Wiki Essay: Critical Analysis A wiki is a collaborative online learning environment for students and sometimes instructors, which combines a combination of text and visual evidence.

What Is a Wiki Essay? For this wiki, you will be creating a critical analysis essay which will combine text, images/photographs, and videos to compare a piece of literature or film from our class to one or more modes of entertainment outside of class (another piece of literature—novel, short fiction, poem, drama, comic book/manga, etc., song, film, or television show). Although each of you will have an individual wiki page, all of your classmates will be able to view your wiki essay.

Critical Analysis is not “fault-finding” but an exercise in evaluation and interpretation.

Rhetorical Strategy: The Wiki Essay is a Critical Analysis Essay, but it will also be a Comparison Essay where you will be comparing two or more topics’ similarities. Topics: One of the topics must be from one of our reading/viewing assignments: “Everyday Use,” Death of a Salesman, “Daddy,” “Boy,” or The Metamorphosis. The other topic(s) will be of your own selection; please choose one or more modes of entertainment outside of class that are in the realm of your own interests (another piece of literature—novel, short fiction, poem, drama, comic book/manga, etc., song, film, or television show).

After selecting your topics for the wiki essay, you need to decide on the points of comparison that will be made in your body paragraphs. These points of comparison could discuss various aspects of the topics: theme, plot, setting, narration/point-of-view, external conflict—protagonist/antagonist, internal conflict, characterization—flat/round, structural techniques—flashback/flash forward, figurative language—symbolism, imagery, similes, metaphors, etc., and overall author intention/message. These points all fit within the three emphases of criticism (Reference the handout “What is a Critical Essay?” and view the next slide for more information). Points of Comparison

Three emphases of criticism—interpretation, technical analysis, and judgment/evaluation of the author. NOTE: On the previous slide, potential points of comparison fit within these emphases of criticism: Questions of Interpretation: Theme Questions of Technical Analysis: Plot, Setting, Narration/Point-of-View, External/Internal Conflict, Characterization, Structural Techniques, and Figurative Language. Questions of Judgment/Evaluation: Author’s Intention/Message (You are not required to write about all three emphases of criticism; you may write about one, two, or three of the emphases. Reference the handout “Structural Options for the Critical Analysis Essay”.)

Research: You will be required to credit—through quoting or paraphrasing—at least two primary sources: a piece of literature or film from our class and one or more modes of entertainment outside of class (another piece of literature— novel, short fiction, poem, drama, comic book/manga, etc., song, film, or television show). Also, I would encourage you to use other secondary textual evidence to further support your arguments: articles of criticism from MGCCC’s Literary databases—Gale Literature Resource Center or Magnolia Project—or from credible online websites (.edu). Since this is a wiki essay, which relies on secondary visual evidence as well, you MUST cite visuals such as images/photographs and videos. You must use at least two images/photographs and two videos in your wiki essay. If you do not use visual evidence, your grade will be negatively affected. This visual evidence should directly relate to your essay’s content and be relevant to its arguments.

Requirements: Length and Format Length: At least five paragraphs: an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. 1st paragraph—Introductory Paragraph (Lead-in Device/Attention-Getter, Transitional Sentence(s), and Thesis Statement) 2nd paragraph—Point #1 3rd paragraph—Point #2 4th paragraph—Point #3 5th paragraph—Conclusion (Review of Points, Restate Thesis, and Concluding Device) Format: (Modern Language Association)

MLA Heading Mrs. Ferguson 1123

Death of a Salesman and Big Fish Title of Wiki Essay Do not use the name of the assignment. Do not merely use the title of the topics. Avoid underlining or placing your essay title in bold. Do clearly overview your essay’s topic! Mrs. Ferguson 1123 Theme of Family: Death of a Salesman and Big Fish

Introduction Paragraph Use an introductory technique, such as a definition, question, or quotation to open your essay. Mention the essay’s topics (title of works in appropriate MLA punctuation) as well as any authors/creators associated with them. End your introduction with your thesis statement, one sentence which clearly overviews your essay’s main idea. Lead-in Device/Attention Getter Transitional Sentence(s) Thesis Point #1 Point #3 Point #2

Body Paragraphs Although at least three body paragraphs are required for this essay, you should have as many body paragraphs as are necessary to fully discuss your essay’s topics and their points of comparison. Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, which clearly states the point of comparison to be discussed in the body paragraph and provides transition from previous paragraphs. In your discussion of the topics, use the present tense. Evidence: Quotations/Paraphrases Analysis: Your interpretation of that evidence—its relation to your argument about your topics.

Do not merely “copy and paste” your introductory paragraph’s thesis. Overview each of the points of comparison in relation to your topics. Make sure to use a creative concluding technique!