For your first essay, you will focus on one sonnet (or two, but no more than two) from William Shakespeare's collection, and write an argumentative essay of approximately one thousand words. I suggest that you go about this one of two ways: the first is to choose a sonnet that appeals to you in its topic, and then argue what you believe Shakespeare is saying about that topic. The interpretation that you arrive at--perhaps the poet's views on procreation, infidelity, the ravages of time, or the deceptions involved in love--will serve as your thesis. If you have trouble understanding what I mean by a thesis, then check out the link on my website dealing with the thesis statement. Then for the remainder of the essay, you will cull evidence from the sonnet to support your thesis. The second way you can handle this is to focus on two sonnets that have the same topic but perhaps take differing approaches to that topic. Create a thesis that you think covers these different approaches and argue that your view of Shakespeare's points is valid. In any case, I want your interpretation of what you think Shakespeare is saying about a topic. I don't want you telling us what you think about love, procreation, time, and so on. If you would like to approach this essay in a different way, then email me with your idea and thesis, and we will discuss your approach. In this essay, I also want you to deal with the poetry. That is, I want you to make comments about Shakespeare's use of metaphor, simile, hyperbole, alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, assonance, consonance, paradox, pun, the use of the octave and sestet, the use of the quatrains and rhyming couplets, and so on. Remember that first--and foremost--Shakespeare's subject is language. Therefore, wherever appropriate, tie in the poet's use of language with the content of his poem. Remember that you are trying to convince the reader that your interpretation of the poem is valid. Therefore, your views must be substantiated by specifics from the poem. You do this by selectively quoting from the sonnet; general statements without support remain unconvincing. When you quote from the text, analyze the passages; don't simply paraphrase them. And no more than fifteen percent (15%) of your essay should appear in quotation marks. I want to evaluate you, not Shakespeare. Use the standard Modern Language Association form of documentation. If you have trouble with this, go to my link that deals with documentation. The following is an example of how to use in-text documentation of up to three lines of poetry:
If you use four or more lines consecutively, then separate them from the text as follows:
Notice that in the first example, quotation marks show where Shakespeare's words begin and end. In addition, the virgule ( / ), often called the slash, reflects where one line of poetry ends and another begins. After the quotation, the line numbers appear in parenthesis. If you are writing about one sonnet, you will have named that sonnet by number in your introduction; therefore, there is no need to repeat the number. However, if you're writing about two sonnets, clarify which one you are quoting. In the second example, notice that the longer quotation is indented ten spaces from the normal margin of your essay--but only the left margin. Such an indentation indicates that this is a quotation; therefore, quotation marks are not necessary. Long quotations should be double-spaced. The format of this website will not allow me to do that here, but you should do it in your essay. Use the standard MLA documentation for the works cited page. That, too, is explained on my link dealing with documentation. I will read rough drafts of your essay, so don't hesitate to show me what you're working on. Also, if you have a different idea, don't hesitate to run it by me. The due date for the essay is on your syllabus. Think, write, and rewrite. Good luck! |
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