Literary Interpretations DUE Today!

HOMEWORK OVER THE BREAK:  Practice for the exam!  Now is the time to start thinking about the exam in May.  For our next class, please a) borrow or buy a AP English Lit Exam Prep Book (the CNG library should have some to copy or checkout), b) complete a full-length practice test, c) analyze your results and d) post a reflection on your Google Doc with the specific challenges you see us needing to work on in the months leading up to the exam.  Have a great break, and don't forget to look up at the sky!

TODAY'S WRITER'S WORKSHOP: You have until midnight tonight to submit your papers using Turnitin.com.  Below are instructions for submission.  Please take time today during our writer's workshop to create a student profile using the steps below.

STEP 1: Create a student account on Turnitin.com HERE

NOTE: You will need the following class ID numbers and passwords:
Block 1 Account ID - 5531087 (enrollment password - aplitblock1)
Block 3 Account ID - 5531093 (enrollment password - aplitblock3)
Block 7 Account ID - 5531096 (enrollment password - aplitblock7)

STEP 2: Click on link to the enrolled class ("AP Lit Block __")

STEP 3:  Look for the "Assignment Inbox" and click SUBMIT

STEP 4:  Select the pull down for "Single File Upload"

STEP 5:  Follow the steps to upload your paper.  If you have completed the steps correctly, you'll receive a receipt at the end and a preview of your paper.  SAVE YOUR LOG IN INFORMATION, SO YOU CAN ACCESS MY FEEDBACK IN JANUARY.

Final Drafts Due Thursday

On Thursday, we'll upload your final drafts to Turnitin.com, and you'll be finished! I've been impressed by the effort many of you have made to interpret a major work. Keep up your focus for a few more days, and you'll enjoy a well-earned break.

Today's writer's workshop will focus on revising your body paragraphs using these tips we discussed last week. Please complete the following:

A) You need to ask a partner to read and give feedback on one of your body paragraphs using the following:

1) After reading the first sentence, the controlling idea of the paragraph is going to be _______________ (thread + criteria).
2) An implicit or explicit reference to the text that related well to the controlling idea was _____________.
3)  An implicit or explicit reference to the text that you might want to revise is ______________________.
4)  In my opinion, your commentary showed your thinking on the topic by ________________________.

B)  Format your paper for MLA.  Read "General Guidelines," "Formatting the First Page of Your Paper," and "Section Headings" HERE.  For your section headings, divide your paper into 1, 2, 3 and give titles for each thread-related criteria.  For example, you might have 1. Social and Historical Values Towards Economic Stratification Embodied in The Great Gatsby. 

Literary Interpretation Final Grading Criteria

In order to earn an advanced score on your research paper, you need to achieve the following:

40% - STANDARD: Uses a clear, logical, purposeful, and effective structure
Well-organized research paper containing an introduction with a thesis that answers a research question and gives a blueprint of where the author is going to take the reader in the paper.  All body paragraphs use controlling ideas and analyses that add depth to the claim made in the introduction.  Conclusion provides a response to the "so what?" question.

40% - STANDARD: Presents a balance of generalization and specific, illustrative detail

Interpretation is supported with at least three peer-reviewed pieces of literary criticism that strongly relate to the thread and criteria that the author is analyzing.  

Author explores each of the following criteria separately:
- Structure, style, and themes
- The social and historical values it reflects and embodies
- Prominent elements in the text such as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, irony, tone, etc.

Author uses the claims, evidence and commentary sequence in each body paragraph.

20% - STANDARD: Uses correct grammar, spelling, and sentence construction

Most sentences are well-constructed; correct punctuation, spelling and capitalization are used

Author uses MLA formatting with accurate in-text citations and works cited page.

First Draft Due Tuesday

In today's writer's workshop, I will offer conferences on body paragraphs after you have asked a peer to help you revise a body paragraph by answering the following questions for you:

1) I believe the controlling idea of the paragraph is going to be ___________________ (thread + criteria) after reading the introductory sentence.
2) An implicit or explicit reference to the text that related well to the controlling idea was _________________.
3)  An implicit or explicit reference to the text that I didn't understand was ________________________.
4)  In my opinion, your commentary could best be described as _______________________________.

Next Tuesday, you'll need to have completed the first draft of your Literary Interpretation with MLA in-text citations and your works cited page.

Here are a few links if you would like to generate your works cited page using an internet tool:

www.easybib.com
www.bibme.org

Writer's Workshop - Drafting

You should now be in the process of applying the organization system you created for your source notes and quotes to the drafting of your paper.  Draft your first 1,500 words with MLA in-text citations by Friday and paste them into your Google Doc.  

For guidance on using MLA in-text citations, read pp. 374-379 in the Everyday Writer.

We will meet in the EVL for writer’s workshop Friday, and you will receive a process grade (completed memo, note taking system, draft body paragraph with levels of generality, and your first 1,500 words draft) for the character you have demonstrated so far in taking this assignment seriously.  

The research continues...

This week we will transition from source acquisition to drafting.

Your homework tonight will be to 1) scan through pp. 185-196 in Everyday Writer and place post-it notes on pages you plan to use and 2) draft a body paragraph for one of your three interpretive criteria and put it on your Google Doc for Wed’s writer’s workshop.

On Friday, some of you requested some additional guidance as far as what is expected of you in writing a piece of literary interpretation.  As you continue working today, you should be asking yourself the following:

1)  Am I text-centered in my research?
Your focus is best when it is on the novel.  You are on-track if you have completed a targeted rereading of your selected text and organized thread-related material from the selected text.  Lastly, you are combining the text and your sources using a logical system that will make it easy for you to address the three interpretation criteria.

2) Am I developing my thinking about the novel in a systematic way?
Good research satisfies a curiosity that you have.  As you read more deeply into your chosen text and into academic journal articles written about it, you should be systematically organizing what you'll use in support of your thinking.  Remember, there is a huge difference between reporting what you find and analyzing what you find.