If you chose the essay (1500-1750 words, in Word document format):
This is a fully written-out essay developed directly from your outline and the feedback received on it. It should include:
- a critical title that hints at the topic and at your thesis
- an introduction with a clear thesis statement and a summary of your main points
- 2 to 3 main points broken down into various paragraphs. Your analysis should use quotes from the text to support your claims. It should also anticipate the opinions of others by using counterarguments to reinforce your own thesis. Each quote must be in quotation marks and the source and page numbers must be acknowledged in parenthesis or via a footnote.
- Each time you transition into a new aspect of your argument, you should make it clear to your reader how this new point relates to what you previously said. This can take the form of a couple of sentences between paragraphs, or you can end your paragraph in a way that opens up to the next paragraph.
- a conclusion that reiterates your thesis and puts the topic back into perspective
- a bibliography of works cited, including the text you analyzed. Consider limiting yourself to 2-3 external sources for the length of this project. You can use any style guide to reference your sources, as long as you are consistent and use the same guide throughout. Style guides are explained on Purdue OWL > Research and Citation, in the left menu.
Each point should transition clearly into each other.
The essay should be well presented in layout (e.g., no more than half a page without paragraph breaks) as well as in language (it is clearly proofread, free of typos, and the Word editor (toolbar: Review > Editor) has been used.
Before submitting your finished essay, and, later, the revised, final version, please use the checklist located at the bottom of the main Assessment page.