American Lit
In your essay:
1) Summarize, but also engage with, the argument in question from your Critical Article of choice. Present his or her argumentative stance fairly while also evaluating the merit of the argument being offered. Emphasize at least a section or two of the article. Does the author make a credible case? Why or why not?
2) How does the critic approach the author and text in question? In other words, does the critic offer a particular type of approach (biographical, historical, psychological) towards O’Connor or Hemingway? Try to address this question of orientation/methodology in your essay.
3) Discuss whether your initial impressions of the reading in question were complicated or changed by the critical article in question. Be specific, and reference specific sections from both readings. This section should be your next to-last paragraph.
4) Consider where your reading and the critical article may fit in with course goals and themes. For example, how might your assigned reading and the article fit in with our readings in short fiction and late-19th-century American literature? On the other hand, how might the story and article venture off from course subject matter and readings in American literature? This section should comprise your concluding paragraph.
Unite these questions into a coherent, “flowing” essay with transitions, topic sentences, textual evidence, a thesis, and other such devices of expository writing. Use direct textual evidence, which is subsequently paraphrased, in each body paragraph to substantiate your points.
