Essay Project #2: Literary Argument Essay

Course: LIT2000 — Introduction to Literature

Purpose

This essay moves beyond close reading into argument. You will take a clear position about a literary work and support it with textual evidence and reasoning.

Your goal is not only to interpret the text, but to defend a claim about its meaning, significance, or effect.

Essay Requirements

· Length: 1,000–1,250 words

· Sources: At least 2–3 (text + optional scholarly support)

· Format: MLA (double-spaced, 12-point font, Works Cited)

· Quotes: At least 3 well-integrated quotations

Text Options

Choose one or more texts from our course readings, including:

· Oedipus the King

· The Cask of Amontillado

· The Raven

· Shakespeare’s Sonnets (18 or 29)

· The Story of an Hour

· The Yellow Wallpaper

· Poetry from Week 4

· You may choose additional texts with instructor approval

Choose an Argument Approach

Option 1: Interpretive Argument

Make a strong claim about what the text means or how it works.

Example: The narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” is not simply descending into madness, but revealing the consequences of enforced intellectual repression.

Option 2: Thematic Argument

Argue what the text suggests about a broader idea.

Example: “The Story of an Hour” presents freedom not as liberation alone, but as a destabilizing force.

Option 3: Comparative Argument

Compare two texts to make a larger claim.

Example: Poe and Shakespeare both explore the fragility of beauty, but arrive at opposite conclusions about its permanence.

Expectations

· Clear, arguable thesis (not summary)

· Focused body paragraphs (ICED structure encouraged)

· Explanation of evidence (not just quotes)

· Consideration of alternative interpretations

· Formal academic tone

Instructor Note:

This essay is where your voice becomes more assertive. You are not just explaining the text—you are entering a conversation about it.

Ask yourself: What is my claim, and why should someone else believe it?

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