ESSAY WRITING Topics, Rules, Issues, Evaluation

Research Essay. Grading: 25%  Approx words (with bibliography)  An independent analysis of any aspect of a play found on the reading list. Examples of what to analyze: characters, motifs, language, humour, irony, composition, situational rhymes, symbolism, details, stage directions, etc.).  Must include references to at least three external academic sources (books or articles). Only printed sources or their electronic counterparts count (ex., articles found in electronically published scholarly journals are acceptable).electronically published scholarly journals

Examples of Topics  What’s Funny? Humour in William Shakespeare’s Richard III.  Women in William Shakespeare’s Richard III.  Symbolic Meaning of Details in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker.  The Role of Irony in Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra.

Research Essay Please verify your topic with the professor before writing the essay, either in person or by . You can submit an outline or a draft to get feedback. Your topic might slightly change at any stage (except when you are revising the final draft).

Research Essay Consult any MLA writing guide for proper documentation (especially bibliography). Give your draft to someone to read for testing out your ideas and logic. Does what you are saying make sense? Verify your interpretation: is it believable? Is it well-explained? Avoid elliptical writing (omitting information and logical links, having no transitions).

Evaluation How will your paper be evaluated? Here are the main criteria: - originality of analysis; - thoroughness of research of topic; - logic, coherence of organization; - quality of sources and appropriate source referencing; - quality of language; - neatness of presentation.

Physical presentation and form. Checklist Typed double-spaced in 12 pt Times Roman. All pages numbered and author identified. Initial page with all pertinent information: (student name, number, course number, name of professor, title of paper, word count). All sources and statements referenced, and references keyed to a bibliography at the end of the essay; system of referencing should be consistent.

TEN “COMMANDMENTS” of essay-writing 1) The length of the essay should be as required. 2) Write in paragraphs. Each paragraph should be about 10 lines long (or longer). 3) Don’t leave extra space between paragraphs. Indent each paragraph instead. 4) Provide page numbers. 5) Avoid repetitions, especially in the conclusion.conclusion

TEN “COMMANDMENTS” of essay-writing 6) Italicize or underline titles of books. Take titles of poems, chapters, stories, articles, etc. in quotation marks. 7) Don’t waste paper on bibliography if it is short - put it on the same sheet as the last page, if there is space. No back cover! 8) Introduce quotes, don’t let them stand by themselves. 9) Mind your grammar! Know how to use apostrophe: its/it’s, sailors/sailor’s/sailors’. Check the difference between a colon and a semi-colon. Avoid run-on sentences. 10) Provide detailed examples, avoid generalizations and empty statements. Stay focused.