William Bradford and Benjamin Franklin

Choose ONE of the below essay topics. Formulate a clear, strong thesis in response to the given prompt. Then, write a researched literary analysis essay to prove your thesis. Use summary, analysis, and interpretation of the texts to prove your point. Be specific to the assigned readings in the textbook, and provide examples from those readings (primary sources). Enhance and support your findings with research (secondary sources).
The purpose of this assignment is to show that you have a deep understanding of the chosen authors and their texts as well as the historical and cultural time period in which they lived. Your essay should show that you have a deep understanding of the texts and are able to provide a new and interesting analysis or interpretation of the texts.Topic Choices:
Topic Choice 1Analyze and research the works of TWO of the authors we have covered thus far:
William Bradford, Anne Bradstreet, Mary Rowlandson, Benjamin Franklin, Phillis Wheatley

Write an essay in which you discuss what the chosen authors communicate about the hardships of the new land and the new culture.
Topic Choice 2

Compare and/or contrast any two writers working in similar themes or forms – e.g. Benjamin Franklin and Mary Rowlandson, Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley

Focus your comparative analysis on one or two particular points of comparison, such as themes, style, values, beliefs, writing form (such as poetry, essay, narrative), or critical reception.

Directions:
Directions
Write a 3-4 page researched critical essay on ONE of the given topic choices.
Content and Organization
Follow classic essay structure with an introduction that includes a strong thesis, body paragraphs that back up and explain the thesis, and the conclusion which sums up the discussion and ends with a closing idea.
The body paragraphs should include quotes, paraphrases, and/or summaries from the author’s works that were covered in class as well as CPCC database sources to back up/explain/support the thesis.
Structure
Use basic MLA essay structure including a header, heading, title, double spacing, and 12-point Times New Roman or other easily legible font.
Research
Use 3-4 sources. Use the textbook as one source. Use at least one sources from the Central Piedmont online databases. Click here to access our library’s English Literature Database Guide.
Citations
Use MLA 8 in-text citations and Works Cited format. Use the CPCC library citation guide and/or the Purdue OWL citation information along with this handout as your citation guideline.
Grammar
Use correct grammar and mechanics including capitalization and punctuation
Style
Use third person point of view (he, she, they, some, many, etc.), and do not use first person (I, me, we) or second person (you, your) point of view pronouns. Avoid contractions (this means use “do not” instead of “don’t” and “can not” instead of can’t. Use appropriate literary, political, and cultural terminology
Tone
Use an objective, formal tone. Do not use a conversational tone. This is a formal, academic essay for your 200 level college English class. Your tone should reflect this.
Grading
This assignment counts as your midterm exam and is worth 35% of your course grade. It will be graded using a graded rubric for content, clarity, organization, citations, research, grammar, style, and tone.
Format
Final must be submitted in MS Word (.doc/.docx) OR PDF format.
(Google Docs, Pages, Notes, etc. are not acceptable formats)

Grading:
The essay is worth 200 points. The assignment will be graded for:
adherence to format and directions
your ability to make and support your point
proper use of primary sources as textual evidence to support your point
use of secondary sources to support your argument
correct MLA in-text citations and Works Cited page
proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Basic MLA Essay Guidelines:
Print your paper on white, standard paper and keep it as neat as possible.
Set margins at 1 inch
Double space the entire paper
Use Times New Roman Size 12 font
Do not include a title page
Place a header at the top right corner of each page with your last name and the page number (use the automatic header option rather than doing it manually)
Create a heading on the left side of the first page with your name, your instructor’s name, the date, and the course
Center the title. Do not bold or underline the title or type it in all capital letters. Capitalize main words.
Indent each new paragraph one tab.
Do not put additional spaces between paragraphs.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N9gfRxPUDiG5p-6bWLdJ6Y5crazLamW4/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100275375346303548692&rtpof=true&sd=true