Short Lit Crit Response: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 09:50, 2 May 2024

This assignment is an introduction to research and incorporating that research into a short written response.

Video Orientation

MGA Librarian Samantha Wilcox has put together a series of three short videos that introduce how to research for this assignment.^[1] See the play list.

Pro Tip

Start with the “Using Library Resources for English Research” tutorial. Additionally, consult the English Research Guide and/or MGA’s Literature Research Guide for assistance in locating a strong secondary source.

Choose a strong essay (called a secondary source) about one of the texts we have read in class. The resource must address something we have already read for class. Use the English Research Guide to find a peer-reviewed journal or find a book of essays (not a book-length study) in the library (there are plenty).^[2] If you are unsure, either contact me or ask a librarian. While there are good general resources available on the web, including my own writing, you may not use them for this assignment.

Read the essay you choose and take notes. What is the critic’s central argument about the text; how does she support that argument? What points does she make that are particularly insightful (or which seem unconvincing)? How does it help you in your understanding of the text?

Summarize the critic’s main points or arguments in no more than a paragraph. Be sure you cite the secondary source correctly with parenthetical citations.

Respond to the essay and add your own analysis of the text. This is the important part: spend at least a page responding to the essay — do you agree or not? Why? Be sure you use evidence from class discussion and the primary text to support your reading.

Responses should be two pages (you will be penalized for more) and formatted correctly using MLA format (you must include a works cited section where your secondary source is listed correctly). Please review “Writing in the Liberal Arts” and implement these conventions when writing about literature. Errors will cost you points.

See an Example.

notes

↑ This tutorial contains an optional, extra-credit quiz. Take the quiz for some additional points on this assignment.
↑ See Finding Strong and Credible Sources for Your College Essays for a guide to picking appropriate sources.

Permalink: https://grlu.us/litcrit

[1] This tutorial contains an optional, extra-credit quiz. Take the quiz for some additional points on this assignment.

[2] See Finding Strong and Credible Sources for Your College Essays for a guide to picking appropriate sources.

[1]

[2]

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-[[File:Writing-assign.jpg|thumb]]
+{{Notice|This is a research assignment. You '''must''' use Galileo and/or library resources for it, or you are not doing it correctly.}}
-This assignment is an introduction to research and incorporating that research into a short written response.
-# '''Choose a strong essay''' (called a secondary source) about one of the texts we are addressing in class. Use the [http://guides.mga.edu/englishhome English Research Guide], find a book of essays in the library (there are plenty), or look at some of the links in the bibliographies on the study guides (under their respective texts). While there are good general resources available on the web, I would advise you against using them, unless you have it approved by me. Before asking, be sure you evaluate the source.
+{{dc|T}}{{Start|his assignment is an introduction to research}} and incorporating that research into a short written response.
-# '''Read''' the essay you choose and take notes. What is the critic’s central argument about the text; how does she support that argument? What points does she make that are particularly insightful (or which seem unconvincing)? How does it help you in your understanding of the text?
+<div style="clear:both;"></div>
-# '''Summarize''' its main points or arguments of the article in no more than a paragraph.
+{{quote box|title=Video Orientation|width=30%|MGA Librarian Samantha Wilcox has put together a series of [https://mga.libwizard.com/f/ENGL2111-Lucas three short videos] that introduce how to research for this assignment.{{refn|This tutorial contains an optional, extra-credit quiz. Take the quiz for some additional points on this assignment.}} [https://grlu.us/research-vids See the play list].}}
-# '''Respond''' to the essay and add your own analysis of the text. This is the important part: spend at least a page responding to the essay — do you agree or not? Why? Be sure you use evidence from class discussion and the primary text to support your reading.
+{{quote box|title=Pro Tip|width=30%|Start with the “[https://mga.libwizard.com/f/libraryenglishresources Using Library Resources for English Research]” tutorial. Additionally, consult the [https://guides.mga.edu/englishhome English Research Guide] and/or [https://bit.ly/3390bzn MGA’s Literature Research Guide] for assistance in locating a strong secondary source.}}
+'''Choose a strong essay''' (called a [[CompFAQ/Research/Secondary Sources|secondary source]]) about one of the texts we have read in class. ''The resource must address something we have already read for class.'' Use the [http://guides.mga.edu/englishhome English Research Guide] to find a '''peer-reviewed journal''' or find a '''book of essays''' (''not'' a book-length study) in the library (there are plenty).{{refn|See [[CompFAQ/Research/Strong Sources|Finding Strong and Credible Sources for Your College Essays]] for a guide to picking appropriate sources.}} If you are unsure, either contact me or ask a librarian. While there are good general resources available on the web, including my own writing, you may ''not'' use them for this assignment.
-Responses should be '''no more than two pages''' and formatted correctly using [http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/mla-format/ MLA format]. Please review “[[Writing in the Liberal Arts]]” and implement these conventions when writing about literature. Errors will cost you points.
+'''Read''' the essay you choose and take notes. What is the critic’s central argument about the text; how does she support that argument? What points does she make that are particularly insightful (or which seem unconvincing)? How does it help you in your understanding of the text?
+'''Summarize''' the critic’s main points or arguments in no more than a paragraph. Be sure you cite the secondary source correctly with [https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html parenthetical citations].
+'''Respond''' to the essay and add your own analysis of the text. This is the important part: spend at least a page responding to the essay — do you agree or not? Why? Be sure you use evidence from class discussion and the primary text to support your reading.
+Responses should be '''two pages''' (you will be penalized for more) and formatted correctly using [http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/mla-format/ MLA format] (you ''must'' include a works cited section where your secondary source is listed correctly). Please review “[[Writing in the Liberal Arts]]” and implement these conventions when writing about literature. Errors will cost you points.
+See an [[/Example/]].
+{{Notes}}
+{{Plink|https://grlu.us/litcrit}}
+{{clr}}
 [[Category:Teaching]]
 [[Category:Assignments]]