Instructions:

Step 1: Select Your Essay Topic

you have the opportunity to showcase your understanding of the literary works and critical concepts covered in this course. You will choose either “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, or both as your primary texts for analysis. Additionally, you will select at least one supplementary text from the short stories, poems, or interviews covered in the course. Finally, you must incorporate concepts from the textbooks “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” and “They Say/I Say” into your analysis.

Essay Instructions:

Select Your Primary Text(s): Choose either “The Things They Carried” (chapters 1-9), “The Great Gatsby” (chapters 1-9), or both as the primary text(s) for your analysis. If you choose both, you must discuss how they relate to each other in your essay.

Choose Supplementary Text: Select at least one supplementary text from the short stories (“A&P,” “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”), poems (Langston Hughes), odes (Horace), or interviews (Taylor Swift) studied in this course. This text should complement or contrast with your primary text(s).

Apply Literary Concepts: Use the principles and techniques discussed in “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” to analyze your chosen primary text(s). Explore elements such as symbolism, character development, narrative structure, and themes.

Incorporate “They Say/I Say” Concepts: Apply persuasive strategies and argumentative techniques from “They Say/I Say” to strengthen your thesis and arguments. Discuss how your analysis connects to broader literary conversations.

Supplementary Text Analysis: Analyze the selected supplementary text(s) and explain their relevance to your primary text(s). How do they contribute to your understanding of the themes, characters, or literary techniques in your primary text(s)?

Integration of Taylor Swift Interviews: If you choose to incorporate the Taylor Swift interviews, discuss how her insights and experiences as an artist and storyteller relate to the themes and narrative strategies in your primary and supplementary texts.

Annotated Bibliography: As part of your grade for this assignment, you must submit an annotated bibliography that includes a list of sources used in your research. Each entry in the bibliography should be accompanied by a brief annotation explaining the source’s relevance and how it contributes to your analysis.

Conclusion: Summarize your findings, emphasizing the insights you’ve gained from applying the concepts from the textbooks and analyzing the texts. Reflect on the significance of the connections and comparisons you’ve made between your chosen texts.

Ensure that your essay is well-organized, thoroughly researched, properly cited, and includes the required annotated bibliography. You have the flexibility to choose the combination of texts that most interest you and allows for a compelling analysis. This final exam research essay, along with the annotated bibliography, should demonstrate your mastery of the course materials and your ability to engage in meaningful literary analysis.

Step 2: Create an Outline

Develop a detailed outline for your essay. Your outline should include the following elements:

Introduction:

• Hook or attention-grabber.
• Clear thesis statement that states your main argument or purpose.
• Brief overview of the main points you will discuss.

Body Paragraphs (usually 3-5):

• Each paragraph should start with a clear topic sentence that relates to your thesis.
• Supporting details, evidence, or examples for each topic sentence.
• Transitions between paragraphs to ensure a smooth flow of ideas.

Conclusion:

• Restate your thesis.
• Summarize the key points you’ve discussed.
• Offer a concluding thought or insight.

Step 3: Draft Your Essay

Using the outline you’ve created, begin drafting your essay. Write your essay in a separate document, focusing on expanding each point from your outline into coherent paragraphs. 

Step 4: Review and Revise Your Rough Draft

After completing your rough draft, take some time to review and revise it. Pay attention to:

• Clarity and coherence of your ideas and arguments.
• The flow of your essay from one paragraph to the next.
• Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
• Proper citation of sources, if applicable.

Step 7: Submission

Submit both your essay outline and your final essay( should be at least 5 pages).