Thesis Author Essay 2

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Junior AP English Thesis Author Essay #2 “Recurring Image” After completing the reading of your second novel written by your Thesis Author, write a 3-4 page literary essay in which you address the following assignment:

The opening of Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities begins with the words, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity.…” Dickens continues the dichotomy throughout the rest of the paragraph and throughout the rest of the novel, revealing his perceived contrast between London and Paris. Your task is to take a theme, a symbol, a phrase, a word, an anything found in the first line or paragraph of your novel and discuss its repercussions throughout the rest of the novel. Be sure to use proper MLA formatting when you quote text from the novel (use parenthetical page numbers to indicate where in the novel you are finding the quoted material.) Due dates: First Draft: Tuesday Jan. 6 Final Draft: Tuesday, Jan. 13 A reminder about my late-work policy:  

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All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date. There are no exceptions. COM PUT ER P ROBL EMS ARE NOT AN EXCUSE . If a student is absent due to illness or field trip, the student must still turn in the assignment that day, which can be done in the following ways: a. Send your assignment with a friend or neighbor b. Ask a teacher or secretary to place the assignment in my mailbox before you leave on a field trip In dire circumstances, e-mail your assignment to [email protected], and the n pro vide a h ard co py up on your retur n, or mail your assignment to me (postmarked on the due date) at: Gr ant High Sch oo l 2245 NE 36 th Ave. Por tl and, Orego n 972 12 Att n. : Ms . Warfie ld If you know you will be away on a due date, turn your assignment in early.

If these steps are not followed, then the assignment is late. You will be graded down at least a grade. I will accept assignments up to a week late, but not later. If you

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take the whole week to complete the assignment, your grade may be lowered more than a whole grade

Peer Edit Guidelines: Thesis Author Essay #2: (Recurring Image, theme, word, sentence, etc.) 1. Writers: write down three specific concerns, in the form of questions, that you have about your essay that you would like feedback on. The more specific, the better. Give these questions to your editor(s). 2. Editors: After looking at the questions the writer has given you,

read the essay over once without marking or commenting on it. Then go back and re-read it, giving comments and suggestions in response to the questions the writer has. 3. Next, look at the STRUCTURE of the essay and give feedback on the introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs and conclusion. Are these portions of the essay complete? Are the book and author mentioned in the intro? Is there a clear thesis statement that focuses on a recurring image, word, phrase, etc. in the book? Write the EXACT SENTENCE that you have identified as the thesis statement. Does the thesis make clear why the specific image, word, phrase, etc. is the focus of the essay? (What is going to be revealed through an examination of this word, phrase, etc.?) Give suggestions. 4. Look at the body paragraphs and determine if they include topic

sentences that relate to the thesis and author’s purpose. Give comment/feedback. 5. Look at body paragraphs and determine whether the textual

evidence is “fitting” and whether the writer has made clear how we are supposed to understand the textual evidence in relation to the thesis and author’s purpose. Does the writer cite page numbers in parentheses? Give comments and feedback. 6. Does the writer use transitions between paragraphs to connect ideas and thoughts, making the movements from one point to the next smooth and logical?

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7. Correct grammar, spelling, and other mechanical errors. Are

Blocked Quotes correctly formatted? Are only passages LONGER THAN 4 lines Blocked? 8. Is the title original and does it indicate which book the essay is

about? Comment. 9. Does the essay address the question: What is the author’s

purpose and how does the recurring image contribute to this purpose? This question should be dealt with throughout the essay and reinforced in the conclusion. Grading Rubric for Recurring Image Essay Analysis and interpretation and author’s purpose 4 Essay cogently

and carefully analyzes and interprets a recurring image/phrase/ word/theme in the novel; discussion of author’s purpose is nuanced

3 Essay analyzes

2

and interprets recurring image/phrase/ word/theme and author’s purpose in the novel, but not necessarily with nuance and not necessarily with consistent cogency Essay attempts to analyze and interpret recurring image/phrase/

Thesis Statement

Textual Examples

Topic Sentences

Introduction and Conclusion

Formatting

Thesis statement is precise and effective; it accurately reflects the focus on and significance of the recurring image/phrase/ word for author’s purpose Thesis statement is effective; it reflects the focus on the recurring image/phrase/ word

Textual examples are highly appropriate and especially fitting for the context. Evidence clearly explained and tied back to thesis and author’s purpose Textual examples are appropriate and fitting for the context. Usually tied back to thesis/ author’s purpose. Evidence is explained, but not always thoroughly. Textual examples are not always appropriate or

Paragraphs include highly effective topic sentences at or near the beginning of paragraphs; topic sentences are clearly and effectively connected to thesis

Intro and conclusion are cogent , effective, and careful, and indicate importance of your findings, including linking to author’s purpose

12 point font double-spaced one-inch margins grammar and punctuation exceed CIM standards. Page numbers are noted correctly. All Block Quotes are correctly formatted.

Paragraphs include effective topic sentences at or near the beginning of paragraphs; topic sentences are connected to thesis

Intro and conclusion are effective and careful; indicate importance or implications of your findings; discussion of author’s purpose is clear but not nuanced Intro and conclusion are adequate, but not always

12 point font double-spaced one-inch margins grammar and punctuation meet CIM standards. Page numbers are noted correctly

Thesis statement is not effective. It attempts to

Paragraphs do not always include topic sentences at or

Margins, spacing and font do not conform to

STUDENT NAME______________________________ word/theme in the novel; but lacks understanding or cogency

1 Essay makes

little or no attempt to analyze and interpret recurring image/phrase/ word/theme in the novel

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reflect the focus on the recurring image/phrase/ word but does so inadequately or without clarity

fitting for the context. Rarely tied back to thesis. Evidence is not consistently explained.

near the beginning of paragraphs; topic sentences attempt to connect to thesis

effective; conclusion lacks a sense of importance of your findings

standard. Grammar and punctuation meet CIM standards. Page numbers are not noted correctly

Thesis statement is ineffective or non-existent; does not reflect a focus on recurring image/phrase/ word

Textual examples are not appropriate or fitting or are nonexistent. Evidence not adequately explained

Paragraphs do not include topic sentences or they are vague in their connection to thesis

Intro is ineffective; conclusion does not indicate implications of your findings

Handwritten. Grammar and punctuation do not meet CIM standards.

Page numbers are not noted correctly