Topic: Analysis of a Creative Non-Fiction Essay
Format: You are required to use MLA style for all writing assignments. These assignments include the Summary Writing Assignment, the Focused Annotated Bibliography and the Final Researched Essay. Your instructor may also require MLA style for other essay assignments, including the midterm and final exams, and for discussion posts. Therefore, it is important that you understand how to use MLA style correctly. Please refer to the Purdue Online Writing Lab for MLA formatting and style guide
Length Requirement: 750-1000 words
All sources must be cited
Your Process: Using one of the creative non-fiction essays we read in this unit, 2. What is the author saying about it? Why do you think he or she is saying it in this way? What surprises us about the text’s depiction of the theme? Also, address how and why the fact that the text is non-fiction influences its impact relating to the theme. Literary Themes: Love (Platonic, Romantic, or Filial) Alienation/Otherness The American Dream/Nightmare The Quest for Identity/Coming of Age Conformity/Rebellion In addition to discussing at least one of these themes, feel free to also explore other noticed literary themes that are not included in Unit 2. Be sure to use specific examples, details, and quotes from the text (use the author’s name in parenthetical citation). Essays to Choose From: Gretel Ehrlich’s “About Men” Andrew Lam’s “Who Will Light Incense When Mother’s Gone?” Annie Dillard’s “Living Like Weasels” In order to start brainstorming for this essay, please see the following examples: Ehrlich and Conformity: The premise for Ehrlich’s “About Men” is that a real, successful cowboy is a careful balance between what we typically consider masculine, a silent observer, and feminine, a compassionate nurturer. How does the cowboy embody the theme of conformity and rebellion in Ehrlich’s “About Men”? Dillard and the American Dream: One main point in Dillard’s “Living Like Weasels” is that people, who are logical and live by choice, can learn from animals, who are illogical and live only by necessity. What choices are involved in attempting to live out the typical American Dream? How do those choices differ from living according to necessity? In other words, what is the difference between the lifestyles defined by the American Dream as opposed to those defined by minimalism? Lam and Identity: How is Lam’s education and career related to identity in “Who Will Light Incense When Mother’s Gone?”? Do Americans define others by their careers? What else contributes to identity in America and why? Based on this essay, what defines identity in Vietnam as opposed to identity in America? Academic Honesty Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. Please ask if you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism. Your words and your ideas must be your own. Formatting and Style Be sure to maintain an appropriate academic tone (no slang, second-person [“you,” “we”], contractions, etc.) Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins, and numbered pages. Include your name, my name, the title of the class, and the date in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Center your title (you do not need to underline or italicize it) and place it above the body of the essay. Do not include a title page.
