World Literature II: Dr.
Ramirez
Final Essay Exam (4 pages; can be longer,
not shorter)
30% of Overall Grade: Due December 6
at 6:00 p.m.
This course has introduced a cultural
and historical approach to literature. By now you should be familiar
with common tropes and approaches and acquainted with different geographies.
You should incorporate this knowledge in the final essay. You should
advance a coherent and sophisticated thesis that goes beyond plot. For
the final essay, I want you to take one idea or concept from our discussions
of world literature and apply it to your reading of Snow Country.
Before embarking on this assignment, you should review your reading responses
for analytical and compositional issues that have surfaced in your writing.
In addition, review your notes and the presentations. This information
will help you to generate ideas. You are expected to revise work
based on peer critiques and to correct compositional issues that have surfaced
in your writing. Here are the steps you need to complete; I will not accept
any final essay that does not meet all the requirements:
Requirements:
1. Write a polished, 4 page word processed draft
for Tues., Nov. 27; make two copies
2. Make revisions and print out two copies for
the Peer Critique on Thurs., Nov. 29.
3. Make revisions according to the second round
of peer critiques and submit 4 page final with drafts and peer critiques
on December 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Please note: No extensions. No late work will
be accepted.
If you want your essay returned, include a
self-addressed stamped envelope.
4. Address the following compositional issues:
-
Use active verbs (get rid of the "to be" verbs: is,
are, was were, be being, etc.)
-
Get rid of expletives (there are, there were, it
is, it was, etc.)
-
Use literary present tense ("Shimamura considers
Komako's diary a "wasted effort.")
-
Use transitions between paragraphs to connect ideas
-
Use author, page citations (see MLA below)
-
Limit quotes to one or two a page and integrate them
(introduce them and respond to them)
-
Avoid first person
5. Provide a meaningful title
Format of Work: Word process your
work with a computer; you are required to have your own disk, to save your
work and to print it out upon request. Hand-written and ill prepared
submissions are not acceptable and will be returned with a zero.
-
Double space all hard copies
-
Use 12 point font, Times New Roman
-
1 inch margins all around (no padding with wide margins)
-
Use the Modern Language Association Style to document
outside sources including web pages.
Include the following information:
Your Name
Dr. Ramirez, California
State University
World Literature II
Title of the Essay
It is essential that you make constant back-ups of
your work. Misplacing or losing files can be frustrating and it does happen
with frequency. Moreover, computers freeze and power outages are
not uncommon. However, file problems or any other kind of computer
and printing problems will not excuse late work. Print drafts as
a safety measure and save a copy on a NEW disk.
Scholastic Responsibility:
1. You should document your texts with "author's
last name, page" citations: (Kawabata, 85 ). Be sure to properly quote
and paraphrase, rather than plagiarize. If you have questions about
using a source, use the Writer's Reference or visit the Writing
Center.
2. Plagiarizing (submitting work that is not
your own or failing to document other people's analyses or using their
words) or any other form of scholastic dishonesty (cheating) will result
in an F in the assignment and possible failure of the course. Plagiarism
happens frequently when students are not prepared, when they are confused
or rushed, or when they assume that the professor will not know. But this
is a poor assumption.