"Review and Solidify" Essay Assignment

What: 
An out-of-class essay that allows you to reflect on broad thematic connections, narrower specific concerns, and close analysis of language in several works.  Though it is out of class, thus with differing expectations than for on-demand timed writing (affecting both the composition process and the polished nature of the final product), you will still be focussed on close analysis of particular conversations, thereby incorporating some of the features of the AP passage analysis question.

Literature to Examine:
You will be working with any TWO of the following:
Ibsen's A Doll House
Shaw's Pygmalion
Shelley's Frankenstein

Honing in on the Task:

• Though obviously your knowledge and understanding of these works as a whole will be important to your success, the assigned task is more limited and specific.
• You will focus on the scenes in each work that contain the most extended conversation between "creator" and "created"/"possessor and possession"/whatever term best applies in the works you select. 
• You will be comparing/contrasting these passages on two overall grounds: the nature of the exact relationship between the two speakers, as developed within the conversation, and the connection between the key passage and larger thematic ideas in the play.
• In order to do this, expect to examine the dialogue extremely closely, for essential content, language, and style (all the ways you can bring to bear.
• But don't forget that the essay as a whole has to make some rich and insightful CLAIM concerning how the works and the key conversation relate to one another.

So again, this assignment thus stresses the language and style analysis in a way that is useful continued preparation for the AP exam, but it also provides the flexibility and student choice/initiative that is typical of college English courses. 

Details:

1) Full-bore MLA:  follow all the rules.  See Perrine, see the Purdue OWL, see me if you are stuck.

Note that your book provides very specific guidelines on handling the special concerns of drama.

2) Length:  about 4 properly spaced and margined pages.

3) First draft due on Wednesday, March 26, two ways:  

Hard copy to be exchanged for peer response--must have with you in class, obviously!

On turnitin.com for me to confirm typed and formatted completion--anytime prior to class time.

NO printing/submitting allowed during class because time is short.  If necessary, you may come to my room well before 1st period.

4) Final draft due on Friday, March 28.  Hard copy in class, on turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. that night.