Length: 5-6 pages, double-spaced, 12-pt. font, Times New Roman (standard margins)
\nAssignment Description:
\nFor this assignment, you will write a 5-6 page thesis-driven close reading paper on The
\nWinter\u2019s Tale. In class, we have been practicing close reading poetry and making local arguments
\nabout individual passages. This paper gives you the chance to unite several close readings into a
\nlarger argument. In this paper, I would like for you to make an argument for how Shakespeare\u2019s
\nThe Winter\u2019s Tale is adapting Ovid\u2019s Pygmalion myth.
\nThere are two elements to this paper that bring together two skills we\u2019ve been practicing
\ntogether in class: (1) close reading, and (2) discussing adaptation. The first should be in the service of
\nthe second. Your close readings, in other words, should support a larger argument about how
\nShakespeare is adapting Ovid\u2019s Pygmalion myth.
\nTo help keep your essay focused, I would like you to focus your analysis on one or two
\nscenes in the play. While this may well be Act 5, Scene 3 (the statue scene), if there is another scene
\nin the play that you understand to be engaging with Ovid\u2019s Pygmalion myth, thematically or
\notherwise, you are welcome to focus your attention there. While most of your close readings will be
\ndrawn from your central one or two scenes, in developing your analysis, you are also welcome to
\nsupport your interpretations with brief pieces of textual evidence from elsewhere in the play to help
\nyou draw attention to common imagery, diction, themes, etc. Your analysis should concentrate not
\non what is said, but why and how it is said. What meanings do specific literary devices contribute
\nto, or produce in, our understanding of the scene(s), and how do(es) the scene(s) help us understand
\nthe nature of Shakespeare\u2019s engagement with Ovid? Regarding the nature of this engagement, as you
\nbegin to brainstorm, here are some questions you might ask yourself: What changes is Shakespeare
\nmaking to Ovid\u2019s myth and why? What are the effects of these changes?
\nWhile this is not a research project and you will not be seeking out external sources, you are
\nrequired to cite the Oxford English Dictionary at least once in your paper, using the format we
\npracticed together in class. Your use of the OED should support your close reading by illuminating
\nconnotations of a specific word that is important to your analysis. You are also welcome to cite the
\nHutcheon chapter on adaptation if you find that useful.
\nEvidence and the Use and Citation of Quotes:
\nThe source of your evidence in a close reading paper is the text itself (what is said), and
\nparticularly the stylistic choices that determine how something is said (diction, tone, metaphor, etc.).
\nWhen using quotes, do not use a quote to reiterate what you have already summarized. Use
\nquotations instead to support the points that you are making about how the formal qualities of the
\ntext support its meaning. Furthermore, be economic in your quoting. Save block quotations (which
\nyou practiced using in your mini-essay) for passages that you want to examine most or all parts of in
\ngreat detail. Otherwise, select only the parts of a quote you actually analyze (instead of a whole
\nsentence or line, just quote the phrase or word that is pertinent to your discussion). Please use
\nMLA formatting, which means that you will have both parenthetical in-text citations and a \u201cWorks
\nCited\u201d at the end of your paper (see the Purdue Owl for MLA formatting guidelines). Parenthetical
\nin-text citations should include act, scene, and line numbers for Shakespeare, and page numbers for
\nOvid. Your works cited page should include an entry for Shakespeare\u2019s The Winter\u2019s Tale, an entry for
\nOvid\u2019s Metamorphoses, and an entry for each word (or words) you cite from the OED (see OED
\nhandout for a refresher on how to cite these entries). If you reference Hutcheon, be sure to cite her
\nchapter, too.
\nOther Essay Requirements:
\nThe following elements of an academic essay should be included in your paper:
\n\u2022 An introductory paragraph that clearly introduces the authors and works under discussion,
\nthe general topic of your essay, as well as your thesis statement. For more guidance on some
\ncharacteristics of good introductions, see the Vanderbilt Writing Studio\u2019s guide to writing
\nintroductions (posted on Brightspace).
\n\u2022 Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. Think of topic sentences as mini-thesis
\nstatements that come at the beginning of each paragraph and link that paragraph back to the
\nessay\u2019s main thesis. Each topic sentence, in other words, should make a claim about what
\nyou will say in the paragraph that it introduces, and should also support your essay\u2019s
\noverarching thesis statement.
\n\u2022 Each paragraph should end with a transition phrase or sentence that looks ahead to the
\ncontent of the next paragraph, linking it to the content of the current paragraph.
\n\u2022 Textual evidence in the form of quotations in each body paragraph. Remember to fully
\nanalyze all the quotations you cite (see the above paragraph on \u201cEvidence and the Use and
\nCitation of Quotes\u201d).
\n\u2022 A concluding paragraph in which you reiterate your thesis statement (not word-for-word,
\nbut remind the reader of your central argument), synthesize the main points of your paper
\nand highlight how they support this thesis, and suggest the broader implications of your
\nargument (the \u201cso what\u201d factor). For more guidance on some characteristics of good
\nconclusions, see the UNC Chapel Hill Writing Center\u2019s guide to conclusions (posted on
\nBrightspace).
\n\u2022 A works cited at the end of your paper in which you cite all of your sources in MLA, as well
\nas parenthetical in-text citations throughout the essay.
\n\u2022 A creative title that captures the argument of the paper.
\nPaper 1 Rubric
\nCriteria Score
\nFirst Draft & Peer Review 4 3 2 1 0
\n– First draft submitted on time and demonstrates
\nthoughtful progress toward the final product
\n– Student was an engaged participant in the peer review
\nprocess, providing detailed and thoughtful feedback to
\ntheir peer review partner
\nMeets all
\ncriteria at a
\nhigh level
\nMeets
\nsome
\ncriteria;
\nuneven
\nMeets few
\ncriteria
\nThesis Statement & Argument 4 3 2 1 0
\n– Presents an insightful, compelling argument driven by a
\nstrong, original thesis statement
\n– Thesis statement makes a clear and persuasive claim for
\nhow Shakespeare is adapting Ovid
\n– Argument demonstrates familiarity with the key
\nconcepts and vocabulary of adaptation
\n– Argument is sustained and consistent over the course
\nof the paper
\nMeets all
\ncriteria at a
\nhigh level
\nMeets
\nsome
\ncriteria;
\nuneven
\nMeets few
\ncriteria
\nEvidence & Close Reading 4 3 2 1 0
\n– Evidence (in the form of textual quotations) supports
\nthe thesis statement at the paragraph level and is
\npresented in a clear, logical manner
\n– Evidence is primarily drawn from 1-2 scenes in the
\nplay, though brief quotations from elsewhere in the play
\nmay be referenced when relevant
\n– All quotations are fully analyzed using close reading
\nskills and are well-integrated into the student\u2019s writing
\n– Textual quotations are properly cited in MLA style both
\nin text and in the works cited
\n– The OED is cited at least once, supporting close
\nreading by illuminating connotations of a specific word
\nthat is important to the argument\/analysis
\nMeets all
\ncriteria at a
\nhigh level
\nMeets
\nsome
\ncriteria;
\nuneven
\nMeets few
\ncriteria
\nStructure & Organization 4 3 2 1 0
\n– Well-organized argument with a logical flow both
\nwithin and across paragraphs
\n– Engaging introduction, smooth transitions, and
\nthought-provoking conclusion
\n– Paragraphs begin with topic sentences that effectively
\nidentify the content of the paragraph while linking this
\ncontent back to the main argument
\nMeets all
\ncriteria at a
\nhigh level
\nMeets
\nsome
\ncriteria;
\nuneven
\nMeets few
\ncriteria
\nFormatting & Mechanics 4 3 2 1 0
\n– Well-written on the sentence level
\n– Creative title captures the argument of the paper
\n– Meets length and formatting requirements 5-6 pages,
\ndouble-spaced, 12-pt. font, Times New Roman
\n(standard margins)
\n– Essay has been successfully proofread for grammatical
\nerrors and typos
\nMeets all
\ncriteria at a
\nhigh level
\nMeets
\nsome
\ncriteria;
\nuneven
\nMeets few
\ncriteria <\/p>\n
Length: 5-6 pages, double-spaced, 12-pt. font, Times New Roman (standard margins) Assignment Description: For this assignment, you will write a 5-6 page thesis-driven close reading paper on The Winter\u2019s Tale. In class, we have been practicing close reading poetry and making local arguments about individual passages. This paper gives you the chance to unite several […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"disciplines":[14],"paper_types":[],"tagged":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/11544"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/questions"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11544"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/11544\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"disciplines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/disciplines?post=11544"},{"taxonomy":"paper_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper_types?post=11544"},{"taxonomy":"tagged","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tagged?post=11544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}