Literature Analysis Essay on March
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
In an essay of 1000-1250 words, analyze Geraldine Brooks’ novel March, using a
theoretical approach as well as the elements of fiction. Research the theoretical
approach (or approaches) you adopt to support your analysis of the novel. Here are
some theoretical approaches you can choose from:
• Formalist Criticism (New Criticism)
• Deconstructionism
• Reader-Response Criticism
• Archetypal Criticism (Myth Criticism)
• Historical Criticism
• Biographical Criticism
• Marxist Criticism
• New Historical Criticism
• Psychological or Psychoanalytical Criticism
• Gender Criticism (Feminist, and Lesbian and Gay Criticism)
2
• Post-Colonialism
• Eco-Criticism
• Critical Race Theory
Why are we doing this?
This essay assignment asks you to compose an analysis of the novel, using a theoretical
approach with primary and secondary sources. The assignment highlights the
Learning Outcomes and Objectives for ENGWR 301: Upon completion of this
course, students will be able to:
• analyze the cultural and historical contexts of literary works.
• reason inductively from examples, patterns, and structures to form
generalizations.
• reason deductively by drawing conclusions about literary works.
• compose a thesis-driven argument of interpretation or evaluation and support it
with textual evidence, using a sufficient variety and number of appropriate
examples.
• compare opposing interpretations by literary scholars.
Length Requirement
• 1000-1250 words (1000 minimum, which is about 3-4 pages when formatted
according to MLA guidelines).
• Note: Because of the curriculum’s word requirement for ENGWR 301, only papers
that meet the assigned minimum number of words will receive points. Only the
number of your words within the text of the paper—excluding the heading, title,
quotes, and works cited page—count. Revisions will be accepted if needed.
Source Requirements
• Refer to and use quotes from the novel, March, your primary source.
• Refer to, paraphrase, and use quotes from at least three secondary sources.
o You may use some (or none) of the sources about March provided on the
modules page
3
o In addition to the sources provided on the modules page, also research
and include at least one source you locate through the ARC library
databases. This library source can be about the theoretical approach(es)
you decide to use or any other topic useful for developing your essay.
The databases are available on the Library homepage:
https://arc.losrios.edu/student-resources/library
• So, to clarify: your works cited page will contain a minimum of four citations,
listing the novel and at least three secondary sources. One of those secondary
sources must be obtained through researching the library databases, and the
other secondary sources can be ones you’ve researched, or you can use the
sources provided on the modules page.
Grading Criteria
The grading rubric attached to the final draft assignment on Canvas will be used for
evaluation.
Tips about Writing Style, Organization, and Sources:
• See Appendix A: Writing about Literature: An Overview of Critical Strategies in
our online textbook, Revel Literature for Composition, for an overview of some of
the theoretical approaches above.
• If you are interested in one of the theoretical approaches listed that is not
covered in the appendix (such as Post-Colonialism, Eco-Criticism, or Critical Race
Theory, the library databases will contain sources that describe them. Using the
title of the theoretical approach and then also using the key word “literature”
might help to narrow down your results. Also, filtering for online only sources
may also help. Remember, you can also chat with a librarian or schedule an
appointment for help.
• If you choose a source that is described in Appendix A in Literature for
Composition, you may also want to research an additional source or two for
more in-depth coverage on the theoretical approach you’re interested in.
• Chapter 4 in Literature for Composition contains helpful instruction for
developing and arguing a thesis.
• Chapter 10 titled “Research: Writing with Resources” contains some helpful
information about integrating sources.
4
• In addition to the resources in our online textbook, see additional resources in
Unit 4: Novel on the Canvas course module page, such as:
o Video: An Introduction to Literary Theory for Essay 4
o Powerpoint: The Elements of Fiction (for short stories and novels)
o Student Sample Essays
o Additional Resources for March
• Your essay should have a discernible introduction, body, and conclusion.
• An explicit thesis sentence included in the introduction is recommended.
• Be sure your body paragraphs contain clear points that support the thesis.
• Include quotes and references to the literature and your other researched
sources to support your points.
• Follow MLA style format and documentation, including a works cited page to
document the sources. (Note: the novel and secondary sources need to be listed
on the Works Cited page, and the list should include a minimum of four sources:
the novel and three secondary sources. See the MLA citation module on Canvas
for help with formatting and documentation).
• To get help locating good sources for your paper, consider asking one of the ARC
librarians for help. I highly recommend taking advantage of their expertise! They
are there to help you! You can drop in the library and ask for help at the research
desk, if you want to go in person. Or you can email or chat with a librarian online
via the library home page: https://arc.losrios.edu/student-resources/library
theoretical approach as well as the elements of fiction. Research the theoretical
approach (or approaches) you adopt to support your analysis of the novel. Here are
some theoretical approaches you can choose from:
• Formalist Criticism (New Criticism)
• Deconstructionism
• Reader-Response Criticism
• Archetypal Criticism (Myth Criticism)
• Historical Criticism
• Biographical Criticism
• Marxist Criticism
• New Historical Criticism
• Psychological or Psychoanalytical Criticism
• Gender Criticism (Feminist, and Lesbian and Gay Criticism)
2
• Post-Colonialism
• Eco-Criticism
• Critical Race Theory
Why are we doing this?
This essay assignment asks you to compose an analysis of the novel, using a theoretical
approach with primary and secondary sources. The assignment highlights the
Learning Outcomes and Objectives for ENGWR 301: Upon completion of this
course, students will be able to:
• analyze the cultural and historical contexts of literary works.
• reason inductively from examples, patterns, and structures to form
generalizations.
• reason deductively by drawing conclusions about literary works.
• compose a thesis-driven argument of interpretation or evaluation and support it
with textual evidence, using a sufficient variety and number of appropriate
examples.
• compare opposing interpretations by literary scholars.
Length Requirement
• 1000-1250 words (1000 minimum, which is about 3-4 pages when formatted
according to MLA guidelines).
• Note: Because of the curriculum’s word requirement for ENGWR 301, only papers
that meet the assigned minimum number of words will receive points. Only the
number of your words within the text of the paper—excluding the heading, title,
quotes, and works cited page—count. Revisions will be accepted if needed.
Source Requirements
• Refer to and use quotes from the novel, March, your primary source.
• Refer to, paraphrase, and use quotes from at least three secondary sources.
o You may use some (or none) of the sources about March provided on the
modules page
3
o In addition to the sources provided on the modules page, also research
and include at least one source you locate through the ARC library
databases. This library source can be about the theoretical approach(es)
you decide to use or any other topic useful for developing your essay.
The databases are available on the Library homepage:
https://arc.losrios.edu/student-resources/library
• So, to clarify: your works cited page will contain a minimum of four citations,
listing the novel and at least three secondary sources. One of those secondary
sources must be obtained through researching the library databases, and the
other secondary sources can be ones you’ve researched, or you can use the
sources provided on the modules page.
Grading Criteria
The grading rubric attached to the final draft assignment on Canvas will be used for
evaluation.
Tips about Writing Style, Organization, and Sources:
• See Appendix A: Writing about Literature: An Overview of Critical Strategies in
our online textbook, Revel Literature for Composition, for an overview of some of
the theoretical approaches above.
• If you are interested in one of the theoretical approaches listed that is not
covered in the appendix (such as Post-Colonialism, Eco-Criticism, or Critical Race
Theory, the library databases will contain sources that describe them. Using the
title of the theoretical approach and then also using the key word “literature”
might help to narrow down your results. Also, filtering for online only sources
may also help. Remember, you can also chat with a librarian or schedule an
appointment for help.
• If you choose a source that is described in Appendix A in Literature for
Composition, you may also want to research an additional source or two for
more in-depth coverage on the theoretical approach you’re interested in.
• Chapter 4 in Literature for Composition contains helpful instruction for
developing and arguing a thesis.
• Chapter 10 titled “Research: Writing with Resources” contains some helpful
information about integrating sources.
4
• In addition to the resources in our online textbook, see additional resources in
Unit 4: Novel on the Canvas course module page, such as:
o Video: An Introduction to Literary Theory for Essay 4
o Powerpoint: The Elements of Fiction (for short stories and novels)
o Student Sample Essays
o Additional Resources for March
• Your essay should have a discernible introduction, body, and conclusion.
• An explicit thesis sentence included in the introduction is recommended.
• Be sure your body paragraphs contain clear points that support the thesis.
• Include quotes and references to the literature and your other researched
sources to support your points.
• Follow MLA style format and documentation, including a works cited page to
document the sources. (Note: the novel and secondary sources need to be listed
on the Works Cited page, and the list should include a minimum of four sources:
the novel and three secondary sources. See the MLA citation module on Canvas
for help with formatting and documentation).
• To get help locating good sources for your paper, consider asking one of the ARC
librarians for help. I highly recommend taking advantage of their expertise! They
are there to help you! You can drop in the library and ask for help at the research
desk, if you want to go in person. Or you can email or chat with a librarian online
via the library home page: https://arc.losrios.edu/student-resources/library