Assignment One
Analysis of a Brief Early American Passage
| Due Dates: | Requirements: |
| Working Draft—October 4, 2000 Final Draft—October 9, 2000 |
|
Objective
To construct a persuasive argument about the meaning of a brief passage from a selected work of literature. The argument should be based on a close reading of the text in question. Close reading is a skill that will help you in subsequent assignments for this class.
Passage Choices
| The others returned, and coming to look for them in the dark, I got lost. Thank God I found a burning tree, and in the warmth of it passed the cold of that night. In the morning, loading myself with sticks, and taking two brands with me, I returned to seek them. In this manner I wandered five days, ever with my fire and load; for it the wood had failed me where none could be found, as many parts are without any, though I might have sought sticks elsewhere, there would have been no fire to kindle them. This was all the protection I had against cold, while walking naked as I was born. (Cabeza de Vaca, "Relation," Heath Anthology of American Literature, Vol. I., p. 134) | But, to conclude, Adam and Eve did first beginne this innocent worke. To plant the earth to remaine to posteritie, but not without labour, trouble, and industrie. Noe, and his family, beganne againe the second plantation; and their seede as it still increased, hath still planted new Countries, and one countrie another: and so the world to that estate it is. But not without much hazard, travell, discontents, and many disasters. (Smith, "A Description of New England," Heath Anthology of American Literature, Vol. I., p. 194) |
| I say it may justly be marveled at and cause us to fear and tremble at the consideration of our corrupt natures, which are so bridled, subdued and mortified; nay, cannot by any other means but the powerful work and grace of God's Spirit. But (besides this) one reason may be that the Devil may carry a greater spite against the churches of Christ and the gospel here, by how much the more they endeavour to preserve holiness and purity amongst them and strictly punisheth the contrary when it ariseth either in church or commonwealth; that he might cast a blemish and stain upon them in the eyes of [the] world, who use to be rash in judgment. I would rather think thus, than that Satan hath more power in these heathen lands, as some have thought, than in more Christian nations, especially over God's servants in them. (Bradford, "Of Plymouth Plantation," Heath Anthology of American Literature, Vol. I., p. 262) |
So he that saileth in this world of pleasure, Feeding on sweets, that never bit of th' sour, That's full of friends, of honor, and of treasure, Fond fool, the takes this earth ev'n for heav'n's bower. But sad affliction comes and makes him see Here's neither honour, wealth, nor safety; Only above is found all with security. (Bradstreet, "Contemplations," Heath Anthology of American Literature, Vol. I., pp. 301-302) |
| Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a fallen rock. (Edwards, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Heath Anthology of American Literature, Vol. I., p. 597) |
Procedure
- Choose one of the above passages.
- Note specific details in the passage that explain its meaning and significance. Such details include word choice, comparison/contrast, imagery, punctuation, and anything else the author has used in order to make his or her meaning clear to an audience.
- Formulate a thesis statement about the meaning and importance of the chosen passage. It is okay if this thesis statement changes as you write your paper.
- Write a draft of your argument about the passage in question. Refer to specific words and phrases in the selected passage in order to support the points in your argument. You may also refer to other quotations in the larger work, as long as you keep the paper focused on explication of the passage in question.
- Bring a word-processed, correctly formatted draft of this paper to class on October 4, 2000 for peer editing.
- After considering feedback you received from peer editors and reconsidering your own argument, revise your paper. You may also sign up to meet with me to discuss a draft at this point.
- Proofread your draft.
- Turn in the completed final draft along with a peer-edited working draft in class on October 9, 2000.
Close Reading
Close reading means paying careful attention to details in a written work. Since you will be looking more closely at this passage than most people who read it, your paper can offer perspectives on its meaning that will interest your audience and challenge their expectations. In analyzing a brief passage, you may ask yourself the following questions:
What, literally, takes place in the passage?
Where in the larger work does the passage occur?
Who speaks in this passage? To whom?
How is this passage different from any other passage in the text?
Does the author use any terms that will be unfamiliar to 21st-century readers?
Does the author use any imagery in making his or her point? The most common forms of imagery include metaphor, simile, personification and symbol.
Does the author allude to any other works of literature? The Bible is one common source of allusions in early American literature.
What will make this paper interesting to an audience consisting of my classmates, my teacher and myself? You will want to tell them something new-that would not otherwise have occurred to them after reading this passage.
Grading Standards
In grading this assignment, I will use the following criteria:
| A | Confident, persuasive written expression An original approach to the passage in question A strong thesis statement that is arguable and interesting Exemplary in the clarity and organization of its argument Engaging to its audience in a manner that commands attention Consistently good use of evidence in support of your contentions and in accordance with MLA format Nearly flawless mechanically (format, spelling, grammar) |
| B | Clear written expression with a few minor breakdowns Somewhat original approach to the passage in question, though quite dependent on material we discussed in class A strong thesis statement that is arguable and interesting Well-organized argument that signals its structure to readers by way of effective transitional sentences Good use of evidence to support your contentions and in accordance with MLA format Only a few mechanical flaws |
| C | Satisfies the basic demands of the assignment Generally clear though with some breakdowns Makes a clear argument about the meaning of the passage A thesis statement that is arguable and interesting A well-organized argument Use of evidence in support of your contentions and in accordance with MLA format, though not consistently Several mechanical flaws, but not so many that they confuse the meaning of your paper. |
| D | Almost satisfies the basic demands of the assignment Numerous breakdowns impairing the clarity of your argument Thesis statement is either not arguable or is uninteresting Argument has minimal organization Use of evidence to support contentions is wildly inconsistent and/or not in accordance with the MLA format Numerous mechanical flaws interfering with paper clarity |
| F | Does not satisfy the basic demands of the assignment Unclear writing style Lacks a thesis statement No clear argument-seemingly random arrangement of ideas Mechanical flaws throughout the paper Plagiarized work |
19 September 2000