Researched Critical Analysis

Final draft due to myself and Prof. Voisard: Thursday, November 12th

Reflection due to myself: Tuesday, November 17th

First draft due for peer review: Tuesday, November 3rd

Word count: 1200-1500 words (5-6 pages)

For this assignment, you’ll be picking from any of the fairy tales that you’ve read for class. Unlike the Exploratory Essay, you will be arguing a position in this essay.  Please use at least five sources to substantiate your claims (you may rely on the sources you used in your previous essay). This paper is an opportunity for you to formulate your own questions and be critical of your topic, and you are required to state an opinion or take a side on an issue and explain your thoughts. You are required to submit a Reflection along with your final draft, in which you comment on your experience writing this essay and discuss your rhetorical choices.

This essay:

  • must reference at least one primary source–a fairy tale read in class: Perrault, Grimm, HCA, or Basile.
    • it can also reference one or more retellings, including film, poems, etc.
  • must reference at least one of the critical articles read in class (Bettelheim, Johnson/Carroll, Stone, or Zipes)
  • must reference at least four other secondary sources (not including the fairy tale or the article read in class)
    • at least two of these secondary sources must be from the CCNY library database

So, the essay should:

  • discuss a fairy tale (or two, or three)
  • analyze a theme, pattern, idea, topic, etc. that you noticed about the tale(s)
  • include a comprehensive thesis that sets a path for the whole essay
  • use scholarly sources to support and/or contradict your analysis
  • follow MLA for in-text citations and the works cited page.

Things to keep in mind as you write your Critical Analysis essay:

  • In this essay, you will take the information you’ve learned throughout your research and argue a position. You will formulate an opinion on a facet of your topic and then try to persuade your audience on this position. This is your opportunity to discuss your personal opinion on the topic.

Use the following criteria when assessing your essay:

  • Do you have a clear and arguable position/stance?
  • Have you included background information to provide a context for your argument?
  • Have you provided evidence in support of your argument?
  • Have you demonstrated, through your inclusion of facts and your tone, that you are a reliable source?
  • Have you considered the positions/stances of your source material, and responded to them reasonably, even if you disagree?
  • Did you cite at least five research sources on your subject in addition to your primary sources? Did you cite properly according to MLA standards? Did you include a works cited page?

Grading criteria

90-100

  • Has a clear and original topic
  • Has a clear and arguable position/stance, made evident by a thesis statement
  • Consistently shows evidence of deep thinking and engagement with the topic
  • Uses specific examples, sources, and analysis in every body paragraph, which serve to effectively defend your argument
  • Demonstrates a clear understanding of all of the sources used
  • Is well organized and synthesized
  • Has clearly been proofread
  • Uses five sources, one of which is a critical article read in class, two of which are scholarly articles from the CCNY library database
  • Proper MLA format
  • Demonstrates critical self-assessment and understanding of audience and purpose

80-90

  • Has a clear and original topic, but it may be slightly underdeveloped
  • Has an arguable position/stance with a thesis statement, but may be underdeveloped
  • Often shows evidence of deep thinking and engagement with the topic
  • Uses specific examples, sources, and analysis in almost every body paragraph, which serve to defend your argument
  • Demonstrates an understanding of some of the sources used
  • Uses five sources, one of which is a critical article read in class, two of which are scholarly articles from the CCNY library database
  • Is mostly organized and synthesized
  • Has been mostly proofread
  • Proper MLA format
  • Demonstrates some critical self-assessment and understanding of audience

70-80

  • Has a vague or underdeveloped point of view
  • Has an unclear position/stance that may not be arguable, and may be lacking a thesis statement
  • Sometimes shows evidence of deep thinking and engagement with the topic
  • Uses specific examples, sources, and analysis in some body paragraphs, though these may be underdeveloped
  • Does not demonstrate an understanding of the sources used
  • Is mostly organized, but may have some synthesis issues
  • Uses five sources, but missing either a critical source from class or sources from the CCNY library database
  • Has not been proofread or has grammatical errors which impede understanding
  • Some errors with MLA formatting
  • Does not demonstrate critical self-assessment

60-70

  • Has a vague or underdeveloped topic
  • Does not have a clear and arguable position/stance, does not have a thesis statement
  • Does not use evidence, does not demonstrate understanding of sources
  • Shows limited engagement with the topic
  • Has gaps in organization which are difficult to follow
  • Has grammatical errors which impede understanding
  • Does not use five secondary sources
  • Incorrect MLA formatting
  • Does not demonstrate critical self-assessment or understanding of audience and purpose