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WEBCT ORIENTATIONS
Held in the TLC on Campus

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WRITING YOUR MIDTERM REPORT

The goal of this assignment is to complete a close reading of one work contained in your textbooks. You must choose a work we have NOT discussed as a class. Read the directions below and follow them carefully. They are your guide.

1) Choose a work you like and of enough length and detail that you can write a 3-5 page analysis. Again - this work should not be a scheduled class reading.

2) Read the piece carefully and in one page, single-spaced, summarize the major components (who, what, when, where, why, how). This summary sheet will be the final page of your paper paper.

3) Type a college level paper [3-5 pages, double-spaced – 12 point font, 1 inch margins]. Make sure your paper includes the following:

A] An introduction that introduces the work and has a clear thesis statement.

B] Body paragraphs that focus on significant ideas in your piece, such as setting, character, audience, theme, symbolism, and overall message.

**Note: story or plot is not one of the options!

Each body paragraph must have a clear topic sentence that clearly states the point that is going to be analyzed in the paragraph. Do not use an announcement, such as this paragraph will analyze the literary motifs in the two works.

To support each point, you must use quotes from the text. Do not leave a quote to explain itself. Make your point, use a quote that illustrates that point, and write in your own words how that quote illustrates your point.

C] A conclusion that answers the following questions: What did you learn about this work by looking at it carefully? How did the work make you feel?  By analyzing the work, did you learn anything about poetry, short stories, plays, yourself, others? [REMEMBER: To support each answer, you must use quotes from the text.]

D] Attach your summary sheet as last page.

Grading Rubric