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Guidelines for Short Essays

The essays serve two functions. First, since they require you to develop your thoughts about the texts before class, they will help you prepare for class discussion. Second, because they require you to make and prove an argument about the text, they will help develop your writing skills throughout the semester.

Below are guidelines for these essays. If you have questions, please come see me.

ON PROCEDURE:

1. Topics for essays are assigned. Typically, you will have a choice of topics. Answer only one.
2. You must complete 3 out of the 10 assigned essays.
3. If you complete more than the three essays, I will average your grade by taking the 3 highest scores.
4. I will grade your papers on a traditional letter scale (A, A, B+, etc.). When determining your average, A=95, A-=92, B+=88, etc.
5. Essays are due on the day we are discussing the readings in class. You may NOT turn in papers late.
6. Your papers should be two-pages typed, about 500 words.
7. This course offers you plenty of assistance at ANY part of the writing process. Make an appointment with me or with a tutor at the Writing Center.

ON WRITING:

1. Your essay should have a central idea that you explore in the essay. Please limit yourself to ONE idea only.
2. Assume your audience has read the work you’re analyzing, so don’t provide plot summary. Do not assume, however, that your readers have interpreted the work in the same way you are, or that they see the significance of certain details in the way you do.
3. Use examples to support your ideas and make sure you analyze the details you provide.
4. I prefer that you do not consult any secondary sources; your own ideas are what I’m interested in.
5. Use the present tense when discussing events within a text.
6. When referring to a reader’s experience, use non-sexist pronouns. You can use “she or he”, “he/she,” “she/he,” or “s/he.” You can also refer to readers as “they,” provided you use the plural throughout.
7. When quoting from the texts, indicate page number in parenthetic references. When quoting poetry, indicate line numbers in parenthetic references.

As always, if you have ANY questions, please come see me. You can also make an appointment with a tutor at the Writing Center by calling 882-4881.