Write an original 500-700 word interpretive essay about one of the stories discussed in class or about a song of your choosing. Your analysis must focus on themes relevant to this course (e.g., socioeconomic class, consumerism, attitudes about money and/or work, etc.). If you wish, you may write about multiple texts, as long as your thesis provides a focused argument about the significance of the comparison/contrast of the two. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of your topic, please discuss it with me before submitting your paper.
Assume that your audience is this class—people who have also read the work (and who thus don’t need plot summary) but who may not understand or agree with your interpretation.
If you need help formulating a topic/argument, talk to me. Feel free to text or email me at any time—my goal is to help you find a topic about which you are both interested in writing and capable of writing a successful paper, and the easiest way to help you find such a topic is often to talk during an individual conference.
Format your paper according to MLA style guidelines. For an example of what an MLA paper looks like, see page 575 in Rules for Writers. In particular, note the placement of the title, page numbers, and writer’s name, date, etc. If you choose to use sources in your paper and need help following the MLA rules for documentation described in chapter 56-57 of Rules for Writers, ask me.
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