Using the literary terms we have covered in the course, write a 5 page essay on Conan Doyle's The Lost World.
You should stick to the text; do not rely on research.

Requirements:
1. Write one paragraph proposal due May 20.
2. Write a polished, word processed 3-page draft for a peer critique. Make 2 copies for May 22.
3. Make revisions according to Peer Critiques.
4. Submit 5 page revised essay due on May 5/27 with drafts.
Please note: No extensions.  No essay will be accepted without drafts/peer critiques.

Approach:
1. Focus on one idea or concept and apply it to 2 or 3 specific moments in the text.
Since this is a five page essay, don't try to do too much; rather, you should analyze fully the topic you do have.
You might focus on character, setting, theme, or a combination of these elements.

2. Announce the thesis in your introduction, support the thesis in the body, and make sure you have a conclusion.

3. Begin your paper by announcing your thesis on the first page:
"This essay addresses Conan Doyle's characterization of Challenger as a Columbus of Science in The Lost World."
(this is an example; you can pick your own topic).

4. Once you have narrowed your topic, you should then elaborate on your interpretation.
Answer the question, "So what?".  Assume that your reader knows the text intimately, especially the plot.  Jump into your analysis, in media res-- in the
middle of things.

5. 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 ("Conan Doyle both questions and affirms the British confidence in its Empire.")
•      Use transitions between paragraphs to connect ideas
•      Use author, page citations (see MLA below).
•      Include a works cited
•      Limit quotes to one or two a page and integrate them (introduce them and respond to them)
•      Avoid first person
•      Find a unique approach

7. Format of Work:
Word process your work with a computer.
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.

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.

8. Scholastic Responsibility:
You should document your texts with "author's last name page" citations: (Conan Doyle  185 ).  Be sure to properly quote and paraphrase, rather than plagiarize.  Use the Writer's Reference as a guide.  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 the professor will not know. But this is a poor assumption.
 

9. Sample Essay Format:
Include the following information (with a title page, stapled on back; I don't want to see your name on the front):

          Your Name
          The Date
          Dr. Ramirez, California State University
          Analysis of Prose Fiction
          Title of the Essay

I. Introduction:
State the thesis: "This essay addresses Conan Doyle's characterization of Challenger as a Columbus of Science in The Lost World."
The introduction might be 1-2 paragraphs.

II. Body:
Elaborate on the textual examples to support your thesis.
You might have 4 or 5 paragraphs.

III. Conclusion:
Make sure you wrap up your ideas in 1-2 paragraphs.