American Lit

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American Lit

• Literary analysis Post writing

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CONTROLLING PURPOSE Review

• The controlling purpose is similar to a thesis
  statement.
• It serves as somewhat of a blueprint for the
  entire paper by telling the reader what position
  the writer is taking or what will be discussed
  in the paper or what will be revealed what will
  be argued, etc.
• A well-written essay has a clearly defined
  controlling purpose, with evidence to support it.
• An effective conclusion reasserts the controlling
  purpose, but it also leaves the reader with a
  unique thought to take away from the paper.

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CONTROLLING PURPOSE

• Little Crow analyses
• Be sure to give your controlling purpose context
  Let the reader know right away that you are
  writing about Dakota Chief Little Crow then
  indicate that he both affirms and contradicts the
  stereotypical American Indian.
• Lets look at Shelbys

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CONTROLLING PURPOSE

• Prominent Native American history centers on
  Chief Little Crow, Minnesotas distinguished
  Dakota leader. The actions he pursues within the
  role can be seen as unnecessary or crucial, but
  indisputably notable. Illustrated in Curt Browns
  Star Tribune articles, A Man Lost in History,
  Little Crow showcases the challenges that come
  with leading a struggling community. The aspects
  of his will, honor, and downfall reflect the
  construction of Native American stereotypes, and
  how perceptions of these stereotypes require
  re-examination.

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CONTROLLING PURPOSE

• What has Shelby accomplished?
• She identifies Little Crow as the subject of her
  analysis.
• She cites the source of her information Many of
  you neglected this. In revision, refer to the
  packet this way
• A six-part series titled A Man Lost in History,
  written in 2012 by Minneapolis Star Tribune
  writer Curt Brown.
• Then your in-text citation should refer to the
  specific article in the series.

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CONTROLLING PURPOSE

• She also establishes that the paper will look at
  the ways that stereotypical notions both apply
  and do not apply to Little Crow
• For example, she notes that he was a determined
  figure who advocated for his people and fought
  for them. She quotes from the packet, that He
  remained unconvinced that war was the Dakotas
  best option, and became frustrated with the
  violent nature many of his warriors assumed.
• She then writes However, as noted in the Brown
  article, Little Crow believed there was honor in
  his soldiers fighting U.S. soldiers.

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THE BODY OF THE PAPER

• This allows her to make this definitive
  statement
• Little Crows determination to assist his people
  demonstrates how he defies the stereotypical
  depiction of a Native warrior. He powerfully
  rallies with the Dakota in time of battle, but
  didnt eagerly turn to violence to accomplish his
  goals.
• This is the framework for her (and your) paper.
  Choose three qualities Little Crow demonstrates
  give context to these traits, quoting and citing
  the packet for background information.

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THE BODY OF THE PAPER

• Establishing the other important source of
  information Reel Injun.
• Cite it as the 2009 Neil Diamond film
  documentary, Reel Injun, which examines
  Hollywoods depiction of Native Americans through
  a century of cinema.
• Thats the reference point for the stereotypes.
  Lets look at how Shelby uses it.

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THE BODY OF THE PAPER

• In contrast, Little Crows admirable qualities
  may be overlooked as a result of his flaws. He
  was involved in gambling and established
  relationships with many women when he was
  younger. These characteristics guide Little Crow
  away from the notion of being a stereotypical
  noble Injun, as represented in Hollywood films
  such as The Silent Enemy.

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THE BODY OF THE PAPER

• My advice to Shelby would be to insert the Reel
  Injun citation and then refer to the specific
  movie. So it would read like this
• In contrast, Little Crows admirable qualities
  may be overlooked as a result of his flaws. He
  was involved in gambling and established
  relationships with many women when he was
  younger. These characteristics guide Little Crow
  away from the notion of noble Injun, one of the
  stereotypes explored in the documentary, Reel
  Injun. This 2009 Neil Diamond film examines
  Hollywoods depiction of Native Americans through
  a century of cinema, including the noble Injun
  stereotype in the film The Silent Enemy.
• For good measure, I might even do a quick Google
  search for a bit more background on The Silent
  Enemy. The full paragraph would then look like
  this

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THE BODY OF THE PAPER

• In contrast, Little Crows admirable qualities
  may be overlooked as a result of his flaws. He
  was involved in gambling and established
  relationships with many women when he was
  younger. These characteristics guide Little Crow
  away from the notion of noble Injun, one of the
  stereotypes explored in the documentary, Reel
  Injun. This 2009 Neil Diamond film examines
  Hollywoods depiction of Native Americans through
  a century of cinema, including the noble Injun
  stereotype fostered in the film The Silent
  Enemy. The makers of the 1930 silent film are
  hailed by film critic Benjamin Schrom for their
  intention and commitment to honor the heritage of
  a noble and disappearing people
  (www.silentfilm.org).

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Other Considerations

• Place Little Crow in Minnesota be sure to
  mention he leads the Dakota tribe.
• Avoid absolute statements that cannot be
  supported by evidence words like everybody,
  all, never always.
• All people have stereotypes of Native
  Americans.
• He has been blamed for everyones problems.
• Accuracy The information has to be correct.
• Little Crow starred in Hollywood films.

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Literary analysis Scarlett and Emily

• Big picture
• The comparisons are pretty strong. One I
  questioned is whether Scarlett is stuck in the
  past.
• Some clarifications are in order for example,
  Emily and Homer never do get married.
• Full development of points explain the phrase
  spiritual mother of Atlanta. This is a nickname
  assigned to Scarlett by literary critics that
  means she demonstrates the traits that helped
  resurrect Atlanta after the war resiliency,
  determination, courage. But she had nothing to do
  with rebuilding Atlanta itself, outside of
  running a business there.

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Literary analysis Scarlett and Emily

• The biggest oversight resulted from not
  supporting the analysis with evidence from the
  text.
• This means directly quoting the characters or the
  narrative it can be as simple as using
  Faulkners words to describe the condition of
  Emilys home or perhaps quoting Gerald OHara as
  telling Scarlett, Land is the only thing that
  lasts.

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Literary analysis Scarlett and Emily

• Here are two good examples from the papers
• Empowered by her dreams of impressing Ashley and
  her vow to never again re-enter the clutches of
  poverty, Scarlett transcends the social norms of
  the South and becomes a working woman. Earlier in
  the film, Scarlett declares, With God as my
  witness, I will never go hungry again.
• This is scene in the line, Only Miss Emilys
  house was left, lifting its stubborn and
  coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the
  gasoline pumps an eyesore among eyesores.
  This demonstrates that even Miss Emilys home
  clings to the past, aging without a hint of grace.

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Other Considerations

• Be sure to include the names of the works and the
  authors in the introduction Margaret Mitchells
  Gone With the Wind William Faulkners A Rose
  For Emily.
• Establish the time period as the Civil War and
  Reconstruction eras.
• When referring to the region of the country,
  capitalize South.

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Proofreading

• Ignoring careful proofreading produces glaring
  errors like these, which just kill a papers
  effectiveness
• Emily is stuck in her past just as Emily is,
  although for entirely different reasons.
• Scarlett takes up the responsibility of keeping
  up Tara and looking after the sick, such as John
  Wilkes, her true love.
• This is certainly the case in Margaret Faulkners
  A Rose For Emily.
• Scarlett also goes to desperate measures and
  controls the men around her through marrying both
  Charles Hamilton and Jack Kennedy.
• Scarlett OHara grows up in a solid, secure
  family in the town of Tara.
• And my favorite from a past paper, from a writer
  with an obsession with the g key
• Scarlett OGara is the heroine in Gong With The
  Wing.

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Literary analysis Overall

• General observations about writing structure
• Great command of third-person writing voice just
  a couple of exceptions here. This simply means
  removal of I me my our us we.
• Tense a few people writing in past tense but
  still very strong. Plus, its a quick fix simply
  a matter of converting verbs to present tense.

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Literary analysis Grammar

• Quick grammar lesson comma splices
• Two independent thoughts (or two complete
  sentences) within one sentence cannot be
  separated by a comma alone.
• Example Emily ends up sick and alone, she never
  recovers from the death of her father.
• We have two independent clauses
• Emily ends up sick and alone.
• She never recovers from the death of her father.

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Comma Splices

• Fix the comma splice in three ways
• Simply replace the comma with a semi-colon.
• Emily ends up sick and alone she never recovers
  from the death of her father.
• Keep the comma, but add a subordinating or
  coordinating conjunction.
• Emily ends up sick and alone, and she never
  recovers from the death of her father.
• Replace the comma with a period, and form two
  sentences.
• Emily ends up sick and alone. She never recovers
  from the death of her father.

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Miscellaneous

• Commas and periods always go inside quotation
  marks A Rose For Emily, by William Faulkner.
• Colons and semi-colons go outside of quotations
  marks.
• Entire paper is double-spaced, including title
  page info.
• Also, just to learn or remind ourselves how to do
  it, format the title page in MLA style.
• Your last name 1
• Your first and last name
• American Literature
•  Mr. Johnston
•  19 December 2012
• TITLE IS CENTERED

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Literary analysis

• So, here is what happens with the grade.
• If you revise following the suggestions mentioned
  on your paper and making corrections, you can
  earn additional points. If you choose not to
  revise, the grade stands as marked.
• You must staple the revised copy to the one I
  have marked up.
• Revisions are due Wednesday, Dec. 19.