5. In what ways are the various characters in the novel alienated from the community? How do they cope with their loneliness, their preoccupations, and other effects of feeling alienated?

Your literary analysis essay will be on the novel Sula by
Toni Morrison. You can choose from any of the topics listed below (recommended)
or explore further topics in the chapter on Sula, in the book How to
Write about Toni Morrison (linked
here for your convenience).

Your literary analysis should be between 2 ½ and 3 pages (600
to 750 words), not including the Works Cited page, should be double spaced in
Times New Roman 12-point font and must meet the following criteria:   

·      A
clearly articulated thesis that states, somewhere in your introduction, the assertion
(position, interpretation) that your paper will prove

·      An introduction,
a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion

·      At least
two quotes from the novel itself that are integrated into your discussion

·      At least
two citations of outside sources (such as literary criticism on the novel). At least
one source should come from the MDC databases. All sources must be academic.

·      Topic
sentences that focus the discussion of the body paragraphs

·      Examples,
details, explanations in the body paragraphs that clearly support your thesis

·      Clear
connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs

·      Proper
MLA style format in the heading, in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited
page (see the template for the heading and margins in this lesson)

·      Works Cited
page includes articles from two sources and from the novel for a minimum of
three total listed sources

·      Standard
usage, grammar, and mechanics