Jumping Through Hoops--Senior Essay Assignment

OK, you've performed this "trick" before, and it's time to prove to me and the world that you haven't lost your touch. Jump through the multi-paragraph hoop one more time for your English teacher, so that we can move on to bigger and better things--like your research papers.

That's it. Good dog . . . er. . . good student.

Assignment: Write a 3-4 page multi-paragraph analytical essay on any one or collection of the stories that we have read this year.

In an analytical essay (as opposed to a critical essay), the writer reveals some interesting method or theme of a story by providing his analysis of different story parts (three would be a good number to provide topics for three body paragraphs).

If I were writing about To Kill a Mockingbird, I might choose this central idea for a body paragraph: The titular symbol of the mockingbird plays an important role in understanding the theme of the novel--it is wrong, maybe even sinful, to bring harm to innocent, harmless creatures.

My thesis statement might be this: The characters of Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Scout and Gem Finch function as symbolic "mockingbirds."

Format: MLA style (heading, title, double-spaced, numbered pages)

Special instructions: Circle your central idea. Underline your thesis statement in your first paragraph. Underline your topic sentences in your body paragraphs.

Due date: February ?

Suggestions: read the sample essays and the hints that precede them in your Big White Book
Use of all outside resources (web, books, etc.) are forbidden. Plagiarism of any type will be penalized severely.