Capstone Essay
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
You will be writing a capstone essay of a minimum of 1,500 words (not including the Works Cited). It is
the formal essay described in the Intensive Writing criteria in the syllabus. You must synthesize at least
two primary texts and two academic sources in this essay.
Choose one of the following Topics:
1. Discuss a literary work as viewed through the lens of a literary theory. The theories are described here:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of
_criticism/index.html
The following topics provide a literary lens through which to view and analyze a work. Use the questions
presented for each lens in the OWL Purdue link to help guide your analysis.
Gender Studies and Queer Theory for analyzing Whitman’s poetry (various poems)
Historical lens for analyzing Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and “What to
the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
Historical lens for analyzing Melville’s Benito Cereno and “The Swamp Angel” or “The
Portent”
Feminist Critical lens for analyzing two or three of the following: Judith Sargent
Murray’s “On the Equality of the Sexes,” Sojourner Truth’s “Speech to the Women’s
Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, 1851,” and Louisa May Alcott’s from Little Women
“Literary Lessons.”
New Historicism, Cultural Studies for analyzing the works of Bradstreet (various poems),
Dickinson (various poems), Thoreau (various works), Melville (Benito Cereno and “The
Portent”
Critical Race Theory for analyzing two of the following: Melville, Douglass, Equiano,
and Jacobs
Postcolonial Criticism for analyzing Benito Cereno and “The Portent”
2. Compare and contrast the power of the autobiographical slave narrative versus fictional literature on
the topic of slavery. You must write on Melville’s Benito Cereno for the fictional work, but select from
these for the autobiographical slave narrative form:
Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Harriet Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Olaudah Equino’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa,
the African, Written by Himself
Discuss the structures and analyze the strength of purpose. (For instance, what is Melville’s purpose in his
novella? What is Douglass’ purpose and reason for his narrative? Is one more convincing or persuasive
than the other? What are the different effects of point of view?)
3. Compare and contrast Bradstreet to Dickinson. Both women are iconic historical American poets.
Examine common themes and styles in their poetry. How do they differ? Why do they remain relevant?
Adhere to the following:
After selection your topic and two primary texts, research academic resources from the EAC
online library database or a physical EAC library. Do NOT Google your resources. Synthesize at
least four sources into your paper. If you select from the first topic, you will have to cite the OWL
Purdue Literary Theory website, so you would have a minimum of five resources.
Write a minimum of 1,500 words and adhere to MLA standards in formatting and style.
Develop your analysis with in-text citations
Use your Norton Anthology for citations
Consider the Learning Outcomes and Performance Standards when writing your paper, since
these are the basis of the rubric for grading your paper
the formal essay described in the Intensive Writing criteria in the syllabus. You must synthesize at least
two primary texts and two academic sources in this essay.
Choose one of the following Topics:
1. Discuss a literary work as viewed through the lens of a literary theory. The theories are described here:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of
_criticism/index.html
The following topics provide a literary lens through which to view and analyze a work. Use the questions
presented for each lens in the OWL Purdue link to help guide your analysis.
Gender Studies and Queer Theory for analyzing Whitman’s poetry (various poems)
Historical lens for analyzing Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and “What to
the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
Historical lens for analyzing Melville’s Benito Cereno and “The Swamp Angel” or “The
Portent”
Feminist Critical lens for analyzing two or three of the following: Judith Sargent
Murray’s “On the Equality of the Sexes,” Sojourner Truth’s “Speech to the Women’s
Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, 1851,” and Louisa May Alcott’s from Little Women
“Literary Lessons.”
New Historicism, Cultural Studies for analyzing the works of Bradstreet (various poems),
Dickinson (various poems), Thoreau (various works), Melville (Benito Cereno and “The
Portent”
Critical Race Theory for analyzing two of the following: Melville, Douglass, Equiano,
and Jacobs
Postcolonial Criticism for analyzing Benito Cereno and “The Portent”
2. Compare and contrast the power of the autobiographical slave narrative versus fictional literature on
the topic of slavery. You must write on Melville’s Benito Cereno for the fictional work, but select from
these for the autobiographical slave narrative form:
Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Harriet Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Olaudah Equino’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa,
the African, Written by Himself
Discuss the structures and analyze the strength of purpose. (For instance, what is Melville’s purpose in his
novella? What is Douglass’ purpose and reason for his narrative? Is one more convincing or persuasive
than the other? What are the different effects of point of view?)
3. Compare and contrast Bradstreet to Dickinson. Both women are iconic historical American poets.
Examine common themes and styles in their poetry. How do they differ? Why do they remain relevant?
Adhere to the following:
After selection your topic and two primary texts, research academic resources from the EAC
online library database or a physical EAC library. Do NOT Google your resources. Synthesize at
least four sources into your paper. If you select from the first topic, you will have to cite the OWL
Purdue Literary Theory website, so you would have a minimum of five resources.
Write a minimum of 1,500 words and adhere to MLA standards in formatting and style.
Develop your analysis with in-text citations
Use your Norton Anthology for citations
Consider the Learning Outcomes and Performance Standards when writing your paper, since
these are the basis of the rubric for grading your paper