Overview

In this assignment you will hone your ability to perform stylistic analysis. To complete it you will select three brief written works (between approximately 1,000 and 10,000 words) by the same author.* You will examine the chosen works and provide insight into their stylistic features. You then will make an overarching statement addressing what these texts collectively reveal about the author's stylistic patterns. This assignment gives students the opportunity to examine meaningful authors and analyze their works to ascertain how they function stylistically.

* It is possible instead to select one long work (>10,000 words). Contact the instructor if you would prefer this option.

Deliverables

Presentation

Each student will mobilize his or her research process by composing a class presentation of approximately 10 minutes. Presentations should do the following:

1. Identify the chosen author and discuss his or her salience
2. Discuss concretely how the three chosen works reflect course stylistic concepts
3. Characterize the author's overall style based on his or her use of stylistic features in the chosen works

Presentations are intended to be part of each student's research process; they are not expected to be showcases of completed analyses. Because of this, presentations will be scheduled in advance to occur during September and October before final analyses are due. No more than two students will present during any class period. Students will have access to the instructor station and should use it to show real examples of stylistic features drawn from the chosen works. A brief Q&A opportunity will follow each presentation.

Analysis

Each student will produce a written analysis of approximately 1,500 words in MLA format. The analysis should be divided into the following parts:

1. A brief (1–2 paragraphs) section that identifies the chosen author and discusses his or her salience. This section should culminate in a thesis.
2. A section for each of the three chosen works that summarizes it, explains its rhetorical situation, and concretely identifies how specific course concepts appear in the text (using references where appropriate).
3. A discussion that characterizes the author's overall style based upon his or her use of stylistic features in the selected works. This should connect with the thesis.
4. A Works Cited section containing a bibliography of cited materials.

Final analyses are due by Oct. 31 but may be submitted sooner.