Argument:
This assignment will allow you to explore a theme in Mary Karr’s writing. You will identify a theme and trace that theme in the text, supporting it with ample textual evidence (close reading of details, passages, and scenes form the book). There will be lots of class time spent discussing themes and approaches to the text – students are actively discouraged from reading secondary sources about the stories.
Theme:
A theme is what a book says about an issue. If “truth” is an issue in the novel, then “The novel argues that truth is really …” is a theme. Reasonable people can disagree with this theme – in other words, you have to make your case.
For such a short essay, you will need to pay special attention to narrowing your theme. “Family is important” is much too broad and vague a theme. “Family kinship is more important in the novel than individual desire” is a narrower and more specific theme.
Requirements:
The essay needs to be approximately three to four pages double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 inch Font. It will need to correctly cite and/or paraphrase passages from the text in correct MLA form.
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