DESCRIPTION OF THE ESSAY

The Essay Option involves the research, composition, shaping and polishing of a 30-40 page essay that poses a significant literary question and sustains for its duration a strong and clearly argued thesis. Successful essays should demonstrate critical skill in analyzing and interpreting literature and in using evidence from close reading of carefully chosen primary and secondary texts. The key to success lies in defining a workable, focused topic in which the student has a firm grounding and on which he or she is prepared to work independently over an extended period. A Comps essay should demonstrate: a broad and deep grasp of primary texts; a thorough knowledge of the literary era and milieu in which chosen authors worked; a familiarity with relevant and influential secondary sources, including criticism; and an established sense of the essay-writer’s own critical perspective.

The Essay: What to write on?

If you don’t already have some idea, you should probably take the exam. Here are some possible lines of inquiry:

1. Study selected writers or texts from a particular literary period, or compare and contrast two periods, in terms of a well-focused issue: e.g. how time or space is represented in specific texts from different literary periods, or the relation between literature and science, or the development of a genre.

2. Demonstrate the value of historical context, biographical information, or genre theory in relation to specific literary texts.

3. Explore the relationship between a writer’s theories and his or her literary practice.

4. Examine the narrative or poetic techniques of two or more authors who form a relevant combination (i.e.: don’t pick texts or authors without a persuasive reason for discussing them in relation to one another).

5. Assess the value of a particular theoretical approach in terms of different literary texts.

NB: though non-English language texts can form a part (perhaps up to one-third) of your project, your essay should discuss mainly texts written in English. In focusing your topic, consider your academic background and your interests. Read over the proposals and essays from previous years on reserve in the library (look under English 400). Consult with English Department faculty for help in formulating your ideas, doing preliminary research, and crafting your proposal.


Essay: The Proposal

In order to undertake the Essay Option you must submit a Proposal demonstrating both the value of the project as an integrative exercise and your credentials for undertaking it. This Proposal should contain:
i) a definition of your topic;

ii) a precise statement of both the question you intend to ask and your working answer to it—your working thesis;

iii) an assessment of the importance and significance of your proposed paper (i.e., why will this be a productive study? what will you tell us that we don’t already know? why should anyone care?);

iv) an account of the evidence and approaches you will use to answer the question you’ve raised;

v) a demonstration of how this project will serve as a capstone experience for your major (i.e. what have you done during your major that prepares you to tackle it?)

vi) a bibliography of relevant materials (primary and secondary), indicating which of them you have already read and which you have yet to read.

The Proposal should be at least five pages long, excluding the bibliography. Essay Proposals that do not display extensive and thoughtful preparation will not be accepted. If you wish to write an essay, we strongly suggest that you begin researching your project over the summer between the junior and senior years.


Essay: What does a successful Comps Essay look like?

The successful essay will advance, with interpretive flair, a strong, interesting thesis in response to a pertinent literary question or uncertainty; it will effectively situate its argument in relevant critical and literary historical contexts; it will support its thesis and subsidiary claims with substantive research; and it will be designed, written, and revised for effectiveness and clarity.


Creative Essay:

Though the English department generally describes its options for Comps under the heading of the Essay and the Exam, we have occasionally over the years approved student proposals for submitting creative work (typically, fiction or poetry) as a form of Essay Comps. As with the Essay, the opportunity to do creative work for Comps depends on your having a proposal approved by the department. In addition to following the general guidelines and deadlines for Essay Comps, a proposal for Creative Comps must include:

i) a persuasive rationale for the project;

ii) a clear definition of its nature, scope, and possible directions;

iii) an explanation of its aesthetic and technical aims;

iv) a demonstration of how this project will serve as a capstone experience for your major (i.e. what have you done during your major that prepares you to tackle it? N.B.: a creative writing class [not necessarily taken at Carleton] is a prerequisite);

v) several pages of the creative work already in progress;

vi) a bibliography (where appropriate) of relevant materials (primary and secondary), indicating which of them you have already read and which you have yet to read.

In addition to the creative work itself, the completed project must also include a “writer’s statement:” an analytical essay of 12-15 pages that effectively discusses the aims, effects, and implications of the creative work and situates it within relevant considerations of form or literary history.

CALENDAR AND DEADLINES

FALL TERM

October 13: Proposals due in English office by noon. You will be notified shortly thereafter as to whether, after review by the department, your Proposal has been accepted, accepted pending revision, or rejected. If your proposal is accepted pending revision, you will have two weeks (from its return) in which to revise it. If the revised proposal is not accepted, you will register for the Exam Option. If your proposal is accepted, you will be placed into either English 400-1 or English 400-2 for Winter Term. Your faculty advisor in this course will schedule group meetings and individual appointments.

WINTER TERM

January 9: 10-page draft due to advisor

February 8 at 5:00 p.m.: Full draft due to advisor

March 11: Final essay due in English office by 5 p.m. (2 copies)

N.B.: All deadlines must be met. If the first ten pages or the first full draft are not submitted on time or are not deemed by the departmental review process to be acceptable, the student will not be permitted to proceed with the essay. If deadlines for the final essay are not met, the student will be asked to withdraw from Engl 400 and will not graduate on time.