Assignment: Just like the previous three critical theory papers you have completed for flash fiction and poetry, you will be following a similar strategy: Reader Response, Critical Approach(es) Research/Findings, and Reader Response Reflection. *As always, I am open to have discussions about assignment tweaks and adjustments if you contact me ahead of time and have a focused plan on what you would like to alter, why and what you are hoping to develop.
Requirements (students can hope to earn at least a 70% if all of the listed requirements are met):
- Must adhere to MLA formatting typed, 12 point font, heading in the upper-left-hand corner, MLA pagination in the upper-right hand corner, Last Name page, title centered and original, as it should foreshadow the contents of your paperconsult the sample critical essay titles in Modules. Do not use: Critical Theory #4 or Parable of the Sower); Double-spaced (no extra spacing in between paragraphs), indent each new paragraph.
- Must introduce authors of the adapted work and the writer of the original source, type of literary work and the title (properly denoted in MLA format) within the opening paragraphs;
- The audience for your paper is a general audience who is familiar with the novel and is looking to understand the novel, its characters, structure, themes and perspectives more deeply;
- Part I: Reader Responseafter you have carefully read the graphic NOVEL, provide an overview of the work then capture your first responses, feelings, thoughts, attitudes and connections you make with the workbefore conducting researchit is okay to use First Person, I, Me, My. –(1 to 2 paragraphs)
- Part II: Critical Theory Research/Findingsconsulting the list of critical approaches, you will select one (or two combined) approach(es) which you feel will be most valuable to apply to the analysis of the NOVEL.
Important: You may not use Biographical or Reader Response Critical Approachesin part because you always employ reader-response as part of the assignment; biographical criticism is important but does not really push scholars to think critically about the themes, issues and structure of the novel.
The critical approach(es) you are applying should offer readers of your paper new insights into the graphic novel. Using Sierra Colleges online database, research potential articles (there are plenty!!) or seek out reference works that can help you to understand your selected critical theory and how it can be used to analyze the novel. Remember, the critical approach is used to see the NOVEL in a new way. After completing the research, you will provide information and summative details about the research article(s) before you use the Critical Approach(es) to analyze the NOVEL (1 to 2 paragraphs)
- You will be responsible for analyzing three key events/details within the novel using your critical theory as the lens through which to understand these events– (4 to 5 paragraphs)
- Part III: Reader Response-Reflectionin a few sentences, reveal how your understanding of the work has been changed, reaffirmed, or expanded as a result of your own experiences and research or offer a look into the future that has been shaped by the novel and your research. (1 paragraph)
Additional Requirements for the Paper:
- You must include textual evidence/support from both your research and from the novelthere should be at least one quote from your research (not to exceed four lines) and three quoted passages from the novel (not to exceed four lines each), using proper MLA in-text parenthetical citations. Do not allow the words of others do your work; remember, you should think I.C.E.–introduce, cite and explain.
- CT should not exceed four pagesnot including the works cited page. the number of paragraphs following each requirement are merely suggestions.
- Works Cited should contain, at minimum, the graphic novel Parable of the Sower and at least one outside source used to fuel your critical analysis. Remember: Wikipedia, Schmoop, Gradesavers are not considered credible resources.
- No more than two unacceptable errors allowed.
- Please save the document as a .pdf file before uploading the document; doing so reduces the chances that your Works Cited citations will not shift or lose necessary hanging indents.