Essays must incorporate at least two of the three-course readings ( Unca Eliza Winkfield, The Female American, and John Smith, The Generall Historie)and include cited quotations from the readings. An essay by definition consists of a thesis, supporting evidence, and analysis. Essays should have a title that pertains to the argument, i.e. thesis, of the essay; introduction; body; conclusion; and a “Works Cited” page. Essays should be in MLA format, 12-point Times New Roman or similar font, and double-spaced.
Essays may build on students’ reading journals but should focus on one aspect that connects the readings for and through analysis. Students may not use ChatGPT or any other generative AI tool. However, using Grammarly and similar proofreading tools is allowed.
The readings for essay one include a narrative (travel, exploration, and captivity) (nonfiction), a novel (fiction), and an essay (nonfiction). Students’ essays may focus on setting, character, theme, symbol, response, or another aspect, but essays should not attempt to address all these aspects. Essays should focus on one aspect. For comparative essays, students need to provide cohesion and synthesis while addressing similarities and differences.