Essay 3: Documented/Research and Literature
As stated in your syllabus, Essay 3: Documented/Research and Literature is worth 300 points or 30% of your total grade. The purpose of Essay 3 is to continue to gain proficiency in the principles of critical analysis and college level writing techniques while employing MLA documentation. In order to exhibit this you will need to:
- Critically analyze elements from a piece of literature reviewed during class, contained in the textbook, or available via an outside source.
- Present a critical thesis about this text and develop it throughout the body using qualified critical sub-points and relevant observations of the human condition
- Include a solid introduction (that follows the three step process)
- Include a conclusion that does not contain new information but is not overly repetitive
- Show critical analysis rather than the reporting of facts in a book-report or narrative type of style.
- Adhere to Standard Professional English
The elements above are similar to what you needed to do in Essay 1 and 2 (except this time, you choose the topic). In Essay 3, you must also:
- Incorporate your own personal experience in order to enhance the discussion of your subject matter. This can be done by using the 1st person appropriately while avoiding an unqualified 2nd If you choose to use the 1st person, your experience should be used concisely (usually no more than one paragraph, although you can choose to put 1-2 sentences of your first person experience in several paragraphs of the body); you should not tell your story from beginning to end (that would be a narrative rather than a critical essay).
- Incorporate and correctly cite at least five (5) outside sources (primary or secondary) that further qualify your analysis into your paper. Sources must be credible and relate to your specific topic/analysis.
In addition to the above, you will need to:
- Qualify all of your assertions either by your personal experience or through support by an outside source
- Utilize elements of pathos, ethos, and logos and exhibit smooth transitions of thoughts throughout the essay (see lecture notes for more information).
- Appropriately cite outside sources according to MLA standards within the text and in your Works Cited page. The sources you choose to support your analysis must be credible.
Length requirement: As per the college’s requirements, Essay 3 must be at least 1000 words in length (approximately 4 pages), using the margin and font requirements as stated in the syllabus. The checklist and Works Cited page should be included but does not count towards the length requirement.
Due Dates: Final Draft:
Essay 3: Documented/Research Cover Sheet
Name: _______________________
______ Presented a critical thesis (should involve ‘the why’ not ‘the what’) about a chosen piece of literature (30 points)
______ Developed the thesis using qualified critical sub-points and relevant observations of the human condition (50 points)
______ Presented a solid introduction that follows the three step process
(15 points)
______ Presented a solid conclusion that does not contain new information but is
not overly repetitive (15 points)
______ Showed critical analysis rather than the reporting of facts in a book-report or narrative type of style (25 points)
______ Utilized elements of pathos, ethos, and logos and exhibited smooth transitions of thoughts throughout the essay (15 points)
______ Adhered to the Standard Professional English and avoided an unqualified 2nd person (20 points)
______ Used a qualified 1st person. Avoided an unqualified 1st person. (20 points)
______ Incorporated your own personal experience in order to enhance the discussion of your subject matter 20 points)
______ Qualified all of your assertions either by your personal experience or through support by an outside source (15 points)
______ Incorporated 2-3 outside sources that further qualify your analysis into your paper. The sources were credible; Wikipedia and other online wikis, dictionaries, and encyclopedias are not appropriate sources for the college level and should not have been used in your paper. Your books for this class are not considered an outside source (15 points)
______ The citations within the text were cited logically according to MLA standards (25 points)
______ Included a Works Cited page using correct MLA citation (25 points)
______ Headed your paper according to MLA standards (see p 527 in RW for example) and formatted your paper correctly according to the standards stated in the syllabus (5 points)
______ Submitted your paper with this cover sheet/checklist pasted directly into your document and named your file according to the directions (This is an all or nothing category—both must be done correctly) (5 points)
______ Total (out of 300 points)
