Essay Assignment -
Topic: Analysis of Octavia Butler's Kindred
Assignment: Your assignment is to write a thesis driven argumentative essay about one of the following topics:
- Choice A is to write an essay about the meaning of books in Kindred.
- Choice B is to write an essay about the meaning of history in Kindred.
- Choice C is to write an essay about the meaning of love in Kindred.
We'll read the novel, as well as some criticism about the novel, which should give you a sense of how to approach writing about it.
Step 1. Make sure you have an issue or concern. Pick one of the topics listed above before you move on (if you have another focus in mind, just run it by me to make sure it will work).
Step 2. Now it's time to craft a "working thesis." This is an argument or a claim about what the novel is doing, or what it is trying to say. Remember that as a literary critic, you are joining a conversation, so you want to make sure your argument is unique. It may be informed by the things you've read, but it should be something that would surprise even the author of a secondary source. We do research in order to know what's out there in the academic universe, but also to add to it. Because this is early on in the writing we call your argument a "working thesis"--it's in process and will likely change as you do your research. As you write, your thesis may change or grow to reflect the ideas within your paper. Conversely, you should also look to tailor your writing within the paper to your thesis. A good paper is always in the process of either articulating the thesis or supporting it.
Step 3. Do the research-your research can focus on other critical analyses of Butler's novel, or it can focus on issues raised by her novel. In total in this essay, you will need to cite at least three times from Kindred, and also from at least two other secondary sources. And please note that citation doesn't simply mean including an essay or book on your Works Cited page, it also includes actually quoting from that source at least one time within the essay.
Step 4. As you write in support of your thesis, employ the following basic steps of analysis:
Look for notable patterns or points of contrast in the novel related to your chosen topic and point them out in your essay. (This is how you produce a coherent, insightful analysis--by making significant connections). You may find patterns in the behavior of the characters, in the ways the scenes are written and assembled, in the narrative logic of the book or in the themes that the book deals with.
Remember to include properly cited quotation/summary of ALL research materials.
Requirements:
- Final paper of at least 4 pages/1250 words, typed, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 or Calibri 11 font, at least two citations/quotes from passages in the novel, at least two from the work you compare it to and 3 secondary sources, proper MLA formatting throughout, including in-text citation and Works Cited Page.
- The essay should be written in the standard research essay format, with an introduction and thesis in the first paragraph, several body paragraphs that support your thesis with analysis and research and at the end, a conclusion.
- Finally, just a note here on the secondary material. It should all come from the HCC library or, if you're also attending another college/university, their library system is fine, too. You may use historical sources, contemporary sources, sources that discuss literary genres, sources that discuss the novel itself, sources that deal with an issue in the novel, etc... That's up to you.