Category: English

Prompt

Write a 1500-2000 word essay that presents and develops a cohesive argument about at least one film: Thor: Ragnarok. You may also choose to conduct a comparative analysis of elements from both films.

A successful essay will present, develop, and support an arguable claim about how and why you are analyzing the film. Analysis is an act of interpretation, which is a form of argument. Provide evidence to support your analysis and convince your readers that your analysis is persuasive. Body paragraphs should include clear, substantive analysis of evidence as well as explanations about why those details and your analysis support your main argument. Concrete details include character development, plot, theme, dialogue, sound, visual composition, film techniques and camera movements, the set and scenery, and actors costumes and mannerisms. Smoothly integrate evidence by embedding quotes and/or by unpacking visuals with vivid and succinct details.

You must move beyond a denotative reading (e.g. surface) and persuade your audience that your interpretation of connotations (e.g. subsurface, subtext) is compelling. The body paragraphs and conclusion should also endeavor to answer the so what? question. In other words, why is it important that we read your analysis? What insights are you offering, and why do they matter? Spoiler alert: your insights DO matter, so practice articulating your insights and explaining the reasons why your insights matter. See the section below for some tips about developing significance.

Also, your essay must cite from and engage with at least one of the assigned readings from our unit on analyzing films.

Potential Topics

In order to address the following topics, your analysis may engage with concepts of race, gender, sexuality, and/or other identity categories. Please use the readings from The Signs of Life to help you talk about those identity categories.

• Create an argument that analyzes one or more characters in relation to Linda Segers discussion of the hero myth and/or the healing myth.

Reminder: No AI Allowed at Any Stage of the Writing Process

Make sure you form your own analysis instead of relying on an AI to brainstorm or develop ideas. I recommend brainstorming on your own with just your class notes and the assigned readings for help. If you get stuck, ask questions in class, or visit Student Meeting/Office Hours, or go to the ARC.

Additional Requirements

• 1500-2000
• Original essay title that is related to your analysis
• Analysis of concrete details from Thor: Ragnarok
• Citations from and engagement with at least one of our assigned readings from the film unit
• You may choose to conduct outside research if needed, but make sure you cite carefully.
• MLA formatting
• Correct grammar, syntax, and punctuation
• Works Cited page

Tips on How to Answer the So What? Question

There are multiple ways to develop significance. Here are some questions to help you generate ideas. You do not need to answer all of these questions.

• Sometimes significance is personal (what something means to you).
• Sometimes significance is about the text (for example, why is a certain characters arc important for analyzing the movie as a whole? Or, what does focusing on one theme help us understand about the film as a whole? Or, how do visual strategies like composition and editing help us understand something about the film as a whole?).
• Sometimes significance is about a shift in genre expectations, which sometimes relate to larger trends or concerns in our society. To provide one example of what this could look like for an essay analyzing a characters heroic journey: what does your characters heroic journey mean within a greater context, such as other Marvel movies, or other Science Fiction movies, or their release dates (Thor in 2017)
• Sometimes significance is about what the text demonstrates about American culture. How can analyzing details from the film help you make a larger claim about what the film demonstrates in terms of an American cultural myth or value? Perhaps an enduring myth, or maybe youll be asking: what does it mean to watch your chosen movie(s) now in 2026?

Tips for Analyzing Film

• Here is a link to our document
• Here is a link to . That document includes:
• Answers to a FAQ: How do I cite a film?
• An example of film analysis that relies on character archetypes and plot points
• An example of a film analysis that uses shots, camera angles, composition, lighting, etc.

rewrite all of these including the photos( change the size of the photos into biggera bit ), follow the instructions,rubric and steps,and parts of the essay assignment,write the details foreach date includingwhat they required for each date include weather, etc,best grammerand vocab,2000 words, 3 references(NCM)without AI and plagiarism, exaplin everythin clearly,deeperdetailed,specificand perfectlyeverything, follow the instructionsand rubric please !!!

rewrite all of these including the photos( change the size of the photos into biggera bit ), follow the instructions,rubric and steps,and parts of the essay assignment,write the details foreach date includingwhat they required for each date include weather, etc,best grammerand vocab,2000 words, 3 references(NCM)without AI and plagiarism, exaplin everythin clearly,deeperdetailed,specificand perfectlyeverything, follow the instructionsand rubric please !!!

Create a literary analysis of Fences by August Wilson. Develop a sharply focused research question that centers on authorial choices and construct a clear, arguable thesis that directly answers it; organize your essay logically with purposeful paragraphs that each begin with a precise analytical claim, integrate concise and well-chosen textual evidence, and move beyond summary by explaining how specific techniques (such as structure, imagery, symbolism, diction, characterization, or dialogue) function and why they are significant to the works larger meaning; maintain a consistently formal academic tone, ensure your argument remains tightly aligned to the research question throughout, demonstrate perceptive and independent interpretation rather than obvious observations, use smooth transitions to show coherence, and conclude by reinforcing how your analysis deepens understanding of the text as a wholewhile staying within the 1,500-word limit and prioritizing depth of analysis over breadth of coverage.

Applied Biblical Studies Exercises – ABS (CLO: 1 and 3) 20%. For each book of the Minor Prophets, you will be asked to submit a 1-page biblical studies summary of the book. The summary will consist of (1) a brief statement on the main theme of the book; (2) a brief statement on the time of composition; (3) a brief statement to whom the prophecy was directed (the audience); (4) a brief outline of the book; and (5) a bibliography of the source(s) used. You may only consult the sources on the list following (all the sources at the Smith Library have been placed on reserve for this course). You will submit your exercises through Moodle. At the end you will have a summary page on all twelve books that will serve you well in your future ministry. The sources you may use are: a) Your textbook b) Shank, Harold. Minor Prophets v. 1 (Smith Library) c) Hahlen, Mark Allen. Minor Prophets v.2 (Smith Library) d) McComiskey, Thomas Edward. The Minor Prophets (all three volumes) (Smith Library) e) Boice, James Montgomery. The Minor Prophets (Smith Library) f) Calvin, John. The Minor Prophets (Smith Library) g) Achtemeier, Elizabeth. Minor Prophets / (eBook) h) Goldingay, John. Minor Prophets II (eBook) i) Longman, Tremper. Old Testament Commentary Survey (eBook) j) IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (eBook) k) Limburg, James. Hosea-Micah (eBook) Baker, David. Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (eBook) m) Barton, John. Joel and Obadiah: A Commentary (eBook) n) Jeremias, Jorg. The Book of Amos (eBook) 0) Baker, David. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (eBook) p) Petterson, Anthony R. Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi (eBook)

Applied Biblical Studies Exercises – ABS (CLO: 1 and 3) 20%. For each book of the Minor Prophets, you will be asked to submit a 1-page biblical studies summary of the book. The summary will consist of (1) a brief statement on the main theme of the book; (2) a brief statement on the time of composition; (3) a brief statement to whom the prophecy was directed (the audience); (4) a brief outline of the book; and (5) a bibliography of the source(s) used. You may only consult the sources on the list following (all the sources at the Smith Library have been placed on reserve for this course). You will submit your exercises through Moodle. At the end you will have a summary page on all twelve books that will serve you well in your future ministry. The sources you may use are: a) Your textbook b) Shank, Harold. Minor Prophets v. 1 (Smith Library) c) Hahlen, Mark Allen. Minor Prophets v.2 (Smith Library) d) McComiskey, Thomas Edward. The Minor Prophets (all three volumes) (Smith Library) e) Boice, James Montgomery. The Minor Prophets (Smith Library) f) Calvin, John. The Minor Prophets (Smith Library) g) Achtemeier, Elizabeth. Minor Prophets / (eBook) h) Goldingay, John. Minor Prophets II (eBook) i) Longman, Tremper. Old Testament Commentary Survey (eBook) j) IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (eBook) k) Limburg, James. Hosea-Micah (eBook) Baker, David. Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (eBook) m) Barton, John. Joel and Obadiah: A Commentary (eBook) n) Jeremias, Jorg. The Book of Amos (eBook) 0) Baker, David. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (eBook) p) Petterson, Anthony R. Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi (eBook)

Essay #2 will focus on literary critics ideas only (not your personal opinions).

This assignment teaches you how to:

• locate peer-reviewed scholarly articles,
• summarize critics arguments,
• synthesize multiple sources around a shared topic,
• and document everything using correct MLA style.

Length: 7501000 words

Choose one short story from “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu; Then write an essay where you explain what several critics are saying about one specific topic related to that story.

You are not interpreting the story yourself.

You are showing that you can understand and explain published scholarship about the story.

-What to Do

Ask:

• What are critics interested in?
• What idea or symbol do many scholars keep returning to?
• What debate or focus seems to appear across multiple articles?

Some examples of common critical topics:

• symbolism (quilts, setting, mirrors, photographs)
• identity (race, culture, gender, heritage)
• trauma, memory, silence
• narrative structure
• time
• stereotypes & representation
• family conflict
• coming-of-age themes

(Choose whatever topic your articles point you toward. The articles dictate the topic, not you. Think of it like a treasure hunt!)

-Write an Essay Based on Three Critics

For this assignment, you will:

Choose one story

Find three scholarly articles that analyze the same topic

Explain what each critic argues

Show how their ideas connect (similarities or differences in emphasis)

Do NOT add your own interpretation of the story

The research leads the papernot your personal opinion.

=> find thesis and three topic sentences and critics

Essay Organization

Use the following structure to keep your paper clear and focused:

Introduction

• Introduce the topic with a personal connection.
• Transition to the topic in literature and the short story (author + title)
• End with a thesis that:
• names the three critics
• and states the shared topic they all analyze.

Body Paragraphs

Write one paragraph per critic:

• Summarize their argument fairly and accurately.
• What is the critics main claim?
• What evidence or reasoning do they use?
• How does their approach contribute to understanding the shared topic?
• Integrate 2 quotes in each paragraph, but mostly focus on explaining their ideas in your own words (with citations).

Conclusion

• Summarize what the three critics collectively help readers understand.
• Make meaningful personal connection or reflection on why this topic matters.

Requirements Checklist

• Length: 7501000 words
• Use three peer-reviewed scholarly sources
• Use MLA citations (in-text + Works Cited page)
• Summarize/paraphrase/quote accurately and ethically
• Do not give your own interpretation of the storys meaning

Essay #2 will focus on literary critics ideas only (not your personal opinions).

This assignment teaches you how to:

• locate peer-reviewed scholarly articles,
• summarize critics arguments,
• synthesize multiple sources around a shared topic,
• and document everything using correct MLA style.

Length: 7501000 words

Choose one short story from “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu; Then write an essay where you explain what several critics are saying about one specific topic related to that story.

You are not interpreting the story yourself.

You are showing that you can understand and explain published scholarship about the story.

-What to Do

Ask:

• What are critics interested in?
• What idea or symbol do many scholars keep returning to?
• What debate or focus seems to appear across multiple articles?

Some examples of common critical topics:

• symbolism (quilts, setting, mirrors, photographs)
• identity (race, culture, gender, heritage)
• trauma, memory, silence
• narrative structure
• time
• stereotypes & representation
• family conflict
• coming-of-age themes

(Choose whatever topic your articles point you toward. The articles dictate the topic, not you. Think of it like a treasure hunt!)

-Write an Essay Based on Three Critics

For this assignment, you will:

Choose one story

Find three scholarly articles that analyze the same topic

Explain what each critic argues

Show how their ideas connect (similarities or differences in emphasis)

Do NOT add your own interpretation of the story

The research leads the papernot your personal opinion.

=> find thesis and three topic sentences and critics

Essay Organization

Use the following structure to keep your paper clear and focused:

Introduction

• Introduce the topic with a personal connection.
• Transition to the topic in literature and the short story (author + title)
• End with a thesis that:
• names the three critics
• and states the shared topic they all analyze.

Body Paragraphs

Write one paragraph per critic:

• Summarize their argument fairly and accurately.
• What is the critics main claim?
• What evidence or reasoning do they use?
• How does their approach contribute to understanding the shared topic?
• Integrate 2 quotes in each paragraph, but mostly focus on explaining their ideas in your own words (with citations).

Conclusion

• Summarize what the three critics collectively help readers understand.
• Make meaningful personal connection or reflection on why this topic matters.

Requirements Checklist

• Length: 7501000 words
• Use three peer-reviewed scholarly sources
• Use MLA citations (in-text + Works Cited page)
• Summarize/paraphrase/quote accurately and ethically
• Do not give your own interpretation of the storys meaning

Writing Assignments: Almost all long-form writing for this class will occur outside of regular class-time.

• All papers need to be formally presentedi.e. typed, spell-checked (theres really no excuse anymore), researched, and written for an academic audience. Additional sources should be included when asked for, and all references should be properly cited/documented in MLA format. (This is a literature class: do not use APA.)
• Pay attention to details: if you misspell the name of an author or character, you risk losing my trust in what you have to say about the story as a whole. Sloppy mistakes tell me youre either not paying attention or dont care and if I get that impression, youll get that grade.
• All essays should make use of the text of a short story weve read, not just summarize or paraphrase what has happened. Just as you would precisely quote lines of scripture to make a point about what the Bible says, for example, a secular authors actual words constitute evidence for what you will argue about his/her work. If your essay includes zero quotations from the stories you discuss, expect your grade to be quite low.
• Provide page numbers for quoted material when applicable. All of our stories this semester are paginated, so theyll all require page references when quoting. All your written work should ideally refer to the editions Ive assigned. So, if you quote something found on p. 23 of your text, the same quote needs to be found on p. 23 of my text. (Do not quote the PDF page #; quote the books page #.)
• If you look up something online (such as an authors bio on Wikipedia), make sure you cite what youve researched.

Please be sure to write at least 300 words this week and write about at least two of the three stories.

Cruelty and Spectacle in Meyrink’s “Man in the Bottle”

“Man in the Bottle” is sometimes called a conte cruel, which essentially means cruel tale, and it focuses on how cruelty can sometimes be seen as entertainment when presented as a spectacle. After the count is dropped into the bottle, the partygoers enjoy his torment and ultimate suffocation as though it’s production, and it’s not until they notice the lady in the sedan chair is the princess, gagged and tied, that they realize the truth of what has happened. Relate details of this story to a modern-day example of people (witnesses) watching something horrible happen without intervening (similar to the bystander effect).

Freeman’s Vampire?

Freeman’s Luella Miller does not actually suck blood; she is not immortal, nor does she exhibit any of the superhuman powers sometimes attributed to vampires. Nevertheless, she does seem to zap the life force from every person who attempts to care for her. She proves time and time again that she is utterly helpless and infantile, thus critics have sometimes suggested that this story is less about the supernatural and more a critique of the social structures of women during the late Victorian time period. Upper-class elite women were often encouraged to simply “be beautiful and consume.” Of course, this led to a generation of useless, helpless women, and the work still needed to be done (mostly by an army of servants and help). Therefore, critics have sometimes called Freeman a “Marxist Feminist,” suggesting that her notion of feminism dovetailed with the idea of marxism–“from each, according to his ability.” Clearly, Luella is able but also unwilling. So, what do you think Freeman is suggesting in relation to this idea of feminism? A critique of social classes? Is this a critique of gender roles and the Victorian ideal for women or is this simply a different type of vampire? (Need help? See “Blood Sucking Structures” in weekly module for further reading.)

Delusion or Reality?

In Wells’ “The Door in the Wall,” we hear Lionel Wallace’s story about finding a magical door in a wall as a child. Over the years, he disregards the opportunities to go through the door, choosing instead to continue with his education, career, etc. But, as he ages, he desperately seeks the door, desiring a return to the enchanted garden he experienced as a child. Is this a story of a delusional man? Is this a story about valuing and/or recapturing youth? Is this a story about regret and unmade choices? And, ultimately, do you believe the door really exists?