For your biggest grade this semester, you will write a 4-6 page analytical paper comparing and/or contrasting specific ideas in two texts we’ve explored this semester.
One of these texts must be a novel we’ve read: Orwell’s 1984, Huxley’s Brave New World, and Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
The other can be another novel, or one of the films or short stories we’ve analyzed: “12 Monkeys,” “Inception,” Plato’s “Cave Allegory,” “Children of Men,” “2081,” or Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron.”
Details:
· 4-6 double-spaced pages
· MLA format and citations, as well as a works cited list
· Scored on the senior comparative rubric on my website.
Calendar of Due Dates:
Wednesday, 5/11· Essay Intro: Assignment and Rubrics
· Compose & submit topic proposal to turnitin.com before class tomorrow—by noon Thursday / Thursday, 5/12
Meet in 1304
· Submit topic proposal to turnitin.com before class—by noon Thursday
· Outline Essays: Work Day / Friday, 5/13
Meet in 1304
· Outline Essays: Work Day
· Get your thesis approved by the end of class on Friday.
· Submit formal MLA Outline to turnitin.com by Monday at noon
Monday, 5/16
Meet in 1304
· Submit formal MLA Outline to turnitin.com by Monday at noon
· Peer-edit essay outlines
· Passive Voice mini-lecture
· Begin Drafting Essays: Work Day / Tuesday, 5/17
Meet in 1304
· Draft Essays: Work Day / Wednesday, 5/18
Meet in 1304
· Essay Draft due to turnitin.com before class—by noon
· Peer-edit drafts / Thursday, 5/19
Meet in 1304 for our last work day for this essay
· Revise and Polish Essay Drafts—last work day / Friday, 5/20
· Film Analysis (not a work day)
· Final Essay due to turnitin.com by 7:20 AM on Tuesday, 5/24
Dystopian Comparative Essay Topic Proposal (10 pts.)
Written Assignment Topic Proposal: submit to turnitin.com by Thursday, 5.12.16 by noon (before class begins).
Name:
Works featured: (MLA Citations)
·
Topic: Ideas the authors present that I will write about –3-5 sentences. Be specific and use details.
Techniques: Literary conventions the authors use to communicate ideas--2-3 sentences. Be specific and use details.
Proposed Title [the title should clearly state what essay is about]:
Comparative Essay Formats: Block or Point-by-Point
Comparative essays typically follow one of these structures. Make sure you cover both similarities AND differences.
INTRO/THESIS· A thesis for a comparative essay focuses the paper on the concept being addressed and makes an argument about HOW both texts address the concept.
· Clearly state your argument / answer to the prompt or question
· In the thesis, include your argument about both the similarities AND differences between the texts that you will examine in the body of the paper.
í / î
BLOCK STYLE BODY ¶s / POINT-BY-POINT BODY ¶s
BT making point(s) about ONE of your two texts.
Transition + context + quoted support (or a series of short quoted supports) + (citation).
commentary explaining how the support proves your BT
More support and commentary until you are through
Wrap up your point &/or transition into your next BT. / BT making point (similarity or difference) about BOTH works.
Support from one of the pair: Transition + context + quoted support (or a series of short quoted supports) + (citation).
commentary explaining how the support proves your BT
Support from the other of the pair with commentary hearkening back to points made after previous support. Thus, this commentary will always be more developed than those in previous section.
Wrap up your point &/or transition into your next BT.
ê / ê
BT making point(s) about THE OTHER of your two works compared to point(s) made in previous ¶.
Transition + context + quoted support (or a series of short quoted supports) + (citation).
commentary explaining how the support illustrates your point, with additional observations hearkening back to similarities &/or differences to points made in previous section ¶. Thus, this commentary will always be more developed than in the last section ¶.
More support and commentary until you are through
Wrap up your point &/or transition into your next BT. / BT making a different point (similarity or difference) about BOTH works.
Support from one of the pair: Transition + context + quoted support (or a series of short quoted supports) + (citation).
commentary explaining how the support proves your BT
Support from the other of the pair with commentary hearkening back to points made after previous support.
Wrap up your point &/or transition into your next BT.
î / í
CONCLUSION
Your Name
Mrs. Matheny
Dystopian Fiction
Monday, May 16, 2016
Compare/Contrast Formal Essay Outline
Thesis: (answer the prompt in one unique and original full sentence that is specific, supportable, and debatable.)
I. BTS (body thesis statement) #1 (Written as a complete sentence)
a. First Quote (use as many quotes as you need per paragraph to prove your BTS/Thesis)
i. Analysis of evidence
ii. Elaboration of your analysis
b. Second Quote
i. Analysis of evidence
ii. Elaboration of your analysis
II. BTS (body thesis statement) #2: (Written as a complete sentence)
a. First Quote (use as many quotes as you need per paragraph to prove your BTS/Thesis)
i. Analysis of evidence
ii. Elaboration of your analysis
b. Second Quote
i. Analysis of evidence
ii. Elaboration of your analysis
III. BTS (body thesis statement) #3: (Written as a complete sentence)
a. First Quote (use as many quotes as you need per paragraph to prove your BTS/Thesis)
i. Analysis of evidence
ii. Elaboration of your analysis
b. Second Quote
i. Analysis of evidence
ii. Elaboration of your analysis