Instructions
Your final exam consists of two four-paragraph essays, each of them 400-1000 words in length.
Essay 1: Susan Glaspell’s Trifles
Use Literature Resource Center to find a secondary source. It can be biographical information on Glaspell that you feel is relevant to the play or literary criticism on Trifles that you disagree with.
Follow this format:
I. An Introduction in which you set the stage and state your thesis. (You may have one or two sentences of summary of the play here if you would like.)
Example of a biographical thesis: Susan Glaspell’s experiences as a journalist provided the background that explains the theme of Trifles.
Example of a critical thesis: While the critic Adrienne Rich sees the play as a feminist work, Minnie’s desire to be free from oppression is a feeling that anyone can relate to, giving the play universal appeal.
II. A paragraph on the secondary source, summing up whatever in it is relevant to your argument. Include at least one salient quotation. Integrate it properly (no dropped quotations).
III. A paragraph on your interpretation of the play that utilizes the above research. If you are using biographical information, you will be explaining how Glaspell’s life shaped the play and its message. If you are using literary criticism, you will support an interpretation of the play that goes against what a critic has written.
IV. A conclusion wrapping up your discussion and explaining why it is important.
Include a works cited at the end.
To access Literature Resource Center: 1) Log in to GALILEO using your MGA credentials, galileo.usg.edu; 2) Open http://www.galileo.usg.edu/express?link=litb-mga1 ; 3) Search for “Susan Glaspell and Trifles”; 4) Select “Biographies” if that is what you want, or select “Literature Criticism” and/or “Topic and Work Overviews” if you want critical interpretations; 5) Note that you can click “Cite” at the top of an article to get the MLA-style citation.
Essay 2: Character Is Destiny
Write an essay using two of our assigned readings, one short story and one poem, that you did not write about for Paper 1 or Paper 2 (it is okay if you wrote about them on Ds or BEs). Here is the assignment:
There is an old saying: “Character is destiny.” It means that how your life turns out will be determined by the kind of person you are. Agree or disagree with this idea, using one short story and one poem to support your position. Have four paragraphs: intro; literary work #1; literary work #2; conclusion. Include at least one illustrating quotation in each of these body paragraphs.
Please submit both essays in one Word doc or PDF.
Include all 4 GPTZero scores (first and second halves of both essays) in Comments. They should all be below 40%.
