of fiction: you can analyze how the story’s setting impacts
the plot; the effect of a certain point of view upon the narrative; whether the
first-person narrator is reliable, unreliable or naive; how a central symbol
functions in the story; why the story is structured oddly or
non-chronologically; and so on.
No plot
summary allowed; assume that your reader is somewhat familiar with the
texts and provide what is needed for contextual understanding. Be sure that thesis
and topic sentences must all be related analytical assertions; all assertions
must be supported with textual evidence.
General Questions &
Literary Elements to Consider:
Structure
Imagery
Symbolism
Point-of-View
Setting
Theme
Language Use
Anti-Hero
Antagonist
Existentialism
Irony
Look through your notes
for more!