PAGE 2
Core 101 Section 18
D. Szajda Fall 2005
FIRST ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
Topic: The last few lines of many of the tales related in Fountain and Tomb seem both to impart moral lessons, and to inform us of the values of the inhabitants of the alley. In your first essay this term, you're asked to examine tales 44, 53, 62, and 64. In particular, what do these four tales, considered togetf “claims” that the mainstream American adolescent culture makes on people in middle and high school). In your first essay this term, you’re asked to compare and contrast Chapters 2, 9, and 30 in Naguib Mahfouz’s Fountain and Tomb in relation to “the cla yourself questions about any significant likenesses or differences that you discern between them. Remember that your essay is not intended to be answered like high school homework questions at the end of a chapter in a biology or history book. Your job is to write an essay that develops a clear, specific argument or thesis.
Remember also that there is no single right argument to make, only some arguments that are more thoughtful than others, and better supported by evidence from the text. Your thesis will be entirely
your own.
Guidelines
You are not to consult any sources other than the text. The purpose of the assignment is to help you develop your ability to analyze texts on your own. Your essay will be an exploration of the texts, so write only about what is in them. You will need quotes from them as evidence for your claims, but keep the quotes short enough so they don’t write the paper for you. Provide page references in parentheses in MLA form--e.g., “The tale of Sayeeda Kareem is one of the most touching love stories in the quarter” (p. 45). Note the order in which quotation marks, page reference, and punctuation go.
Before you begin work, review the last page of your master syllabus on Core Course Expectations: specifically, how much time torom the two texts. Your thesis will be entirely your own.
Guidelines
You are not to consult any sources other than the texts. The purpose of the assignment is to help you develop your ability to analyze texts on your own. Your essay will be an exploration of the texts, so write only about what is in them. You will need quotes from them as evidence for your claims, but keep the quotes short enough so they don’t write the paper for you. Provide page references in parentheses in MLA form--e.g., “Thend weaknesses of your argument, and revise them accordingly so as to provide truly compelling evidence of your thesis. The third stage involves writing the complete essay.
The essay should be 4-5 pages in length. It is due in my office by 5 P.M. on Friday, September 23.
Please pay careful attention to the directions here and in the items below, for I will return ungraded any essay that does not follow them.
Use Times New Roman in 12-point font, and double space with one-inch margins.
Professional presentation is expected. I cannot accept final essays that are untitled, unstapled or missing page numbers, nor can I accept essays above or below the required length.
Add a blank page at the end for my comments.
Because I want to read all essays anonymously, do not put your name on the front of your essay, but instead put your name only on the back of the final page.
Submissions must be hard-copy. That is, I will not accept electronic submissions for these essays.
Computer problems are no excuse for late work. It is your responsibility to begin early enough to allow time to resolve them. For your own protection, always save your work frequently on both hard disk and diskettes. Keep paper copies as well.