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Goal:  analysis of a collection of works to include research about the author in at least 750 words.

·         “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner,

·         “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner,

·          â€œSalvation” by Langston Hughes,

·         “ Harlem” by Langston Hughes,

·         “The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes

·         “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes

·         “I, Too” by Langston Hughes

·          â€œA Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

·         “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor

·         “Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor

You will make six connections, which will translate into six body paragraphs (see “tentative outline” handout).  To support your major points, you will provide evidence.  Thus, you must directly quote from each selection your evidence; each of your six body paragraphs will include at least one direct quote from your evidence (story or poem) AND  at least one direct quote from your outside source.  So that you will have a total of twelve direct quotes, two for each of your six body paragraphs.  A minimum of two outside sources are required for this essay.  You must use at least two sources from the library’s database (NY TIMES is acceptable).  Remember that the story(ies) are its own source and will need to be included in your WORKS CITED page. Follow MLA.

 Your introduction will include the title and author of your selected work and any necessary background information about the author. Engage the reader; take a stand, or make a judgment.  Your THESIS STATEMENT will be phrased as an arguable claim.  This means that you WILL NOT write a thesis statement that outlines your four major points.  For instance, if your six major points reveal something about race, class, gender, society, family, relationships, love, violence – all the broad universal themes of being human, then state that, claim that, own that!  WOW!  You’ve got some thesis statement to craft, and it may not happen until after you hammer out your six points of connections. 

 Each of your six body paragraphs will include a first sentence that is your major point – your topic sentence. Each body paragraph will include at least two direct quotes.  Follow MLA.

 Your conclusion will be a grand statement.  What is YOUR point of view concerning this writer?  What can YOU say about how writing served this writer’s life?  BE BOLD!  BE CONFIDENT.  MAKE YOUR CLAIM & DARE US TO DISAGREE WITH YOU!

Major Essay Three Checklist

·  Essay should be 8 paragraphs (intro, 6 connection paragraphs, and conclusion)

·  Each connection paragraph should start by clearly stating the connection. For example: William Falkner’s southern roots clearly influenced his literature.

·  Each paragraph should have at minimum TWO direct quotes. One quote should be from an outside (academic/library) source and the other is from the literature. An example of an outside source quote would be William Faulkner “was born in Oxford, Mississippi” (Author #). An example of a quote from the literature would be Miss Emily was from Mississippi as well as reflected when Faulkner writes “See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in Jefferson” (Faulkner #).

·  Your thesis statement should go at the end of the intro paragraph and reflect not only the 6 connections you are making but also the bigger theme. For example, Flannery O’Connors life influenced her work in these ways (your connections) to show __________________________ (the point of her literature).

·  Every connection paragraph should start by clearly establishing the connection. For example if your first point of connection between Langston Hughes’ life and his literature is religion, your first line would look like this: Langston Hughes’ views on religion greatly influenced his literature.

·  Every connection paragraph should also end with a transition sentence. For example you would write: Not only did religion influenced Hughes’ work, his family dynamics did as well.

·  Remember each quote is worth 5 points! That means your quotes are worth 60 points in this paper. If you do not include them the best you can do on this paper is 40%

·  Your outside research is the biographic information about your author. The literature research is from the stories in the textbook

·  Don’t forget to use MLA format.

·  Title your essay

·  Start your intro with an attention grabber!

This is a partial paper submitted by a student who did an excellent job!

            Flannery O’Connor was and still can be considered as one of the most creative, southern and gothic writers of all time.  Infused with a rich southern culture and a devout catholic upbringing along with overwhelming life experiences, it can be presumed that her writing is a mere reflection of her life.  Born (Mary) Flannery O’Connor on March 25, 1925 in Savannah, Georgia she can easily be classified as the “classic southern writer” of her time, but this is not the case.  Flannery O’Connor’s collection of literary perfection is heavily manipulated by her personal life.  Influenced by her southern environment, catholic upbringing, familial relations, racism, and sudden illness; she portrays the hard hitting realities of life within her stories in ways that no other writer can (A bit vague of a thesis). NOTE: The second major essay asks for 4 connections. The third major essay needs 6 connections. Your thesis will need to reflect either 4 or 6 connections depending upon which essay you are working on!

            As one begins to read O’Connor’s vast collection of literature it can be realized that most of her stories are structured around the southern routes of the United States.  Being born in the “deep south,” this environment is one in which O’Connor is familiar with and can easily relate to.  Britannica Concise Encyclopedia states, “She spent most of her life on her mother’s farm in Milledgeville, Georgia…she usually sets her work in the rural south” (Britannica Concise Encyclopedia par 1).  Consequently, as one begins to read one of her short stories entitled “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” they come across a similar southern environment.  Within the story, O’Conner’s characters are situated within the familiar setting of Atlanta, Georgia and is indicated by the quote, “…they left Atlanta at eight forty-five with the mileage on the car at 55890” (O’Connor 300).  After reading through O’Connor’s collection, it is evident that she finds comfort in the southern settings.  Her familiarity and knowledge of the south allows her to correlate the elements of each setting and provide the reader with a number of vivid details and picturesque ensembles.  This however, was not the only source of O’Connor’s inspiration; Catholicism was another major factor.

            Catholicism played a great role in O’Connor’s literary prowess.  Although it is not directly addressed in all of her stories, she does however display one religious aspect in all of them – “Grace.”  She believed that grace is a divine intervention and can only be received through a direct confrontation with evil.  Ralph C. Wood, in his article stated that, “Her work has a deep congruence with the theology of Benedict XVI and its claim that the natural order is never autonomous but always and already graced” (Wood par 1).  This statement simply implies that O’Connor believes and exhibits, through her work, that one cannot choose their outcome.  This also tells readers that, the violence within her stories are mere depictions of the natural order of life in which one must confront their sins and receives grace (a revelation of truth) by offering the ultimate sacrifice; their own lives or the lives of someone close to them.  This is evident within the story “Everything That Rises Must Converge” as the main character (Julian) comes to grace as his mother dies.  “The tide of darkness seemed to sweep him back to her, postponing from moment to moment his entry into the world of guilt and sorrow” (O’Connor 333).  When compared to O’Connor’s other literary pieces it can be noted that all of her main characters undergo a similar revelation due to a similar cause.  As previously mentioned, O’Connor had a Catholic upbringing which was heavily influenced by her parents, but her parents also had a direct influence on her writing as well.  This is revealed within the familial relations of her characters.

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