World literature – Oedipus Rex.
In a polished, three to five-page MLA formatted essay, provide an in-depth analysis from Oedipus Rex. This must be a contextual, thematic, or character (only one) analysis. Failure to focus the essay on one of these topics will result in a 20-point deduction. The essay should focus on the primary work and avoid addressing contemporary comparisons, using first and second person, and addressing a wide variety of possible arguments. Any summary of the work should be used to support the thesis. Large sections of summary should not be used. This essay must use at least two scholarly secondary sources in addition to the primary source. These secondary works can be biographies of your author, books about the historical context that the author was writing in, or works of analysis specific to your work or other works by the author. Encyclopedia, dictionary, and general reference works will not be counted towards this total. All quotes, paraphrases, and summaries must be correctly attributed. You must also include a MLA style works cited page (this does not contribute to the total page length). • Your introduction must introduce the author of the work and a brief summary of the whole work. • Your thesis must make a clear assertion about the work that you will support throughout the rest of the essay. • Your body paragraphs must utilize clear topic sentences. • Each assertion should be supported by primary and secondary source material. • You should only refer to the author by their last name after the first introduction of the author in the introduction. • Your essay should show a strong familiarity with the work and should use literary elements and terminology to explain your debatable, interpretive angle and argument. • Your essay should be written in academic style (no first or second person, use academic language, use MLA formatting) and include examples or quotes from the primary work. • Two block quotes of 8 lines maximum are permitted. You may not reuse any written material from previous classes, but you may reuse content submitted for the exams. ANALYSIS ESSAY RUBRIC Thesis • Arguable • Supportable • At the end of the introduction • To go beyond an average score, your thesis should make especially original or insightful points. Organization • Essay is organized around arguments • Paragraph each have a clear purpose • Evidence (quotes and summary) is sorted and placed appropriately • To go beyond an average score, your essay would also include smooth and professional transitions. Arguments (Also called Topic Sentences or Claims) • Each topic sentence supports thesis statement • Topic sentences are clear and stated (one per body paragraph) • Topic sentences directly align with thesis (they match the thesis) • Claims are relevant, meaningful • To go beyond an average score, your arguments should be insightful and powerfully worded. Evidence • Sufficient (Enough to prove a point, but no more than absolutely needed) • Appropriate (Directly relates to the argument) • Clear (Put into context and explained) • Integrated (Put into your own sentences smoothly) • To go beyond an average score, your use of evidence should be clear, direct, and especially effective. Analysis / Commentary / Explanation • In each paragraph, you connect evidence to claims • In each paragraph, you make clear connections to thesis • Essay seems cohesive (is not repetitive or list-like) • Academic voice is maintained (no conversational tone, first person, or second person is used) • To go beyond an average score, your analysis would develop a writerly voice. Clarity • Essay is obviously proofread • Clear sentence structure • Few spelling or wording errors • Clear meaning throughout • All sources are clearly cited in-text and in the works cited page • To go beyond an average score, your essay would be written with few to no errors.