The Analytic Essay

The Analytic Essay
Assignment 1.1
Due: Tuesday, February 23rd

Working from the annotated close-reading checklist and from class discussions, your essay will be to analyze one of the three essays assigned for class, namely “A Room of One’s Own,” “A Chapter on Ears,” or the “Seeing.” This is a close reading exercise in which you will identify the essay’s thesis, and the relevant evidence used to support this thesis. Furthermore, this task requires you to identify a thesis of your own – a claim based on your interpretation of the essay, and to marshal evidence to support it. Although we have discussed these essays in class, assume you are addressing a reader who is only vaguely familiar with the essay you choose. Your essay should be explanatory, in that it should address the essay’s content and “story,” but it should not be a summary. You are looking to define and analyze the essay’s requisite parts and how they crystallize to form an effective argument.

Some questions you should address are, what was the author’s intention and what is the thesis? How is this thesis supported? Give examples and briefly quote passages to support your interpretation. How is the essay constructed? Why does the author choose to open and conclude the way that he or she does? Does the essay’s construction effect its content? What emotional reaction does the author intend his or her reader to have to this essay? Did this reaction change with analysis? What should a reader pay attention to? Why?

While you are free and encouraged to draw from your free writes and your blog entries in order to complete this assignment, this essay is more formal than either. Your essay must include an introduction, discussion in the form of body paragraphs, and a conclusion. That said, the best essays will build an argument rather than just following a five paragraph essay format. Please attach your annotated close-reading checklist. This essay should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman Font and be three to four pages long.



Close-Reading Annotated Checklist:
Essay Title:
Author:
Introduction:
How does the author introduce his or her subject?

Why?

Is the introduction effective? Why?

Is the thesis introduced? If so, what is it?


Body Paragraphs and Evidence:
What is the thesis?

How is the thesis supported and what evidence is supplied?

List examples of supporting evidence:

Construction:
Where in the essay do examples of supporting evidence occur?

Where is the thesis stated?

Does the thesis evolve? If so, how?

Conclusion:
How does the essay conclude? Why?

What new insights are gained in the conclusion?