The Stylistic Essay: Assignment

The Stylistic Essay:
Due March 23rd

In this unit you have read a number of highly stylized essays, and we have discussed different stylistic devices. In a four – five page response paper, I would like you to pick one of the following essays, “The Knife,” “Why Do I Fast,” “He and I,” or “Meatless Days,” and do a close reading of it, discussing what stylistic elements are used and how they contribute to the essay’s overall meaning. In this response you must identify the essay’s thesis, or general message, and then, after identifying that thesis, you must clearly supply your own thesis regarding the ways in which you believe the stylistic elements we’ve discussed enhance or detract from the piece you are discussing..

In your essay you may want to address some if not all of these questions: what was the author’s intention and what is the thesis? How is the thesis supported and specifically, what evidence is supplied? Make sure to give examples and quote passages. What stylistic devices are used? How do they enhance or detract from the meaning? Is the reader intended to have an emotional reaction to the essay?

Again this essay should be four – five pages long and in 12 point Times New Roman Font. Good luck and work hard.