ENC 1102 Valencia College LITERARY ARGUMENT SYNTHESIS ESSAY What is a Synthesis, and Why Synthesize? To synthesize means to juxtapose (put elements side-by-side for comparison) and combine separate elements that share common threads to form a coherent whole. We draw conclusions from, make observations about, and show connections between points that support a central claim through the examination process of synthesizing. When writing a literary argument synthesis, you will attempt to make sense of a literary text of your choice by examining literary criticism (scholarship) in the context of the argument you make about your chosen literary text. The ability to synthesize is an important skill because we are continuously bombarded with a dizzying variety of information and opinions that need to be sorted and assessed. Moreover, it is always valuable and useful to know what scholars have to say about a topic to enhance and hone your own understanding and argument. Literary Argument Synthesis Goals: A Literary Argument Synthesis Essay makes an arguable claim about a literary text that is reinforced by both your own supporting points and the secondary, literary source you find. Your goals are to: 1) Offer your reader opinions, analysis, and ideas through your literary argument about one literary text that he/she may not have thought of before you pointed them out. 2) Provide your own thoughtful analysis of literary criticism/scholarship about your chosen literary text; the literary criticism/scholarship you analyze and include in your essay will work to complement and support your own argument about your chosen text. You may end up adding entirely new thoughts and/or perspectives concerning your examination of your chosen literary text and/or extending and developing an already established argument about the literary text that you have discovered in the literary criticism/scholarship that you have found. 3) Include ONE secondary, literary scholarly source in your Synthesis (see below for possible ways to use sources). You will later have the choice to make this literary argument synthesis essay the foundation of your Final Literary Argument Research Essay. You do not have to use this essay as the foundation of your final essay, but you do have that option. Therefore, think very carefully about the literary text you choose to write about for this essay because the goal is to expand it into your Final Literary Argument Research Essay. Literary Argument Synthesis Essay Directions: 1) For this essay, choose ONE short story or drama, or TWO to THREE poems (you may choose ONE poem if it’s long enough), from our LIT book (including those covered in class). Remember, your choice must be able to sustain the length of this essay AND the length of the course’s final essay since you will most likely be using this essay as the foundation of your final essay (again, you may write a new essay for the course’s final essay if you choose, but most students use this synthesis essay as the foundation of their final essay by expanding and developing it further). 2) TOPIC CHOICES: You will focus on a specific aspect about your one chosen literary text from the bulleted list below and assert an arguable claim about that specific aspect. An arguable claim about how the text achieves or realizes a reoccurring theme** An arguable claim about a character’s role (function, importance), motivations, behaviors, and/or interactions with others, and the impact it/they has/have on the text as a whole (if you choose this topic, you may not use your Character Analysis essay; you must write a new essay.) An arguable claim about the writer’s purpose and how the text achieves the writer’s purpose** An arguable claim about the role (function, importance) of the narrative’s (or narrator’s) point-ofview or the role of the speaker (in a poem), and the impact it has on the text as a whole An arguable claim about how any of the following specific literary elements function in the text and why they are important to the overall text: symbolism, imagery, dialogue, tone/mood, setting, props, stage directions, diction (word choice, figurative language such as metaphors and similes), structure, conflict(s), flashbacks/flashforwards, foreshadowing, and/or irony** An arguable claim about the application of a theory (like feminism or psychoanalysis) OR the historical and/or cultural time period in which the text was written and the time period’s effect or influence on the text as a whole **Keep in mind that many literary elements will work together to achieve some united purpose; many times this purpose will be to reveal or emphasize a reoccurring theme or the writer’s overarching purpose. 3) When constructing your thesis, remember that it MUST be an arguable claim about your chosen literary text. For example, below are three statements, but only ONE is a strong thesis statement that contains an argument: NO: Moby-Dick is about the problem of uncertainty. Too vague. NO: Moby-Dick is about a big, white whale. States a fact rather than an argument. YES: The multiple instances of white imagery in Moby-Dick illustrate the uncertainty and blankness about the life that Ishmael struggles with throughout the novel. Why is this a stronger thesis statement? It identifies a literary element (imagery), & intends to apply it to Ishmael’s life struggles (uncertainty/blankness) 4) You MUST defend/support your arguable claim with evidence drawn from the literary text, with support drawn from literary criticism/scholarly research, AND your analysis of both. Ways to apply YOUR analysis: Your analysis of direct quotations from the literary text; Your analysis of summaries and/or paraphrases of relevant plot elements, Your analysis of a scholar’s opinion (secondary, literary scholarly research), and when applicable, including direct quotes from the your secondary, literary scholarly source. When/if applicable, your analysis of historical and/or social contexts or theoretical applications. Remember, don’t let the quotes speak for you; rather, they should complement and support your analysis. 5) You MUST use ONLY ONE secondary, literary scholarly source (the primary source you use will be your chosen literary text that you are writing about). You have two main options for how to use your secondary, literary scholarly source: It can be a book/e-book or journal article/essay that discusses your chosen literary text in the context of your argument. This means that your secondary source may address your central argument holistically, and/or it can address a specific supporting point or multiple supporting points of your argument. It can be a book/e-book or journal article/essay that discusses the historical and/or cultural context of or theoretical application on your chosen literary text. Just remember that the historical and/or cultural context or theoretical application must be relevant to the argument you’re making. You will also include a Works Cited page (bibliography) that includes BOTH your primary literary text and your secondary, literary scholarly source. This means that your Works Cited page will have TWO bibliographic entries. Secondary, Literary Scholarly Source Requirements: You may choose one from the following types of sources for this assignment: 1) Books; 2) E-books; and/or 3) Articles/Essays from scholarly journals (either print or found through Valencia Library’s online databases). *****ABSOLUTELY NO internet sources under ANY circumstances.***** Getting Started… 1) So, what do you write about? Consider the many texts we have read for class. Review the multiple themes, literary elements, characters, the text’s message(s), historical and/or cultural commentaries, the role of the setting, etc. that function in the text. 2) Narrow your argument to an examination of one focus within your chosen text (see above for the types of argument options). You will then present a clear statement of your argument, why it is important, and the general supporting points/reasons that you plan to address to prove your argument. Your body paragraphs will then address how your argument functions (i.e. the supporting points); the how will then lead you to why your argument is important to the text overall. 3) Remember that a Literary Argument Synthesis does not merely assert an opinion about the literary text; it presents an argument, and that argument must be backed up by strong support from both the literary text (direct quotes accompanied by analysis) and the secondary, literary scholarly source you include (direct quotes accompanied by analysis). Your analysis of both the literary text and your secondary, literary scholarly source should persuade your readers that your argument is valid. You WILL need to rely heavily on direct quotations from your chosen literary text, direct quotations from your secondary, literary scholarly source, and your analysis of both that relate DIRECTLY back to your argument. Miscellaneous Requirements/Information: This essay must be written using MLA formatting. Please see the document entitled, “Formatting Guidelines for Formal ENC 1102 Essays,” posted in Unit 3’s content folder for specific formatting instructions. This essay must be 1050-1300 words. I will not accept essays less than 1050 words (you may go over the limit by 150 words). Don’t forget to include the word count at the end (excluding MLA header, heading, title, & Works Cited page). Don’t forget to title your essay, as well as include the author’s full name and title of the primary, literary text in your introduction (refer to the author of the primary, literary text by last name thereafter). You do NOT need to include the title/author of the secondary, literary scholarly source in the introduction. Don’t forget a Works Cited page/bibliography, and your in-text/parenthetical citations must be MLA-formatted. Sample Student Literary Argument Synthesis essays are posted in Unit 3’s content folder for your review. Please note that reviewing the “Peer Review Checklist-Literary Argument Synthesis Essay” is a great document to use to ensure that your essay contains all of the necessary elements! Note: When submitted, your final essay will first go to Safe Assign and then be delivered to me. This essay is worth 155 points. Don’t forget to proofread and edit CAREFULLY. Draft of Literary Argument Synthesis Essay for In-Class Peer Review is due by Thursday, April 14. Final Literary Argument Synthesis Essay is due by 11pm on Sunday, April 17. Reminder of Late Work Policy: I will accept your Final Literary Argument Synthesis Essay up to three (3) days after it is due (by 11pm on day 3 after the assignment’s due date), but I will subtract an automatic 15 points, starting the essay at 90%. This assignment’s dropbox will remain open for late submission until 11pm on Wednesday, April 20.
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