Paper One: A Comparative Analysis – English 2850: The Pleasure of the Text

Paper One: A Comparative Analysis

In this assignment you will be doing an analysis of two texts that we have worked with in class thus far. Your analysis will include:

A thesis: a central idea that controls the development of the essay. This thesis will be thematic and will form an argument you are making about the text. It will be the foundation for your analysis of both texts.
Textual Evidence: this will prove your argument or thesis and will be in the form of CLOSE READINGS taken from each text. You will be quoting from and referring to the text in your paper. These texts are your only sources. In other words, secondary sources are unnecessary; all of your research will come from the texts. Your citations will be in MLA format.
A conclusion to your analysis: This conclusion will synthesize your evidence and your thesis and will link together the texts. You will extend your argument here and answer the questions that you have posed to the reader throughout your analysis.

Purpose

There are two main goals that I have for us as a class in accomplishing this particular assignment:

The first purpose of this assignment is to practice writing in an analytical way and to work on crafting an argument based on textual evidence. You will also be working on referencing a text, citing a text, and structuring your argument into an essay. I strongly suggest you pick a thesis statement that interests you. Think about the following questions: What kind of thematic connections have you noticed throughout the semester as we are reading these texts? What kind of conflicts or differences have you noticed? Can you build a thesis that is detailed, specific, and debatable?

The second purpose is to see how you as a reader engage with the texts we have worked on in class. How can you integrate our classroom discussions into the text? What have you learned about these texts? How can you critically interpret these texts in your own way?

Paper Specs

2,000 words/ 6-7 pages double-spaced
25% of course grade

Your paper should have a title, a heading in MLA format, and pagination in MLA format.

Important Dates:

First Draft Due: October 24^th ; 2,000 words; Hard copy IN CLASS

Final Draft Due: November 7^th; 2,000 words; Hard copy IN CLASS- Electronic copy sent in before class time.

Sources:

You are required to use all of these sources when writing your paper. Please also consider the writing situation as discussed in class and consider this to be an example of academic writing.

http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/how-write-comparative-analysis

http://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/HOWTOWRITEALITERARYANALYSISESSAY_10.15.07_001.pdf

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/618/01/

MLA FORMAT:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

Texts you may use for your analysis:

(You will obviously need to cite these texts, when using them in your paper, in MLA format)

“What is Enlightenment?” Immanuel Kant

The Discourse on Method Descartes

“A Vindication of the Rights of Women” Mary Wollstonecraft

Tartuffe Moliere

Bewitched Akinari