English 201-50
“In-class” Essay Topic
Professor E. Derek Taylor
Due: Submit electronically by 9:00 pm on Sunday, 2-15-15.
Instructions. Write an argumentative comparison essay based on the following topic. No outside sources (beyond course texts) are required, but you must quote directly from the texts in support of your points. Use MLA format (one exception: no Works Cited page required), and save your work frequently in order to stave off disaster. You have a maximum of three hours to complete this essay—please record your starting and finishing time somewhere in your submission. The clock starts as soon as you begin reading beyond this point.
Topic: All of the works of literature we have read thus far this semester either include as characters a god or set of gods. If you could live in a world governed by the god/gods of only one of these texts, which would you choose? Why? Conversely, which god/gods would you choose to avoid if given the opportunity? Why?
Here are a few guidelines for writing a successful essay:
1. Your first paragraph will need to address directly the assigned topic, probably by defining key terms and by identifying the text/texts that your essay will be examining. However you choose to begin, this opening paragraph should conclude by making an overarching point, also known as a thesis, that proposes an answer to the questions being asked in the assigned topic.
2. This is a short essay (probably between four and six paragraphs), so do not attempt to cover too much ground. Instead, organize your very best ideas into cohesive units of meaning that can then be developed into a few full, choice paragraphs. Paragraphs that lack clear topic sentences invariably falter.
3. Commit to a close reading of the texts in question. Quote directly words, phrases, and passages that best support your ideas.
4. Approach this assignment with creativity and verve. Do not hesitate to shape, bend, or mold the assignment in such a way that it becomes interesting to you; do be careful, however, not to abandon the assigned topic.
5. Proofread carefully for grammatical and mechanical mistakes.
6. Remember my policy on late submissions and plagiarism.
“In-class” Essay Topic
Professor E. Derek Taylor
Due: Submit electronically by 9:00 pm on Sunday, 2-15-15.
Instructions. Write an argumentative comparison essay based on the following topic. No outside sources (beyond course texts) are required, but you must quote directly from the texts in support of your points. Use MLA format (one exception: no Works Cited page required), and save your work frequently in order to stave off disaster. You have a maximum of three hours to complete this essay—please record your starting and finishing time somewhere in your submission. The clock starts as soon as you begin reading beyond this point.
Topic: All of the works of literature we have read thus far this semester either include as characters a god or set of gods. If you could live in a world governed by the god/gods of only one of these texts, which would you choose? Why? Conversely, which god/gods would you choose to avoid if given the opportunity? Why?
Here are a few guidelines for writing a successful essay:
1. Your first paragraph will need to address directly the assigned topic, probably by defining key terms and by identifying the text/texts that your essay will be examining. However you choose to begin, this opening paragraph should conclude by making an overarching point, also known as a thesis, that proposes an answer to the questions being asked in the assigned topic.
2. This is a short essay (probably between four and six paragraphs), so do not attempt to cover too much ground. Instead, organize your very best ideas into cohesive units of meaning that can then be developed into a few full, choice paragraphs. Paragraphs that lack clear topic sentences invariably falter.
3. Commit to a close reading of the texts in question. Quote directly words, phrases, and passages that best support your ideas.
4. Approach this assignment with creativity and verve. Do not hesitate to shape, bend, or mold the assignment in such a way that it becomes interesting to you; do be careful, however, not to abandon the assigned topic.
5. Proofread carefully for grammatical and mechanical mistakes.
6. Remember my policy on late submissions and plagiarism.