Quote: Originally posted by frogus
<SNIP> and if you can't think of anything, just remember that my education depends on this and if you can't come up with a good idea I will end up homeless and unable to support my huge family of 12, oh woe... |
Something as serious as this deserves a little more help.
I did a major in philosophy, a minor in literature and spent too much time (for my liking) in reading.
Whichever books you choose, it will be extremely advantageous to pick on themes that you like/ are interested/comfortable in, eg. politics, slavery, social systems to name a few. I initially wanted to mention Ulysses, but it's way too difficult to make any sane comparison with any classic.
After you have done that, pick authors that are universally reconised by
examiners in both the classics and contemporary lit. Hence, Joan Collins, Sidney Sheldon and Irving Wallace (pulp fiction writers) won't make the grade; William Faulkner, John Steinbeck and Upton Sinclair (pulitzer prize winners) would. You will then need to elaborate on the criteria specified by the examiners, eg compare/contrast, draw inferences, poetic license, etc.
What they usually look out for are originality, clarity of thought in presenting your arguments for or against, the ability to draw on materials from other books (this is a sure winner), inferences and implications by the authors in certain passages (yes, you need to memorise passages to earn high marks), how you
link your arguments into a persuasive and coherent whole.
Length of essay must be at least 10 pages of double sided A4 size fool scap paper to be of any consideration. I don't want to crap too much, so to summarize: -
1) Answer the question! Don't go out of point.
2) Produce a coherent and clear argument and analysis
3) Reveal knowledge, reading and evidence
4) Demonstrate a critical ability
5) Write lucidly with good spelling, puntuation and syntax
6) Provide clear frameworks, structures, and signposts
Which will hopefully show the following: -
1. Unusually wide reading, an original and refreshing argument, something which surprises in the depth of analysis, knowledge and understanding.
2. Clearly written, well structured and signposted. Originality: understanding of a wide range of literature or, if essay calls for more detailed analysis of limited literature then a very thorough understanding of this. Evidence of reflection and own analysis of the literature together with an ability to see how lessons learned could be applied to other contexts/examples
3. Goes beyond requirements of question in display of creativity, unusual lines of argument that are well backed up. Displays very sophisticated theoretical analysis.
4. originality and wider referencing to debates.
5. Showing originality of thought.
Originality; lucid critical evaluation of wide range of material; may make reference to other relevant issues.
Originality, creativity and comprehensive coverage of issues in relation to question, good presentation and exposition.
6. Displaying 'flair' in some respect. Impressively wide reading and or analytical skills. Very strong relevant structure to writing with clear, typically novel, clearly original slant/and conclusion.
7. Good coverage of literature; original argument; well structured, well written
Meanwhile, I will pray that you don't have to go homeless.
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