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Writing an In-class Essay
Make sure that you understand what the prompt asks you to do:
The passage below is taken from the novel Tom Jones (1749). In this scene, which occurs early in the novel, Squire Allworthy discovers an infant in his bed. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the techniques that Fielding employs in this scene to characterize Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah Wilkins.
Write a well-organized essay in which you analyze the style and tone of the passage below, explaining how they help to express the author’s attitudes.
What is meant by style?
What one says. . .
How one says that something. . .
If style is thought to consist of the mannerisms and methods of an individual writer, then one can refer to the pompous style of Dr. Johnson, the whimsical style of Charles Lamb, the allusive style of T. S. Eliot, the clipped style of Hemingway. Most critics agree, however, that “what one says” and “how he says it” are basic elements in style. Therefore, style may be thought of as the impress (influence) of a writer’s personality upon his subject matter.
Devices used to create style:
Diction--word choiceconnotation of words
Syntax--sentence structure
Imagery
Figures of speechmetaphors, similes, personification, allusions, etc.
Choice of detail
And others. . .
What is tone?An author’s attitude toward his subject
Remember that rarely will the tone remain the same from beginning to end, or will the tone be limited to a single descriptive adjective.
Don’t be afraid to see opposites--the attitude is one of - - -, yet one of - - -.
Essays are scored holistically
The reader reads the essay without making any marks
The reader evaluates both what is said and how it is said
A score is determined based upon a rubric
9-8--These essays address the prompt fully. They identify techniques and then analyze how the author uses them to address the prompt. Though the essays may not be error-free, they are perceptive in their analysis and demonstrate writing that is clear and precise.
7-6--These essays offer a reasonable attempt at the prompt. Although not as convincing or as thoroughly developed as the 9-8 papers, they demonstrate the writer’s ability to express ideas with clarity, insight, and control
5--These essays tend to be simplistic in analysis of techniques. They often rely on paraphrase. There may be minor misinterpretations. These essays are not as well conceived, organized, or developed as upper-half papers.
4-3--These lower-half essays offer less than thorough understanding of the task. They demonstrate misunderstanding of some aspect of the passage. These essays tend to rely on paraphrase only. The writing often demonstrates a lack of control over the conventions of composition: inadequate development of ideas, an accumulation of errors, or a focus that is unclear.
Literary Analysis
In addition to understanding the passage that you read,
and writing clearly, precisely, and as correctly as possible under the circumstances,
you are also expected to write good literary analysis.
L i t e r a r y A n a l y s i s
Th es is S ta tem en tTop ic S en ten ces(W h at you w ish
to p rove .)
C la im
D irec t Q u o tesS u m m ary
P arap h raseD eta ils
D ata
op in ion , in s ig h t,an a lys is , reac tion
exp lica tion , fee lin g s ,re flec tion
W arran t O RC om m en ta ry
C h u n k
Literary Analysis: This poem uses excellent imagery to depict
how blind folks affect our lives, to evoke sympathy
for the blind, and to criticize mainstream America
for its callousness towards the disabled. In the first
three lines Kooser describes how the blind can
suddenly fill an elevator “with a great white porcupine
of canes.” A porcupine is noted for its prickliness;
we are apprehensive when it is around and we do not
want to touch it. The blind person, according to
Kooser, evokes a similar reaction: their presence in a
situation causes “prickliness,” and it makes us
uncomfortable.
Claim
Data
Commentary
Literary Analysis:
In Animal Farm, Clover represents a caring and motherly figure to the other animals. For example, she talks to Mollie, the horse, when others will not. In addition, Clover warns Boxer to slow down and nurses him when he collapses. Furthermore, she sees the changes in the Seven Commandments and in the pigs at the end. She works hard to help the other animals regardless of what the negative consequences may be.
In Animal Farm, Clover represents a caring and motherly figure to the other animals. She talks to Mollie, the horse, when others will not. She cares about keeping the animals together. She isn’t mean to Mollie but wants her to understand how her decision to leave may affect the farm. In addition, Clover warns Boxer to slow down and nurses him when he collapses. In her concern for him, she models the kind of behavior that the animals wanted from Mr. Jones but did not get. She sees the injustice of the system and understands the punishment of hard work. Furthermore, she notices the changes in the Seven Commands and in the pigs’ behavior at the end. The knowledge that something is wrong leads her to speak out. Her commitment to Animal Farm is most important in her mind, and she wants to put her beliefs into action. Clover works hard to help the other animals, regardless of what might happen to her.
Be prepared to write
Plan your time wisely; you will only have 45 minutes
Spend some time planning your essay before you begin--organization is an important factor of good composition
You must write in blue or black ink on loose-leaf paper--you may write on the back