Essay Assignment 1: Documented Literary Analysis
Your literary analysis essay will be on the novel Sula by Toni Morrison. You can choose from any of the topics listed below (recommended) or explore further topics in the chapter on Sula, in the book How to Write about Toni Morrison (linked here for your convenience).
Your literary analysis should be between 2 and 3 pages (600 to 750 words), not including the Works Cited page, should be double spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and must meet the following criteria:
A clearly articulated thesis that states, somewhere in your introduction, the assertion (position, interpretation) that your paper will prove
An introduction, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion
At least two quotes from the novel itself that are integrated into your discussion
At least two citations of outside sources (such as literary criticism on the novel). At least one source should come from the MDC databases. All sources must be academic.
Topic sentences that focus the discussion of the body paragraphs
Examples, details, explanations in the body paragraphs that clearly support your thesis
Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs
Proper MLA style format in the heading, in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited page (see the template for the heading and margins in this lesson)
Works Cited page includes articles from two sources and from the novel for a minimum of three total listed sources
Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics
