Nick Pincumbe En 1102 Drama Analysis Essay
Nick Pincumbe
EN 1102 Drama Analysis Essay Packet
Your assignment, if you choose to accept it (and you’d better, it’s worth 15% of your grade!) is to write a fully fleshed out Drama Analysis Essay (4F) that defends a thesis you developed through a close critical reading/analysis of a work of drama listed on the syllabus. Your analysis relies on textual support from the primary text, but additional outside academic sources are welcome for support. Do not confuse “critical analysis” with “plot summary;” the goal is to develop, sustain, and advance a thesis based on a critique of the primary text that clearly expresses thoughts on a significant literary theme of your choosing (it may be one spoken on in class). Remember that a theme is more than an abstract term (like those below), it’s an observation on life or the human condition. What does your chosen work say about one of the below terms?
Examples of Common Dramatic Thematic Elements:
Grief Religion Revenge (or Revenge versus Justice) Family Sex The Oedipus Complex Honor versus Duty Madness (i.e. argue a character was or wasn’t insane) Jungian Mask Self (the idea of discovery of self, or trueness to self) Mortality/Frailty of Life Lies and Deceit War (both within and without) Arts and Culture
Excellent papers will include properly cited quotes or paraphrases from at least one credible source from outside your textbook to support your thesis.
Your essay should contain a thesis statement that gives me an idea of how you will back this point up and how your support will be organized throughout. It should also fulfill the other requirements of your rubric.
1200 words (three-four pages double spaced 12 point font). Please include your name, a title, the date, and your class hour at the top, as well as page numbers throughout.
EN 1102 Drama Analysis Essay
Assignment 4A: Close Reading
Your first assignment in the creation of your Drama Analysis Essay is to choose one of the assigned readings for this module, reread it closely, keeping in mind the concepts of critical reading discussed in class, and then answer the following questions to help generate ideas for your Drama Analysis:
- Who is the “hero” or protagonist of this play?
- What is the hero’s main struggle? Is it an external or internal conflict?
- What lessons did the hero learn from their struggle? What are the major ways in which they changed or grew as a character?
- What era (time period) is the play set in? Did the cultural values of this time impact the action of the play? If so, how?
- Where physically is the play set? Does the setting act as a “character” in the play? If so, how?
- Is there any imagery or any references the play uses to tell the reader something? Are there any major symbols?
- Are there any significant things the characters aren’t saying (subtext)?
- What is the dominant theme of this piece?
- How do you know this theme exists?
- What insights, if any, can be revealed by applying different critical lenses?
In answering these questions, you should demonstrate a thoughtful reflection on the piece, including key takeaways, aspects you agree or disagree with or were particularly struck by, and important questions for future consideration. This can be done in the free-flowing style of a pre-writing activity rather than the formal formatting of an MLA essay.
Your close reading activity should be at least one full page in length.
If you decide you want to use this reading as the focus of your drama analysis, then at the bottom of the last page of your assignment, write down a one sentence description of your narrowed topic for this paper.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
EN 1102 Drama Analysis Essay
Assignment 4B: Thesis Statement
Your second assignment in the creation of your Drama Analysis Essay (4E) is to create your thesis statement (4B). For this exercise you should use this sheet as your guide and create a printed one page assignment that identifies your TOPIC, your STANCE on that topic, and three SUPPORT POINTS that you will use to back up that stance in your paper. Please include your name, date, etc., as you would on any other assignment and bring 1 hard copy to your Conference (see Course Schedule Announcement for dates).
Thesis Statement Breakdown
- Topic:
- Stance:
- First support:
- Second support:
- Third support:
Sample Layout
Due to/Because of
1) (First Support Point)____________________________________________________,
2) (Second Support Point)__________________________________________________,
and
3) (Third Support Point)___________________________________________________,
4) (Topic and Stance)______________________________________________________.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
EN 1102 Drama Analysis Essay
Assignment 4C: Outline
Your third assignment in the creation of your Drama Analysis (4F) is to take your thesis statement (4B) and expand it into an outline (4C). For this exercise you should use this handout as your guide and create a printed two-to-three page assignment that outlines a five paragraph structure for your essay based on an introduction, three support paragraphs, and a conclusion. Per our discussion in class, the three support points from your thesis should be the basis for your three support paragraphs.
Since you’ll be including source material for this paper (your chosen reading), you can record key quotes or paraphrases (and their in-text citations) as examples where appropriate. Make sure to include your explanation or analysis of the source material you choose to use.
Please include your name, date, etc., as you would on any other assignment and bring one hard copy to conferences (see Course Schedule Announcement for dates).
See the next two pages for a helpful breakdown of how to assemble a complete outline.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Outline Breakdown
Introduction
Hook___________________________________________________________________
Background______________________________________________________________
Point 1) _________________________________________________________________
Point 2) _________________________________________________________________
Point 3) _________________________________________________________________
Thesis __________________________________________________________________
Support One
Topic Sentence ___________________________________________________________
Example or Citation 1a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 1b)__________________________________________________
Example or Citation 2a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 2b)__________________________________________________
Example or Citation 3a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 3b)__________________________________________________
Explanation (relates back to thesis) __________________________________________
Transition _______________________________________________________________
Support Two
Topic Sentence ___________________________________________________________
Example or Citation 1a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 1b)__________________________________________________
Example or Citation 2a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 2b)__________________________________________________
Example or Citation 3a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 3b)__________________________________________________
Explanation (relates back to thesis) __________________________________________
Transition _______________________________________________________________
Support Three
Topic Sentence ___________________________________________________________
Example or Citation 1a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 1b)__________________________________________________
Example or Citation 2a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 2b)__________________________________________________
Example or Citation 3a)____________________________________________________
Analysis/Explanation 3b)__________________________________________________
Explanation (relates back to thesis) __________________________________________
Conclusion
Restated Thesis __________________________________________________________
Recap Point 1) ___________________________________________________________
Recap Point 2) ___________________________________________________________
Recap Point 3) ___________________________________________________________
Take Home _____________________________________________________________
EN 1102 Drama Analysis Essay
Assignment 4D: First Draft
Your fourth assignment in the creation of your Drama Analysis Essay (4F) is to take your thesis statement (4B) and expand it into a full draft of your paper (4D). For this exercise you should use this handout as your guide and create a printed two-to-three page assignment that follows the five paragraph structure of your outline, but is fleshed out into complete sentences, and includes a clear introduction, support paragraphs, concrete examples, and a complete conclusion. Per our discussion in class, the three support points from your thesis should be the basis for your three support paragraphs. Please include your name, date, etc., as you would on any other assignment and bring 3 hard copies to workshop (see Course Schedule Announcement for dates).
Remember, this paper should include significant textual evidence (properly documented quotes or paraphrases from your chosen reading) to support your thesis, as well as sufficient analysis and concrete examples. In addition, since we are part of a larger conversation about literary analysis, the use of (properly documented) outside literary criticism is welcomed and encouraged.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
EN 1102 Drama Analysis Essay
Assignment 4E: Revision Exercise
Your fifth assignment in the creation of your Drama Analysis Essay (4F) is to take your first draft (4D), to do a revision exercise on it (4E), and then to fully revise and edit your first draft to create a final draft (4F) for submission in class.
4E: Revision and Editing Exercise
For this exercise you should review (look again) at your first draft and type full sentence answers to the following prompts:
- What part of your paper, if any, can use expansion and what specific information can you add there to make it stronger?
- What part of your paper, if any, gets off topic, and what can you remove to help?
- Is your organization strong? If so, what makes it strong? If not, or if it could use improvement still, what can you move or substitute to help? Consider creating a reverse outline to help.
- How credible are the sources you used? How do you know?
- Examine your paper’s tone. Is it too informal or conversational? If so, what can change?
- Do you have any word choice errors that spellcheck wouldn’t find?
- Do you have any coma-splice errors, run ons, or sentence fragments?
- Do you have any fluffy word choices?
- Are all of your sources properly documented in MLA style?
- What is one specific step you can take to improve your paper before submitting it?
Only one copy of Assignment 4E is needed. It should be submitted along with 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D when you turn in 4F.EN 1102 Drama Analysis Essay
Assignment 4F: Final Draft
Complete your final draft of your Drama Analysis Essay by revising and editing your first draft (4D). Your final draft should present a compelling argument clearly stated in a complete thesis statement, include a complete introduction, at least three support paragraphs, and a complete conclusion, should be well-organized and supported, should include plenty of thoughtful analysis and concrete support details and should follow all of the expectations of the course rubric.
The final draft should be a two page assignment (Times New Roman 12 point font) and should include your name, date, etc., as you would on any other assignment.
Assignments 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E should be submitted by the listed due date (see Course Schedule Announcement). Make sure everything is clearly labelled and organized to put yourself in the best position for success! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Submission Instructions: Check your Course Schedule Announcement for deadlines and due dates. All assignments are due on Canvas by the start of class time on the due date. Make sure to use only .doc, .docx, .pdf, or .rtf file extensions. Make sure to submit assignments 4A-4E and 4F into separate dropboxes. If you experience any technological issues, please submit your assignments in emails to me as attachments before the deadline for submission.