Critical+Essay+Assignment

=== "Criticism is not a profession and does not stand and fall with any particular business model. Criticism is a habit of mind, a discipline of writing, a way of life -- a commitment to the independent, open-ended exploration of works of art in relation to one another and the world around them. As such, it is always apt to be misunderstood, undervalued and at odds with itself. Artists will complain, fans will tune out, but the arguments will never end." ===

- A. O. Scott (pictured), //New York Times// film critic on the end of his TV show, "At the Movies" (4/4/10)

 * //Slaughterhouse-Five// Essay: A Critical Assessment **[[image:book_stack.jpg width="201" height="266" align="right"]]

**Due date: Friday, Apr. 15 -- Length: 4-5 pages -- 75 pts.**
**Wed., Apr. 6**: brainstorm ideas and write draft of argument **Thurs-Fri, Apr. 7-8:** computer lab **Mon, Apr. 11:** In-class work on citations, quoting, Works Cited page, formatting **Tues, Apr. 12:** In-class peer editing **Fri, Apr. 15**: Essays due*


 * If you are involved in the Musical, Science Olympiad, WYSE, or have some other huge, school-related time commitment, see me about a reasonable extension.


 * TOPICS:** Choose a thesis that is both __interesting__ and __supportable__. It must make an argument about the novel by focusing on a specific element, such as a character, place, event, scene, symbol or concept, coming to some conclusions about what Vonnegut is saying about life and the human condition through this concept. You must support your argument using the text itself and arguments put forth in at least 2 outside sources. You may also use any items in the previous biographical packet as sources, but do NOT use "quote sites" as these are often unsubstantiated. Consider making arguments related to characters, settings, the unusual structure of the novel, or any ideas presented in the novel, whether psychological, philosophical, sociological or theological in nature.


 * SOURCES:** You are to use the novel and at least 2 critical essays as sources for this essay. (Or 1 critical essay and 1 article from the biographical packet.) If you use any essays other than the ones I give you, I MUST also receive __a copy of the pages you used__ when you hand in your paper (__limit 2__.) Be sure to note the author's name, and then either quote or paraphrase him or her, tying the ideas to yours. You should use the critics' ideas to lend credence to your own ideas, as a springboard to your own ideas, or to argue against as containing misguided ideas. Again, cite the page number in parentheses after the reference. The paper must be largely formed from your own ideas and insights – the critics’ ideas are to be woven into your own argument as you support or refute the various points them.


 * __Critical Essay 1: The Personal Novels__** [[file:Critical_Essay_1.pdf]]

__**Critical Essay 2: Apocalyptic Grumbling**__


 * __Critical Essay 3: 'Would'st thou be in a dream'__** [[file:Critical_Essay_3.pdf]]

__**Critical Essay 4: The New Reality**__


 * BOOK CITATIONS:** You must cite the novel in your essay to prove your argument(s). Direct quotes are important, but choose these carefully and **__always use a lead-in__** to identify whose words you are quoting. If you are quoting a character's lines, use the quote-within-a-quote punctuation. After the quote, in parentheses, include the __page number__. If you paraphrase an incident in the novel or simply refer to it without quoting, provide page numbers for these as well. It’s best to refer to this in the lead-in to your comment. (Ex: On pages 43-44, the narrator tells us about Billy’s experience at ....) Generally, for every ½-page paragraph, you should include 1-3 citations. Overall, 20-25% of your essay should be quoted or paraphrased words. (This is a standard rule of thumb for all critical essays.)


 * LONG QUOTES:** If you include a quote that is longer than 3 lines on your typed page, you need to __block__ the quote. This means you manually pull your side margins in an extra inch, and then single-space the quote. The lead-in should be set off above the blocked quote with a colon, and the page number may either be mentioned in the lead-in or in a parenthetical notation at the end of the blocked passage. In such a short paper, I would not recommend using more than 2-3 quotes of this length.


 * FINAL NOTE ABOUT TOPICS:** Don’t think too broadly or too narrowly when you consider topics. Choose an argument you can prove and support in 4-5 pages. Stay away from topics that are dull and/or too simplistic or obvious, such as Billy’s being traumatized by the war, Tralfamadore as Billy’s escape from reality, or Vonnegut’s anti-war message in general. Find an interesting focus and angle with which to enlighten your reader. Sample ideas that show a narrowed focus: Montana’s role in Tralfamadore; the incidents that prompt Billy’s time traveling; Vonnegut’s use of weapons and violence in the war scenes.... anything tied to a motif strand, a particular character, Vonnegut's style, or his working of a particular theme in an interesting way.


 * VOICE/STYLE:** As with all literary analysis essays, use a third-person voice (we/us). “I” is also acceptable now in literary criticism. Be aware of ethos issues, however – remember that you are a high school student and not a college professor or Vonnegut expert. Your audience is your teacher and fellow students, who have all read the novel – so avoid plot summary. Avoid the more quippy J.O.T. style. This is a scholarly essay.


 * WORKS CITED PAGE:** Include a works-cited page using MLA style, listing sources in alphabetical order of authors’ last names. Titles of critical essays belong in quotes, both in the Works Cited listing and if referenced in the essay itself. (You will find bibliographical formats on the library’s website or the MLA website.)


 * OTHER DETAILS:** Include your name in the upper-right corner of page one, and a title centered and underlined at the top of page 1. After the title, triple space and begin the text of your essay. Titles are to suggest the general thesis and scope of your paper but should not be complete sentences. Sub-titles are acceptable – for this, use a colon. (Ex: __Ilium: Vonegut’s Modern-Day Troy__) Please do not include a separate title page or any sort of binder, folder or page protector. Simply staple the pages together. Finally, as with all school work, double space and use a standard font size (12) and type (New Times Roman, Courier, Palatino, etc.)


 * FINAL NOTE:** I realize papers like this exist on the web. Such a temptation may act as a siren’s song to you. However, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT using one of them, or even a small part of one. I must see you working on this paper in class, struggling with it and creating it, if I am to accept it. I must also see references to the critical essays we use in class or copies of essays you find on your own. Remember, I know your voice and style well enough to know if you wrote something, so don’t test me. We have methods of sniffing out plagiarism that might surprise you. A plagiarized paper – even if it’s only a paragraph – receives a zero and warrants a phone call home and a meeting with the Division Head. Try it in college and you risk expulsion. Try it in your professional life and you may find your name in a headline!


 * PARTNER OPTION:** You may, if you choose, work with one partner on this paper. They must be in class with you, and I must see you both working equally on the paper during class time.

So dig in and grapple with a good topic! You will enjoy the process if you do it in small pieces and not allow yourself to become overwhelmed or short on time.

Clear focus/thesis, unified essay (20) Textual and critical support (20) Flow/logical sequencing of ideas/completeness/clarity (20) Correctness - spelling, punctuation, etc., including use of quotes and Works Cited page (15)
 * GRADING:** Roughly broken down into the following areas, though I won't use a rubric: