Huck Paper
As a way to wrap up the book, I want you to write about and analyze The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The topic should show your understanding of the book; students should complete a formal essay—by that I mean the kind you’d do in college classes. Formal does not mean stuffy old English or big words you’ve never used before. You basically need to have a thesis, some evidence and a tightly organized piece.
You should use quotations and/or references to back your points convincingly. You need to type these pieces and save them so you may complete any subsequent drafts. We’ll work on all six traits, but you should primarily concern yourself with content and organization first.
Pfouts’ Pfilosophy on Writing about Literature:
Writers create poetry and prose to express themselves; they usually want to make an abstract point that they can't state easily. In order to give readers something they can relate to, writers create a concrete (whether or not fictional) world in which they relate this abstract point.
When reading poetry or prose, the reader strives to find the author's intentions. The writing becomes like a puzzle that the reader needs to solve. To solve this puzzle, the reader first needs project her/himself into the piece. The reader then can look at the author's word choices and possible keys from the author's life (i.e. time period, personal history, etc.)
After reading the piece in question, the critic must reverse the process. Like an author, the critic must relate what s/he believes in writing. Literary Criticism results.
If you can answer "yes" to these questions about your paper, you will do fine:
-Do you have a thesis?
-Do you prove/explain your thesis?
-Does your paper demonstrate your understanding of the book?
-Does your paper have a logical organization?
-Is the topic your own?
-Is the paper your own? Don't you dare plagiarize. Cite any sources you use.
Some guidelines and things to consider:
-Analyze the text.
-Have a thesis, make an assertion and back it with proof
-Ask questions in your pre-writing; answer them in you graded draft.
-It’s called a thesis staement.
-include your thesis in your introduction
-Arguable point something you’ve seen and an explanation of your ideas
-Choose a topic that interests you for which you can make a case. Choose something you would like to read. Consider the essays we read in class on the book and make your paper one people would find enjoyable and informative.
-Choose a logical method of organization—literary criticism is not the time to experiment with form.
-What you think counts. How do you respond to the text? Can you relate your thinking on the piece? Do you back your assertions with quotations from the text?
-Reason logically, in a clear fashion--do you make logical arguments that could persuade most people? Does your essay reflect clear thinking?
-Determine the purpose of your writing—besides completing the assignment.
-do you want to explain patterns you see, the style, the characters, the plot, a scene?
- Consider you audience. We’ve read the book; no plot summaries
-Try to persuade your readers that your thesis is valid. Use quotations as lawyers (at least from what I’ve seen on TV) use evidence.
-Write in the present tense. For example: “In Things Fall Apart,, Okonkwo attempts to preserve his way of life.”
You should use quotations and/or references to back your points convincingly. You need to type these pieces and save them so you may complete any subsequent drafts. We’ll work on all six traits, but you should primarily concern yourself with content and organization first.
Pfouts’ Pfilosophy on Writing about Literature:
Writers create poetry and prose to express themselves; they usually want to make an abstract point that they can't state easily. In order to give readers something they can relate to, writers create a concrete (whether or not fictional) world in which they relate this abstract point.
When reading poetry or prose, the reader strives to find the author's intentions. The writing becomes like a puzzle that the reader needs to solve. To solve this puzzle, the reader first needs project her/himself into the piece. The reader then can look at the author's word choices and possible keys from the author's life (i.e. time period, personal history, etc.)
After reading the piece in question, the critic must reverse the process. Like an author, the critic must relate what s/he believes in writing. Literary Criticism results.
If you can answer "yes" to these questions about your paper, you will do fine:
-Do you have a thesis?
-Do you prove/explain your thesis?
-Does your paper demonstrate your understanding of the book?
-Does your paper have a logical organization?
-Is the topic your own?
-Is the paper your own? Don't you dare plagiarize. Cite any sources you use.
Some guidelines and things to consider:
-Analyze the text.
-Have a thesis, make an assertion and back it with proof
-Ask questions in your pre-writing; answer them in you graded draft.
-It’s called a thesis staement.
-include your thesis in your introduction
-Arguable point something you’ve seen and an explanation of your ideas
-Choose a topic that interests you for which you can make a case. Choose something you would like to read. Consider the essays we read in class on the book and make your paper one people would find enjoyable and informative.
-Choose a logical method of organization—literary criticism is not the time to experiment with form.
-What you think counts. How do you respond to the text? Can you relate your thinking on the piece? Do you back your assertions with quotations from the text?
-Reason logically, in a clear fashion--do you make logical arguments that could persuade most people? Does your essay reflect clear thinking?
-Determine the purpose of your writing—besides completing the assignment.
-do you want to explain patterns you see, the style, the characters, the plot, a scene?
- Consider you audience. We’ve read the book; no plot summaries
-Try to persuade your readers that your thesis is valid. Use quotations as lawyers (at least from what I’ve seen on TV) use evidence.
-Write in the present tense. For example: “In Things Fall Apart,, Okonkwo attempts to preserve his way of life.”
posted by pfouts at 4:58 AM
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