Exploring August Wilson's Play, Fences

Essay 2 Parameters: This is your second formal writing assignment. You will receive a letter grade for this assignment based on the requirements and rubric posted below. You must address the question posed below. Your paper must be type written and follow the guidelines for out of class writing posted on the syllabus. Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is for you to demonstrate your ability to build upon the skills you developed in ENGL 1301, to illustrate your critical response to a variety of texts, and to write a literary analysis using the terminology in the book, one outside academic source, and your analytical skills. Assignment: Address the following prompt in a complete, fully developed, and comprehensive essay of 1200 words (+/- 10%). Prompt: Select ONE of the following prompts and address the question. Be sure to fulfill ALL requirements, including the use of an outside source. 1. Analyze the complexities and contradictions to be found in a well-rounded character from a play of your choice. Some good subjects might be Nora Helmer (in A Doll's House), Willy Loman (in Death of a Salesman), or Tom Wingfield (In The Glass Menagerie). 2. Write an analysis in which you single out an element of a play for examination – character, plot, setting, theme, dramatic irony, tone, language, symbolism, conventions, or any other element. Try to relate this element to the play as a whole. Sample topics: “Imagery of Poison in Othello,” “The Function of Teiresias in Oedipus the King,” “Irony in Antigone,” “Williams' use of Magic-Lantern Slides in The Glass Menagerie,” or “The Theme of Success in Death of a Salesman.” 3. Why is August Wilson's play title Fences? Explore the ways in which fences are used symbolically by Wilson and the literal and figurative meanings of fences to the main characters (Troy, Rose, Cory, Lyons, Gabe). - You must use one primary source and one secondary source to support your claims. - DO NOT write about Trifles. - You must you the concepts, terminology and ideas that we have addressed in weekly assignments and lectures and covered in the text. Save your Essay as: \"Last name_First name_Essay #_Title.\" E.g. Dent_Stu_Essay 2_Making Mouths. Requirements: 1. The tone of academic papers is formal. Please do not write in first or second person or use informal language such as slang, text speak, clichés, regionalisms, and colloquialisms. 2. You should have an arguable thesis that states your position clearly. Your position will be your answer to the prompt. 3. You will introduce the work/works and author/s about which you are writing in the introduction. 4. You will support your thesis statement with claims. Those claims must be supported by textual evidence. 5. Do not write a plot summary. 6. Your paper will have an introduction that includes the thesis as the last sentence. 7. Your paper will have body paragraphs in which you support your thesis with reasonable claims and support. 8. You will proofread your paper for spelling, grammar, and mechanics errors. Any papers with more than 5 proofreading errors on any page will be returned ungraded and will be penalized as late when resubmitted. 9. Use active verbs. Rather than writing “She is loving the way he speaks to her,” write, “She loves the way he speaks to her.” 10. Make sure your subjects and verbs agree in number and person. Use your Rules for Writers Handbook from ENGL 1301 as a reference. 11. Use proper MLA citation. You may use Purdue's OWL, the MLA Handbook, your Rules for Writers Handbook, or any reference that does not generate your citations for you. 12. Include an original and thought provoking title. 13. You must have a header with your name, the assignment, course title, my name and date, and you must include page numbers. Your header will appear on the first page only. 14. You must use one primary source and one secondary. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA, SPARKNOTES, CLIFF NOTES, MASTERPLOTS, OR MAGILL'S AS YOUR SECONDARY SOURCE. An A paper will satisfy 12-14 of the above requirements. A B paper will satisfy 10-11 of the above requirements. A C paper will satisfy 8-9 of the above requirements. A D paper will satisfy 6-7 of the above requirements. An F paper will fail to satisfy at least 6 of the above requirements. Due Date: The paper is due by 9:00 a.m. on March 17, 2013. You must upload your paper to the Turnitin by the deadline or your paper will be penalized 20 points for every day you are late.