English Essay, Pride and Downfall, common theme through literary selections from each of the following periods: realism, regionalism and local color, and naturalism. 

Writing Assignment 1 Topic and Requirements
The purpose of the paper is to show that though authors fall into differing movements in literature, they may still share timeless themes in literature, and the theme is timeless because readers of any time period find practical application in their own lives. To accomplish this purpose, you will be tracing a common theme through literary selections from each of the following periods: realism, regionalism and local color, and naturalism.

Preparation:

1. Review the introductory material in the text, online at the Norton site, and the material in Lessons 2 and 3 for realism, regionalism and local color, and naturalism. Consider which of the assigned selections in the reading for Lessons 2 and 3 best illustrate each of the three periods. For your examples, you will choose from the following selections:
Twain: “the Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”; “Letters from the Earth”(through Letter II)—online link in lesson

James: “The Beast in the Jungle”; Daisy Miller

Freeman’s “The Revolt of ‘Mother’”

Wharton’s “Roman Fever”

Crane’s “Open Boat, ” XXIV( “The Black Riders”), and XXI (“War Is Kind”). Note that the poetry selections for Crane are not the entirety of what is listed in parentheses, but very specific stanzas; use only those stanzas specified by Roman numerals.

For a quick summation of the three literary movements, take a look at the following:

http://blogs.acu.edu/1020_ENGL26203/files/2010/01/Realism-Naturalism-Regionalism.pdf

2. Consider common themes in literature, such as great journeys that lead to new understanding, loss of innocence (coming of age), great battles or big conflicts, love and friendship, or revenge. Use the theme of pride and downfall.

Your goal is to find one common theme shared by your selections for the three periods.

Development of Topic in Body Paragraphs:

For each of three body paragraphs, you are to use your choice of the assigned literary selections to do the following:

1. discuss one of the literary movements (realism, regionalism, naturalism) by looking at how your selection provides an illustration of that literary movement;

2. prove how that selection or selections illustrate the common theme.

Your blueprint thesis should mention the three periods, indicate the selections or authors to be covered, and the common theme. Note that if you do not mention the titles of the selections in your thesis, include them in the introductory paragraph.

Additional Description:

Your paper will be a minimum of five paragraphs: introduction with background information (including overview, titles, authors) and blueprint thesis; at least three body paragraphs including one related to regionalism/local color and using cited material from your selection(s) to illustrate, one related to realism with cited material from selection(s), and one related to naturalism with cited material from one or more selections; and a concluding paragraph that not only pulls the paper back together and restates thesis, but also indicates how the common theme you chose has practical application in any timeframe, including contemporary society.

Requirements:

1. MLA format and documentation

2. Five or more paragraphs, including introduction, body, and conclusion; around 500 words.

3. Introduction should include attention getter (hook), any background information necessary, and blueprint thesis sentence. It should also mention the selection titles and authors; note that titles of poems, short stories, and essays are placed in quotation marks. (five sentences or more)

4. Each body paragraph should be eight or more sentences, should have a clear topic sentence, and should include at least two to three pieces of cited support from the selection(s) to prove your point. “Specific” means that you are including material that is quoted and/or paraphrased. Note that content ratings will be very low if you do not develop your discussion with quotations and paraphrases. Cite each paraphrase or quotation, using MLA format.

6. The conclusion should include a restatement of the thesis in different words. It can also briefly summarize the major points and point to the practical application. (around four to five or more sentences).

7. Include a works cited page with entries for each selection covered.

8. Formal style: no contractions, no slang (except in quotations), and no first or second person (except in quotations)

9. Don’t forget to use present tense in your discussion of literature. Though a selection is written in the past, you will use the present tense in your discussion; this use is called historic present because each time a person reads the poem, the events in it happen again, so to speak.

10. Use of three or more words from a source (poem or critic) requires the use of quotation marks and a citation.

Note: You may certainly research your topic through a library or the AVL as part of your brainstorming process, but this is not a requirement for this first assignment. However, should you use any material from an outside source (and this is permissible), be sure to correctly quote or paraphrase it, and include the proper citation and works cited entry. Avoid the free essay sights. I should probably mention that I do use a plagiarism detection device, so be very careful to correctly quote, paraphrase and cite not only the poems but any outside sources should you choose to use such sources in this paper.