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English 120 Project #3:

Literary Analysis

Maximum points possible: 20
Length: aproximately 4+ pages

For help with MLA manuscript format, CLICK HERE.
For help with MLA documentation, CLICK HERE.
For help with special conventions in literary analysis, CLICK HERE.

Deadlines:

1st Draft Due:
Tues., April 28th
(at least a couple full pages)

2nd Draft Due:
Wed. April 29-May 1—scheduled conference
(well-developed, at least 3 pages)

Final Draft Due:
Wed. May 7th, IN CLASS
(enclosed in Portfolio)

Note: there is no grace period for this assignment.
Late essays will only be accepted with documented evidence of serious hardship

Because works of art are generally rich with both explicit and implied meanings, and because those implied meanings can be multiple and complex, we say that those works are open to interpretation. However, "interpretation" does not mean that a work of art is "anything I want it to be." An interpretation is a type of argument, and, just like any argument, requires support and reasoning to be credible. And just like any argument, it is open to challenge.

Keep in mind that we are not talking about art reviews here. A review is an argument of evaluation (it argues that something is good or bad, worthy or unworthy). What you want here is an argument of interpretation. That is, you're not judging the book; you're examining its meanings and trying to understand it more deeply and richly.

Instructions and Purpose

For this project you will analyze and interprete a contemporary literary work, Rule of the Bone.

Your purpose is to illuminate the book for your readers, help them get more out of it, and help them to recognize some of its complex meanings. That is, you want to pose an interpretive question and then develop an argument for a particular answer to that question.

Possible Approaches (ways to focus)

START WITH AN ISSUE OR THEME

What do you believe is the most important issue or theme in this book? That is, what, in the largest sense, is Rule of the Bone about? Is this primarily a story of parent-child relationships? Coming-of-age in America in the 90s? The meaning of "community"? The meaning of "homelessnes"? The meaning of "education"? "Spirtuality"? Nonconformity in America? The quest for independence, identity or personhood? Something else altogether?

For your analysis of the novel, you would pick one of these themes/issues and then formulate an interpretive question. Examples might include:

"How does Banks' book contribute to our cultural discussions about the issue? That is, does it challenge our usual understanding of that topic or does it reinforce a traditional view? Does it possibly open up a whole new way of seeing the issue?"

"How might the issue you've selected be considered the most important in the book, a key to the richest possible understanding of it?"

START WITH THE DRIVING QUESTION

What is the most significant or profound question raised, explicitly or implicitly, at the beginning of this story? That is, what are we ultimately turning pages to find out? And how is that question answered along the way or by the end? Why or how does that answer matter? You essay would identify that question and then trace how it is ultimately answered in the course of the story.

START WITH A KEY SCENE OR CHAPTER

Start with what you believe is the most important scene or chapter. Your interpretive question might then be, "How is this scene key to the entire story or how might this scene reveal the richest way to understand this book?"

START WITH OUR ART PERSPECTIVES WHEEL

Start with the art perspectives wheels we've examined in class (see .ppts), and argue for what kind of art you believe this book to be. For instance, is it a subversive work which attempts to challenge our usual view of reality and upset our normal expectations in some way? Or is it best understood as an objective mirror held up to reality, showing us as a society what we are usually unwilling or unable to look at? Do you believe it is primarily an entertainment commodity written according to a commercial forumula, perhaps to simply make us feel good, much like a narcotic? Or is its purpose to illuminate fundamental human problems? Is it perhaps the kind of art which is best appreciated as a skillfully crafted aesthetic object? Or is it "art as a hammer"--something Banks wrote to change the world in some way?

You're free to take any approach you like, as long as you formulate a clear interpretive question and then convincingly answer that question with clear reasoning and specific evidence—description, examples, summaries, quotations—from the book itself.

Finally, don't forget to acknowledge, and refute, contrasting views! This is an argument!

Audience

Imagine that your essay will appear in a casebook on Rule of the Bone designed for college students. (A casebook is a collection of essays interpreting and commenting on a literary work to broaden readers' understanding.)

Alternately, you might see this as an entry for a semi-professional literary blog, your audience being any adult, avid reader of literature.

Evaluation Criteria and Rubric

Each item below is worth a possible 4 points:

_____ Focus and Thesis

The essay should present a clear interpretive question and an answer to that question which will become the essay's thesis. The focus and thesis are apparent early on, consistent throughout the body, and affirmed at the end. The thesis is original and engaging.

_____ Support and Development

The thesis is supported in the body of the essay with lots of good, specific details, examples, paraphrases, summaries, and quotations from the novel. Ample references to specific moments and details are provided to support the essay's claims.The essay includes only as much plot summary as necessary for the reader follow the argument. Excessive plot summary is avoided. (Assume the reader is already familiar with the novel. You want to analyze and interpret—don't merely retell the story.) The essay takes care to acknowledge and refute alternative interpretations or possible reader objections, and pays careful attention to its audience and genre.

_____ Organization and Coherence

Paragraphs are focused and developed with helpful transitions, and the various parts of the essay (including sentences) lucidly cohere (one part follows meaningfully from the last).

_____ Editing, Proofreading, and Genre Conventions

The essay shows conscientious editing to eliminate mechanical errors such as comma splices, incomplete sentences, fused sentence, typos, etc. It also shows conscientious editing for smooth, concise, lucid sentence style. All sources are documented according to MLA format and the essay is formatted according to MLA manuscript guidelines. The essay follows basic conventions for literary writing (be sure you've read Conventions for Writing Essays about Literature).

_____ Attention to Class Discussion, Readings, and Resources

The essay demonstrates explicit or implicit understanding of our Writing Today assignments, in-class discussion of the novel, and all relevant course Power Points.

Grade Scale

A = outstanding = 18-20 pts. Fulfills all assignment criteria with distinction; creative and insightful (thesis is genuinely illuminating and fresh); paragraphs are extra-well crafted; sentences show standard editing and proofreading, and also demonstrate elegance, varied length and structure, and smoothness. Essay may have a minor flaw or two, but these are overshadowed by the strengths.

B = very good = 15-17 pts. Fulfills all or nearly all assignment criteria; may lack creative spark or flare, or may have an undistinguished or somewhat obvious thesis, but otherwise presents a well-written argument. Paragraphs are focused and developed with good transitons. Sentences are edited and proofread.

C = ok = 12-14 pts. Fulfills most assignment criteria at least marginally, or may fulfill some criteria very well and others with noticeable weakness. Some paragraphs may be unfocused and undeveloped, and/or some sentences may lack proofreading and editing.

D = poor = 9-11 pts. Fulfills only some of the criteria, or, while fulfilling one or two reasonably well, is conspicuously lacking for most others. Likely shows very weak paragraphing. Likely shows poor editing and proofreading.

F = unacceptable = 0 pts. Does not fulfill any or a reasonable number of criteria.