Option 1: Character Analysis
Write an analysis of one character, either major or minor, from any of the
works we’ve looked at. Your thesis statement should make a central claim
about the character, and the body of your paper should introduce and
support the points that support that thesis. All claims you make should be
supported with evidence pulled from the text.
In deciding what your central claim will be, consider one or more apparent
personality traits of the character you choose. Try to relate those traits to the
behaviors we see in the story (character motivation).
Of the character you choose to analyze, ask yourself what kind of person
she/he is. Is s/he weak? strong? determined? optimistic? arrogant? afraid?
timid? shy? and so forth. You will need to find specific evidence from the
story to support your argument, and incorporate that evidence into your
paper. Refer to your class notes on techniques for doing so. Also, you’ll want
to review the literary terms that specifically refer to character (such things as
dynamic, static, protagonist, antagonist, and epiphany).
After choosing the character to analyze comes the hard part: explaining why
the author developed such a character. Which is to say, you’ll need to move
from the “what” to the “why”.
For your thesis statement, you should refer to the major characteristics
you will discuss and relate them to either the outcome of the story or
to one or more of its themes. For example, a student writing about Connie
from “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” might have a tentative
thesis statement like this:
Emphasizing Oates’ belief in the lack of solid values in modern society,
Connie’s conceit, secrecy, and rebelliousness contribute to her
destruction.
The dependent clause of this thesis states the theme (i.e., that modern
society lacks solid values), while the main clause focuses on the three
character traits that the student will explore in her paper by offering many
specific examples from the story and showing how those traits all lead in
some way to Connie’s kidnapping (and presumed rape and death) at the end
of the story. Notice, too, that there is a mention of the author’s name
and purpose.
You might also approach this paper in terms of the ways an author reveals a
character to us. Remember, we learn about a character through appearance,
actions and reactions, speech, gestures, and even name. You could organize
your paper according to these items rather than characteristics, if you choose.
In any case, each body paragraph needs to begin with a strong, clear topic
sentence to guide the reader.
- General Requirements
Audience: The paper should be written for an academic audience. You may
assume that your readers have already read the work you are analyzing, so
excessive summary will not be necessary; however, you might include very
brief bits of summary, as needed, to help lead into or accentuate the points
you are making.
Length and format: The paper should be a minimum of 1000 words
and should be formatted according to MLA standards. Visit Purdue’s OWL for
discussion of MLA formatting. You do not need a title page or an outline for
this assignment.
Research: You must use at least TWO secondary sources to support (or
refute) your claims.
A successful paper will do the following:
1. Make a central claim that moves beyond the obvious. Try
to stretch a little; surprise me—but make sure you can support
your claim with evidence from the text.
2. In supporting your central claim, discuss the most
important elements and why they are important.
3. Have a stylistically effective introduction that engages the
reader and sets up the topic to be discussed, as well as a
stylistically effective conclusion that moves beyond mere
summary of what has preceded it.
4. Make use of evidence from the work to support your
claims.
5. Be organized logically so your reader is able to easily
follow your argument.
6. Cite the text properly according to MLA format. Direct
quotations and indirect summary do need to be cited in your
paper using MLA-style parenthetical citations. You may use any
of the biographical/historical information from our textbook.
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Use a style appropriate to the given audience.
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Be free of mechanical errors, such as incorrect grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
* A note about sources: Although this paper is a research paper, it is not
intended to be a synthesis of other people’s analyses or literary criticism.
Nearly all claims and observations made in the paper should be yours
(roughly 80% for your voice and primary text, 20% for the critics).
Option 1: Get Creative