Reading responses will be 500 words in length (about two pages) and must be in correct MLA format. (A Works Cited page is not required.) The focus of the reading responses is not on summarizing the text, but about critical analysis of it: you can discuss the progression of a character, the relevance of a theme, a symbol, or motif, or even compare and contrast the reading to other readings in the course. Please do not focus on your personal feelings about the text. While those reactions can be useful, they need to serve a more critical purpose: for instance, if you were repulsed by a character, examine why you felt that way.
The most important thing to remember about this assignment is that it is NOT a book report: this assignment is focused on critical analysis (also known as a “close reading”) of a text. While it is recommended that you use the terms and concepts we have discussed in the course, it is not a quiz to see how well you know the terms. These assignments are thesis-driven, short analyses of a literary work that are designed to help you determine what subject you wish to write about in your papers.
