Essay Project #2: Literary Argument Essay
Course: LIT2000 — Introduction to Literature
Purpose
This essay moves beyond close reading into argument. You will take a clear position about a literary work and support it with textual evidence and reasoning.
Your goal is not only to interpret the text, but to defend a claim about its meaning, significance, or effect.
Essay Requirements
- Length: 1,000–1,250 words
- Sources: At least 2–3 (text + optional scholarly support)
- Format: MLA (double-spaced, 12-point font, Works Cited)
- Quotes: At least 3 well-integrated quotations
Text Options
Choose one or more texts from our course readings, including:
- Oedipus the King
- The Cask of Amontillado
- The Raven
- Shakespeare’s Sonnets (18 or 29)
- The Story of an Hour
- The Yellow Wallpaper
- Poetry from Week 4
- You may choose additional texts with instructor approval
Choose an Argument Approach
Option 1: Interpretive Argument
Make a strong claim about what the text means or how it works.
Example: The narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is not simply descending into madness, but revealing the consequences of enforced intellectual repression.
Option 2: Thematic Argument
Argue what the text suggests about a broader idea.
Example: "The Story of an Hour" presents freedom not as liberation alone, but as a destabilizing force.
Option 3: Comparative Argument
Compare two texts to make a larger claim.
Example: Poe and Shakespeare both explore the fragility of beauty, but arrive at opposite conclusions about its permanence.
Expectations
- Clear, arguable thesis (not summary)
- Focused body paragraphs (ICED structure encouraged)
- Explanation of evidence (not just quotes)
- Consideration of alternative interpretations
- Formal academic tone
Instructor Note:
This essay is where your voice becomes more assertive. You are not just explaining the text—you are entering a conversation about it.
Ask yourself: What is my claim, and why should someone else believe it?