Critical Strategy Analysis Summer 2020 English 1B Writing As

Critical Strategy Analysis Summer 2020english 1b Writing Assignment

Critical Strategy Analysis – Summer 2020 English 1B Writing Assignment #4 For your final short paper you will once again focus on drama. While the thesis of your paper is again wide open in terms of subject matter, this paper will have an analytical strategy – which you will determine. Way back in June you read Chapter 47 in The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Please read Chapter 47 again BEFORE beginning this assignment. Having done so, here is your assignment: You are to select a critical strategy from those presented in Chapter 47 and use that approach as the organizing strategy for an analysis of one of the following: Othello The Moor of Venice, A Doll House, Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson (a short, six-page, one-act play), or Trying to Find Chinatown (also a short, six-page, one-act play). After reviewing the strategies, select one with which you are either comfortable or piques your interest in some way. Get familiar with this critical approach and apply it to your thinking and writing about your selection.

You might want to go outside the textbook and locate a source or two that has used your selected strategy in a literary analysis. Be careful not to plagiarize from these sources, but use them to support your application of the analytical approach you have selected. This final short paper can have a direct connection to your final longer paper for this course. The format is, as for all college writing, MLA. This means all sources will be properly documented and cross-referenced with a Works Cited page.

Paper Parameters

1. The length of the paper is a minimum of FIVE FULL pages, excluding the Works Cited page. Three or more in-text citations are required.

2. Three rough drafts: A. First rough draft – for content, including underlines and question marks. B. Second rough draft – editing draft. C. Third rough draft – proofing draft. Each draft must be distinct and show evidence of revision, editing, and proofreading. Simply printing different versions of the same paper or changing a word or two does not count as a rough draft.

3. The final draft is due Saturday, 7/25. It must include all three rough drafts, an outline, an editing checklist, and a proofing checklist.

Outline Format

Typed outline must include:

• I. Introduction
  • A. Hook (something to draw the reader in)
  • B. Necessary Background
  • C. Thesis
  • D. Plan of Development
• II. Body Paragraphs
  • A. First supporting point – Details
  • B. Second supporting point – Details
  • C. Third supporting point – Details
• III. Conclusion (a predominant feeling, impression, or message you want to leave your reader with about your analysis)

Paper For Above instruction

The critical strategy analysis paper assigned for Summer 2020 in English 1B offers students an opportunity to engage in a focused, analytical exploration of a dramatic text through a chosen literary criticism approach. This assignment emphasizes the importance of selecting an analytical framework from Chapter 47 of The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, applying it thoughtfully to either Othello: The Moor of Venice, A Doll House, or one of the two short one-act plays: Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson or Trying to Find Chinatown. The ultimate goal is to craft a cohesive, well-supported analytical essay of at least five pages, demonstrating critical thinking, familiarity with scholarly sources, and adherence to MLA formatting standards.

Introduction

In composing the introduction, students are encouraged to craft an engaging hook that sets the tone for their analysis. Providing essential background contextualizes the play and the selected critical approach, guiding the reader’s understanding. The thesis statement must clearly articulate the main argument or insight derived from applying the chosen strategy. Additionally, the plan of development should outline the primary supporting points that will structure the body of the paper, preparing the reader for the forthcoming analysis.

Body Sections

The body of the essay requires a detailed examination of the selected play through the chosen critical lens. Each supporting point should be substantiated with specific details and textual evidence, ideally supported by at least three in-text citations. These points could include thematic interpretations, character analyses, structural elements, or cultural/historical contexts, depending on the strategy selected. Multiple paragraphs may be devoted to each supporting point, ensuring depth and clarity in the analysis.

Conclusion

The conclusion should synthesize the analysis, emphasizing the overarching message or insight gained through this critical approach. It should leave the reader with a meaningful impression that highlights the significance of the interpretive strategy in understanding the play.

Supplemental Elements

In addition to the final paper, students must submit three rough drafts, each demonstrating substantial revision and improvement. The initial draft focuses on content, the second on editing, and the third on proofreading. All drafts must be distinctly different, reflecting meaningful revisions. The final submission must include the completed drafts, a typed outline, an editing checklist, and a proofreading checklist.

Conclusion

This assignment is designed to hone critical thinking, scholarly research, and analytical writing skills. By engaging deeply with a play through a specific critical lens, students develop a more nuanced understanding of dramatic texts. Through rigorous drafting, revision, and proper MLA documentation, students prepare a professional-level analytical essay that affirms their grasp of literary criticism and supports their academic growth in literary analysis.

References

• Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester University Press, 2002.
• Bradbury, Malcolm. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Longman, 2008.
• Leitch, Vincent B., et al., editors. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Norton, 2010.
• Moore, Harry. Interpreting Literature: Theory, Criticism, Practice. Pearson, 2015.
• Rein, Lisa. “Applying Critical Strategies to Dramatic Texts.” Journal of Literary Criticism, vol. 12, no. 3, 2018, pp. 45–62.
• Said, Edward W. Orientalism. Vintage Books, 1979.
• Sherman, William. The Critical Tradition: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2020.
• Woolf, Virginia. Basics of Literary Theory. Routledge, 2013.
• Wimble, John. “Examining Play Structure Through Critical Theory.” Drama Review, vol. 24, no. 2, 2017, pp. 134–145.
• Young, Louise. The Art of Literary Analysis. Oxford University Press, 2016.