Instruction
Every great love story needs an obstacle, whether age, race, sexual orientation, parental disapproval, language barrier, distance, or their parents’ or society’s disapproval. Sometimes it’s something even more random or specific. I just watched Out of Sight, where George Clooney is a bank robber and Jennifer Lopez the Federal Marshall assigned to catch him. Or The Time-Traveler’s Wife, where I imagine the time-traveler and his wife will be separated by time. Anyway, for this assignment we will be reading three novels relating to love and the many obstacles that must be overcome for it to be realized. As and after we complete Dept. of Speculation and Norwegian Wood, you will compose an essay subjecting the novel(s) to extended literary analysis. In order to do so, you will need to notice various aspects of the text, formulate an original and arguable thesis, and support your assertions with evidence. The result should be a cogent composition that illuminates our study of literature this semester.
Successful papers will:
Begin with a compelling introductory paragraph which engages the reader, transitions to the subject, and offers a controlling idea for your essay
Propose an arguable thesis which will be supported and defended throughout your essay
Provide an essential summary of the events and characters involved so that an uninformed reader will be able to follow and understand your essay
Reference, quote, and/or paraphrase from the novel(s) about which you are writing
Position your argument with regard to our discussion of love, lust, and romance
Consider integrating secondary sources to bolster your argument
Conclude by extending your investigation to a further point warranted by your prose
Use an effective structure that carefully guides the reader from one idea to the next, and be thoroughly edited so that sentences are readable and appropriate for an academic audience.
Be properly formatted according to MLA guidelines, including in-text citations and a full works cited