Documentation Style: MLA (for both format and citations)
Length: 2000+ words (plus a Works Cited page)
If you have problems with grammar, mechanics, and/or format in your work in general, PLEASE get help in the Student Success Center (Noel Memorial Library). Such errors will cost you even more on this assignment, as will failing to follow my directions about the nature of the assignment.
This is an English class, and I expect your paper to adhere to the rules of standard edited English.
Read ALL of the instructions before writing your paper.
Your work must be entirely your own and created for this particular assignment.
►Read Richard H. Tyre’s article “You Can’t Teach Tolkien,” which you can find in the Permanent Documents and Web Links section, and apply his observations about the hero’s journey to maturity in The Hobbit. Identify the hero and trace his/her journey through the novel. Explain thoroughly, using direct textual evidence (quotes from the book), the SIX steps discussed by Tyre. Examine how the novel fits the steps literally and/or figuratively. For example, when you identify the first step (those who hunt for treasure), you must explain who the hero/treasure hunter is and what the treasure APPEARS to be. For another step, you would need to think about whether the trip takes place literally at night or if night is symbolized in some way. For yet another step you would need to decide if it is literally blood that the hero sheds or some other body fluid (explained in Tyre’s article). And it has to be about BILBO’s experiences. Somewhere in there, explain how the outcome of the novel shows the hero as isolated from his/her community. In the conclusion, comment on the value/merit of such a journey and explain the universal implications of the novel.
This is extremely important. If you do not explain/document/apply Tyre’s six-step theory, you essentially have not done the assignment, and your paper will receive a failing grade as a result.
►Be certain to identify and explain the theory in the introduction. Follow the order established by Tyre. Don’t get out of order, and don’t leave out steps.
►In the introduction, quote the theory correctly, numbers and all—unless you use ellipses to replace the numbers—and put the quote in quotation marks. CITE the theory every time you reference it, both quotes and paraphrases. If you use the exact phrasing of any part of the theory, put it in quotes. Once you get into the body paragraphs, however, you can leave the numbers out of the Tyre quotes.
►Every body paragraph must contain at least one CITED quote or paraphrase from Tyre’s article about one of the steps and 2-3 CITED direct quotes from the novel to prove that point.
►The topic sentences of the body paragraphs should be parallel in construction/consistently phrased AND should be in the form of an argument.
►Use no sources other than Tyre’s article and the novel. You WILL lose points if you include anything else.
►Don’t define common words for your reader unless you are using archaic or unusual definitions. At the least, you’re cluttering up your argument; at most, you’re just padding your paper. Remember your audience. We/I don’t need you to define something like quest.
►And please don’t tell me about Lord of the Rings. Your paper is about Bilbo Baggins and his adventures as told in The Hobbit. Telling me what Frodo does in LOTR is irrelevant unless/until you make a direct and vital connection to Bilbo’s actions for the reader. And you shouldn’t need to do that.
►Bilbo is the hero—not Bilbo and Thorin or Bilbo and Gandalf or Bilbo and anybody else—just Bilbo. Therefore, you should concern yourself with how BILBO completes the journey/matures/grows.
►When you’re quoting parts of Tyre’s theory, be sure your sentences are complete thoughts. For example: Tyre’s second plot point explains how the treasure hunter “must go alone” (Tyre 19).
►Write your papers using the MLA format: both style sheet and documentation. In addition to the information on MLA style and documentation on Moodle, you should consult as needed a scholarly website that features this information or an up-to-date handbook. Failure to follow instructions about paper format, citation, and documentation will cost you AT LEAST ONE LETTER GRADE of your assignment grade. If the citation/documentation offense is serious enough, you could receive a ZERO for the work and find yourself before the Student Conduct Board, facing charges of plagiarism.
►The publishing information for Tyre’s article can be found on the scanned pages (title of journal, pages, etc.). Failure to cite the theory correctly in the paper, by page number, will cost you points. Failure to cite the novel correctly, by page number, will cost you points. Failure to cite them correctly on the works cited sheet will cost you points.
►Type your papers using the following:
●Times New Roman 12 pitch font (nothing larger or smaller than this size)
●one inch margins
●double-spacing (including long, indented quotes and the works cited page)
►Do not use a cover sheet.
►Your thesis statement must be in the form of an argument. I don’t want to see any language like “In this paper I will show . . .”
►Quote liberally from the novel (again, your body paragraphs MUST have 2-3 direct quotes from the novel) and always remember to relate each of your examples back to Tyre’s theory (quote and cite the relevant part of the theory in each body paragraph).
►Use signal phrases before all quotes, summaries, and/or paraphrases. Use MLA parenthetical citations after ALL sources, including direct quotes and paraphrases from the novel and the information about Tyre’s theory. Yes, I’m repeating information, but you would be surprised at how many times this information is missing from assignments.
►Direct quotes go in quotation marks. If you don’t comply, you WILL lose major points. If it’s egregious enough, you WILL go before the Student Conduct Board. You supposedly have completed ENGL 105 and 115 successfully. You should have learned how to quote and cite sources correctly. Plus, there’s a handout on Moodle about how to use sources correctly.
►By the way, if it’s in quotes, it needs a citation; if it doesn’t need a citation, it shouldn’t be in quotes.
►Dialogue is quoted differently from just a regular direct quote. If you don’t remember how to do that from ENGL 105 and 115, read the handout on how to use sources correctly, found on Moodle.
►At the end of your paper, hit a hard return and create a works cited page for your novel and Tyre’s essay. Do not call the page a bibliography or a reference list. It is called Works Cited (assuming you will use more than one work). Remember, the title of a novel is put in italics. The entry for the novel should be listed and alphabetized by the name of the author. The title of the essay is put in quotation marks. The name of the journal is put in italics. The works cited page is the last page of your paper and is not counted toward the minimum length of the assignment.
►Don’t use Word’s citation creator or its bibliography creator. You will LOSE points if your entries aren’t in the correct format, and what Word puts in there is WRONG.
►Make certain your paper is not plot summary. EVERYTHING from the novel has to PROVE something.
►Refer to the handout “Error Check List” during your proofreading and editing phase.
►I submit all papers to an anti-plagiarism site before I grade them.
Example: Morris_Cleatta_Analytical_Paper
Use YOUR NAME, not mine.
►Submit the work in one of these formats: MS Word .RTF Open Office
Do NOT submit an assignment in MS Works, .PDF, .XPS, WordPerfect, any work sharing software/site, or Mac format. This will result in an automatic ZERO.
►Remember that my computers have Word 2010, so if you are using a newer version, save it in a compatible format. If I can’t open your document, I can’t read or grade it. If I can’t grade it, you will receive no credit for it. Novel Paper
Worth 100 points
Documentation Style: MLA (for both format and citations)
Length: 2000+ words (plus a Works Cited page)
If you have problems with grammar, mechanics, and/or format in your work in general, PLEASE get help in the Student Success Center (Noel Memorial Library). Such errors will cost you even more on this assignment, as will failing to follow my directions about the nature of the assignment.
This is an English class, and I expect your paper to adhere to the rules of standard edited English.
Read ALL of the instructions before writing your paper.
Your work must be entirely your own and created for this particular assignment.
►Read Richard H. Tyre’s article “You Can’t Teach Tolkien,” which you can find in the Permanent Documents and Web Links section, and apply his observations about the hero’s journey to maturity in The Hobbit. Identify the hero and trace his/her journey through the novel. Explain thoroughly, using direct textual evidence (quotes from the book), the SIX steps discussed by Tyre. Examine how the novel fits the steps literally and/or figuratively. For example, when you identify the first step (those who hunt for treasure), you must explain who the hero/treasure hunter is and what the treasure APPEARS to be. For another step, you would need to think about whether the trip takes place literally at night or if night is symbolized in some way. For yet another step you would need to decide if it is literally blood that the hero sheds or some other body fluid (explained in Tyre’s article). And it has to be about BILBO’s experiences. Somewhere in there, explain how the outcome of the novel shows the hero as isolated from his/her community. In the conclusion, comment on the value/merit of such a journey and explain the universal implications of the novel.
This is extremely important. If you do not explain/document/apply Tyre’s six-step theory, you essentially have not done the assignment, and your paper will receive a failing grade as a result.
►Be certain to identify and explain the theory in the introduction. Follow the order established by Tyre. Don’t get out of order, and don’t leave out steps.
►In the introduction, quote the theory correctly, numbers and all—unless you use ellipses to replace the numbers—and put the quote in quotation marks. CITE the theory every time you reference it, both quotes and paraphrases. If you use the exact phrasing of any part of the theory, put it in quotes. Once you get into the body paragraphs, however, you can leave the numbers out of the Tyre quotes.
►Every body paragraph must contain at least one CITED quote or paraphrase from Tyre’s article about one of the steps and 2-3 CITED direct quotes from the novel to prove that point.
►The topic sentences of the body paragraphs should be parallel in construction/consistently phrased AND should be in the form of an argument.
►Use no sources other than Tyre’s article and the novel. You WILL lose points if you include anything else.
►Don’t define common words for your reader unless you are using archaic or unusual definitions. At the least, you’re cluttering up your argument; at most, you’re just padding your paper. Remember your audience. We/I don’t need you to define something like quest.
►And please don’t tell me about Lord of the Rings. Your paper is about Bilbo Baggins and his adventures as told in The Hobbit. Telling me what Frodo does in LOTR is irrelevant unless/until you make a direct and vital connection to Bilbo’s actions for the reader. And you shouldn’t need to do that.
►Bilbo is the hero—not Bilbo and Thorin or Bilbo and Gandalf or Bilbo and anybody else—just Bilbo. Therefore, you should concern yourself with how BILBO completes the journey/matures/grows.
►When you’re quoting parts of Tyre’s theory, be sure your sentences are complete thoughts. For example: Tyre’s second plot point explains how the treasure hunter “must go alone” (Tyre 19).
►Write your papers using the MLA format: both style sheet and documentation. In addition to the information on MLA style and documentation on Moodle, you should consult as needed a scholarly website that features this information or an up-to-date handbook. Failure to follow instructions about paper format, citation, and documentation will cost you AT LEAST ONE LETTER GRADE of your assignment grade. If the citation/documentation offense is serious enough, you could receive a ZERO for the work and find yourself before the Student Conduct Board, facing charges of plagiarism.
►The publishing information for Tyre’s article can be found on the scanned pages (title of journal, pages, etc.). Failure to cite the theory correctly in the paper, by page number, will cost you points. Failure to cite the novel correctly, by page number, will cost you points. Failure to cite them correctly on the works cited sheet will cost you points.
►Type your papers using the following:
●Times New Roman 12 pitch font (nothing larger or smaller than this size)
●one inch margins
●double-spacing (including long, indented quotes and the works cited page)
►Do not use a cover sheet.
►Your thesis statement must be in the form of an argument. I don’t want to see any language like “In this paper I will show . . .”
►Quote liberally from the novel (again, your body paragraphs MUST have 2-3 direct quotes from the novel) and always remember to relate each of your examples back to Tyre’s theory (quote and cite the relevant part of the theory in each body paragraph).
►Use signal phrases before all quotes, summaries, and/or paraphrases. Use MLA parenthetical citations after ALL sources, including direct quotes and paraphrases from the novel and the information about Tyre’s theory. Yes, I’m repeating information, but you would be surprised at how many times this information is missing from assignments.
►Direct quotes go in quotation marks. If you don’t comply, you WILL lose major points. If it’s egregious enough, you WILL go before the Student Conduct Board. You supposedly have completed ENGL 105 and 115 successfully. You should have learned how to quote and cite sources correctly. Plus, there’s a handout on Moodle about how to use sources correctly.
►By the way, if it’s in quotes, it needs a citation; if it doesn’t need a citation, it shouldn’t be in quotes.
►Dialogue is quoted differently from just a regular direct quote. If you don’t remember how to do that from ENGL 105 and 115, read the handout on how to use sources correctly, found on Moodle.
►At the end of your paper, hit a hard return and create a works cited page for your novel and Tyre’s essay. Do not call the page a bibliography or a reference list. It is called Works Cited (assuming you will use more than one work). Remember, the title of a novel is put in italics. The entry for the novel should be listed and alphabetized by the name of the author. The title of the essay is put in quotation marks. The name of the journal is put in italics. The works cited page is the last page of your paper and is not counted toward the minimum length of the assignment.
►Don’t use Word’s citation creator or its bibliography creator. You will LOSE points if your entries aren’t in the correct format, and what Word puts in there is WRONG.
►Make certain your paper is not plot summary. EVERYTHING from the novel has to PROVE something.
►Refer to the handout “Error Check List” during your proofreading and editing phase.
►I submit all papers to an anti-plagiarism site before I grade them.
►Submit your ONE document electronically via Moodle by 11:55 p.m. CST, Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Be sure to label your electronic document with your last name, an underscore, your first name, an underscore, and the name of the assignment (Analytical Paper). Do not include double periods or strange characters in the title.
Example: Morris_Cleatta_Analytical_Paper
Use YOUR NAME, not mine.
►Submit the work in one of these formats: MS Word .RTF Open Office
Do NOT submit an assignment in MS Works, .PDF, .XPS, WordPerfect, any work sharing software/site, or Mac format. This will result in an automatic ZERO.
►Remember that my computers have Word 2010, so if you are using a newer version, save it in a compatible format. If I can’t open your document, I can’t read or grade it. If I can’t grade it, you will receive no credit for it.
