. The paper must be wholly
original
to you. Do not consult any secondary
source, such as the Internet.
Everything I Never Told You
is your primary
source and must be cited in a work-cited page.
2. Use MLA format. (See the video on MLA format in the Introductory Module.)
Give your paper an original title related to your thesis. In the opening of your
paper, give the title of the book and the author’s full name. In subsequent
references to the author, use only her last name.
3. Use
at least
4 relevant quotations to support your analysis. The quotations
should be
integrated into the flow of your paper
. Also cite additional specific
examples from the text. Use correct MLA style including in-text
documentation and a works cited entry for
Everything I Never Told You
. (You
can use Son of Citation machine if you need assistance formatting the work-
cited entry.)
4. Your 250- word cover letter, describing your writing process, should be
uploaded as a separate document. (See the instructions for the cover letter.)
5. Record your word count at the bottom of the essay and the cover letter
TOPICS
Choose ONE of the following topics based on Celeste Ng’s
Everything I Never Told
You
. Do not respond to the topic questions “point by point.” Rather, develop a
unifying thesis that you can develop fully in the course of your essay. Also, avoid
writing a summary in response to the topic; this essay requires textual analysis.
1. James and Marilyn were unlikely partners, especially during the era when
they married. Why does Marilyn marry James (especially considering her
ambitions), and why does James marry Marilyn? What issues does each
spouse bring to the marriage? How do these issues act in opposition to each
other? Why do James and Marilyn stay together after Lydia’s death and
James’s infidelity?
2. The very first line of
Everything I Never Told You
states that Lydia, the
protagonist, is dead. In the narrative, however, Lydia emerges through
flashback. Write a character analysis of Lydia, analyzing how she develops as
2
a result of her relationship with her parents and her position in the family
constellation. Given all that has happened to her and her state of mind, is
Lydia’s suicide accidental, or is it actually intentional? In the end, do you see
Lydia’s death as inevitable?
3. James and Marilyn are destructive to their children. James is cruel and
insensitive to Nath. He dotes on Lydia, but constantly pressures Lydia to be
“popular.” Marilyn constantly pressures Lydia to succeed in science classes
despite Lydia’s lack of talent and inclination. Choose
one character:
Marilyn
or James. Why does that character fail as a parent? How does (or does not)
the novel portray this character as sympathetic – fallible, forgivable, and just
human — despite failing as a parent?
4. The marriage of James Lee and Marilyn creates an intersection for exploring
themes of race, gender, and inter-racial families. Celeste Ng examines these
themes in the context of conservative, Midwestern America in the mid
twentieth century. The novel’s action ranges from the 1950’s to the 1970’s,
when expressions of racism and sexism were overt and even acceptable
behavior. Choose one character from the novel and analyze how that
character was affected, or even molded, by living in an oppressive social
environment.
5. The novel portrays a family whose members are unable (or unwilling) to
communicate with each other. What key moments, images or events have
you found when a character should have spoken and did not? Aside from
Lydia’s death, what are the results of “everything” they never told each
other?
6 days ago
done seen
NGLISH 10
Dr. Maselli
Cover Letter – 25 pts. available
Instructions for Cover Letter: Self-Analysis of Your Writing Process
Upload your essay and your cover letter as two separate documents.
The cover letter must be 250 words. At the bottom of your cover letter, give the word count.
(You will find the word count at the bottom, left-hand screen of your computer.)
The cover letter is not a summary of your essay; a summary or “off-topic” letter will not receive
points.
What
is
a cover letter?
It is a formal analysis of your individual writing process
.
A cover letter is analysis applied to your writing process
.
Approach the cover letter as “meta-analysis”
or self-observation of the steps you took to write the original essay and then revise it for the second
submission. Don’t summarize (rehash) your essay’s content.
You will not receive points if you only
summarize your essay.
Writing a cover letter helps you to improve your analytic abilities. It can help you understand your
individual writing process and improve your writing. Many students have learned to revise
independently and effectively as a result of writing cover letters!
By
taking notes on your writing process
from start to drafts to finish, you can see what steps of the
writing process come easily to you and what causes you to struggle. In other words, you pinpoint your
own strengths and weaknesses. You can also learn to identify your original thinking, distinguishing your
own thoughts from that of other authors or sources, including all-pervasive media.
The cover letter is a powerful tool for you to make progress as a writer and thinker. Don’t even try to
include everything detailed below! Just pull what suits you from the information to help you through
writing about your own writing.
The most important thing is just to observe yourself and take notes from beginning to end of your
writing process
.
Some Guidelines for the Cover Letter
1. Discovery – Explain how you got started.
“Discovery” process –
Comments might
include your initial thinking about the topic;
how re-reading portions of the text helped you; prewriting tools you used –notes,
freewriting, clustering, questioning, journaling.
You should cover discovery in no more than 2-3 sentences.
2
2. Evolution – Explain your actual writing process for the essay
How did you put the essay together – grouping, outlining, storyboarding? Drafts?
How did your thesis evolve?
How did you write the introductory paragraph? Conclusion?
What information (quotations, paraphrases, points) did you add or delete? Why?
At any point, were you forced to overhaul the paper?
3. Thinking Style
Did you analyze, clarify, and elaborate the ideas that you encountered in the text?
Did you insert your original ideas and interpretation while sticking to the textual evience?
4. Assessment – Comment on your paper’s strengths and weaknesses
What aspects of the topic put obstacles in your writing way, and how did you deal with
them?
5. What “deep” elements of composition did you do especially well here?
Focus on thesis, organization, argument, support, and voice. Do not elaborate on
grammar or sentences.
o
Thesis – focused, narrow, precise assertion that evolves through your paper
o
Organization – includes unity, coherence, introduction, body, conclusion,
paragraph order, sentence order
o
Argument – logical structure, inclusion of well-placed topic sentences,
persuasiveness, clear direction, use of key words
o
Support – use of facts, examples, illustrations, details that are representative,
ample, and support the point. Appropriate use of sources
o
Voice – appropriate tone, logical, credible, trustworthy, original
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