Literature | Literature homework help
5. Gather evidence and write the essay:
Support your claims: Use specific examples from the text to support your arguments. Cite your sources: Properly cite all sources to avoid plagiarism. Revise and edit: Make sure your essay is well-organized, clear, and free of errors. By following these steps, you can develop compelling and insightful literary essay topics that will lead to a strong and engaging analysis of your chosen work.
[22:22, 11/15/2025] Leo:
World Literature Writing Assignment This essay assignment of approximately four pages (typed, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman Font, MLA style) requires you to meditate on some limited aspects of the works we have covered. Specifically, students will generate a topic of interest, investigate it, and formulate a thesis and cogent argument based upon their understanding of the topic. For example, The Odyssey comments on notions of hospitality, heroism, and home. You might elect to explore one of these topics further by conducting some research* into Homer’s epic. This research, coupled with your own creative viewpoint could make for an interesting argumentative/expository essay. In Oedipus Rex, we discussed ideas regarding fate, destiny, identity, and the capriciousness of the gods. These broad topics provide excellent starting points for an essay. The next step is to propose a working thesis based upon some facet of that topic. A thesis will seek to account for how a particular textual aspect seems to work. For example, in Oedipus, prophecy and divine revelations are fairly important topics. But, what does the play seem to convey by deploying these elements in the particular manner that it does? A working thesis might be that we are all subject to the whims of the gods; hence, we must all live with a certain degree of fear and trembling. You may support this view with textual quotations and/or legitimate scholarly sources.
Rubric:
Focus: A clear, persuasive assertion about some aspect of the text supported by textual examples throughout the body. Development: Specific textual quotes and analysis in multiple paragraphs. Grammar and MLA Style: Final drafts will be well proofread and free of grammatical errors. MLA format should be strictly followed, including parenthetical quotes and works cited page. Organization: The essay must have a clear pattern announced in the introduction and signposted throughout with transitions. *Scholarly articles may be accessed via the university’s database. **See UNC Writing Center or Purdue OWL for MLA help.