Response And Reflection Papers Objectives Well Be Reading

Response And Reflection PapersObjectiveswell Be Reading Eight Novels

Everyone will write a response to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. You must complete two more of your choice before Fall Break (Oct. 19) and two more after. These response papers are intended to help create momentum before class discussion and to offer space for exploring points of particular interest, such as plot points, thematic elements, or character development. They are not plot summaries, observations, or personal reflections. Instead, they should present fresh insights and thoughtful analyses of the texts supported by textual evidence. You may consult outside sources if desired, but proper citations are required. Papers are submitted online via Blackboard, due on the last scheduled discussion day for each novel, with only one response paper per novel. Each paper should be approximately 2-3 pages, respond to a part of the text not yet discussed in class, have a clear thesis supported by evidence, and follow MLA style for formatting and citations. All five response papers combined account for 35% of the final grade, with each worth 7%. Ensure in-text citations and a Works Cited page are included, even when citing only the novel.

Paper For Above instruction

In this assignment, students are tasked with composing critical response and reflection papers on eight novels, focusing specifically on five texts over the semester—Austen’s Pride and Prejudice plus four additional novels chosen by the students. The primary objective is to cultivate analytical thinking, literary interpretation, and writing skills through engagement with literary works beyond basic summaries or observations. These papers serve as preparatory exercises to stimulate meaningful classroom discussions and deepen understanding of thematic and character developments within the texts.

The response papers are not personal diaries or general observations; instead, they are academic analyses that argue a specific thesis supported by textual evidence. Students may incorporate external scholarly or credible sources to strengthen their arguments, provided they cite all references following MLA guidelines. The submission process is online via Blackboard, with deadlines aligned with the class discussion schedule for each novel. Importantly, each student may submit only one response paper per novel, emphasizing the importance of planning and tracking progress throughout the semester.

Each paper must be around 2 to 3 pages in length, focusing on a segment of the novel that has not yet been discussed in class. The writing should include a clear thesis statement, supported by specific quotations or references from the text. MLA style is required for formatting, in-text citations, and the Works Cited page to ensure academic integrity. The cumulative impact of five response papers constitutes a significant portion of the final grade, underscoring the importance of thoughtful, well-supported, and properly formatted analyses.

References

  • MLA Handbook. 9th edition. Modern Language Association of America, 2021.
  • Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 8th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2016.
  • Booker, M. Keith. The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories. Continuum, 2004.
  • Barthes, Roland. Image-Music-Text. Hill and Wang, 1977.
  • Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
  • Bloom, Harold, editor. Responsibility in Literature. Chelsea House Publishers, 2009.
  • Love, Heather. What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets. Oxford University Press, 2012.
  • Gordon, David. Reading Novel-Theories. Routledge, 2018.
  • Johnson, Barbara. Reading the Beholder: New Perspectives on Narrative. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010.
  • Watt, Ian. The Rise of the Novel. University of California Press, 1957.