Write a thesis–driven response to one of the assigned works of literature. Your paper should make an original,
compelling, arguable claim about the literary work and support it with textual evidence. Your thesis should challenge or complicate a simple reading of the text. Remember that a thesis is your best
reply to an important question that doesnt have a right answer. You may respond to one of the discussion
questions I have provided or one of your own, but make sure that the question you select can sustain a complete,
well–developed response. Youll likely have succeeded in your thesis statement if your readers pause after
reading it and think, What an interesting idea. I wonder if thats really true. Once you have offered an intriguing thesis, support it with ample evidence from the work itself. Offer
paraphrases and direct quotes as evidence, but dont assume that they alone will convince your readers. Instead,
provide analysis of and commentary on your textual evidence to demonstrate what a particular paraphrase or
quote means in your view, why it is significant, and how it supports your thesis. For additional help in writing about literature, visit the Purdue OWL website > Subject–Specific Writing >
Writing in Literature > Writing about Fiction and Writing about Literature.
Requirements
 2–3 pages
 MLA format (see MLA General Format at the Purdue OWL website)
o 12 pt. Times New Roman font or something equivalent
o 1 margins with proper 1/2 header
o Double–spaced throughout
o Proper heading on first page
o Proper in–text citations
o Proper Work Cited page (citing the work of literature)
 See Course Schedule for due dates
 You may write on any work of literature assigned before the midterm
 Submit all work related to this unit; failure to do so will result in a point reduction on your unit grade