Find an academic article using the MLA database or JSTOR on one of the following texts:

David Mamet – Glengarry Glen Ross

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun

Don’t just choose the first article that you find.  You should read through at least 3-4 articles before choosing the one you’ll use.  Choose an article that has an interesting argument.

Answer the following questions for your prep work:

• Why did you choose this article? What other articles did you read and why did you not choose them?  Write a short explanation (150 words minimum) of why you thought this article might help you gain a better understanding of the novel or play, and why you didn’t choose the other articles you read.  [Remember, the assignment ask that you don’t just choose the first article that comes up in your search.  In any kind of research assignment, you need a good reason for using a source.  Think about, and justify, why you chose this article rather than another article.]
• Identify the thesis of the article – What exactly is the thesis? Explain the thesis in your own words and also provide a quote of the full thesis from the article.  Please use MLA style when citing the quote.
• What evidence does the author use to support the thesis? Explain this in your own words and list all the evidence used in the article.
• Write a short précis of the article (400 words) where you explain what the main argument is and how the author of the article supports the argument. A précis is basically a summary of the main ideas in the article.  This summary should be written using formal language and should also use MLA style for any citations.

[Note that this prep work and this précis are part of the assignment and must be handed in.  Include it in the same document as you include part B when you submit your assignment.]

Part B – The Essay  (worth 80% of assignment grade)

Write a short essay 4-5 pages (about 1200-1500 words) responding to the article that you’ve looked at in part A.  Your essay can do more than simply agree or disagree with the article.  If you disagree with the article, your essay should find ways to challenge the argument of the article.  If you agree with the article, you should find ways to build on its argument.

The essay should be written using formal language and use MLA style for citations and a list of works cited.