Harriet Jacobs Essay

(See course schedule for exact due date for this assignment. This essay will be submitted through Blackboard SafeAssingment.)

Writing this short, 3 to 4 full  page, essay will give you an opportunity to practice the analysis, close reading, and argument strategies you will utilize for your term project literary analysis due at the end of the semester. You will develop your own topic and thesis (claim) and develop your argument using the Jacobs text to support your argument. No secondary sources are to be used in this essay.

 A successful essay will develop and support a clear claim with quotes and paraphrased examples from the Jacobs narrative. You should embed your quotes and tie them to your ideas with explanation and elaboration that clearly connect to your ideas. You should  read the sample student essay posted on the course webpage to view an effective literary argument.

Specific Guidelines:

Essay length is 3 to 4 pages.

Clear thesis

Well supported argument

Logical and clear development of ideas

Correct MLA format throughout

MLA Citations in essay

Separate Works Cited page (not included in required page count for essay)

12 point Times New Roman font

Double space throughout (no extra spaces between paragraphs)

Clear, grammatically correct prose and correct punctuation


Grading Information : Some general observations about essay letter grades

A papers are outstanding in every area. They are sophisticated, clearly written, and well-
supported. They follow all the guidelines set forth in the assignment and all the practices of
strong literary analysis. They may contain one or two MINOR errors in language usage,
sentence construction or grammar. However, these issues should not detract from the essay’s
overall effectiveness

B papers are good papers that clearly develop the ideas set forth in the thesis. They are
developed well and make their points clearly and effectively. The guidelines of the assignment
have been followed in most areas. The B essays may have a few errors in language usage,
sentence construction or grammar. However, these issues should not compromise the essay’s
overall effectiveness.

C papers are adequate treatments of the chosen topic. The thesis may not be as strong or as
clear as those in A and B papers. C papers have a discernable structure and development,
although there may be some problems apparent in both areas. Examples may lack sufficient
explanation or clear connection to the writer’s ideas. Some of the guidelines may not be
followed. C essays may have a few errors in language usage, sentence construction or grammar.
However, these issues should not impede the reader from understanding the essay.

D essays fail to convey their ideas clearly. Although there may be an apparent topic or thesis,
the development and support of the essay are lacking, or the support may not be well
explained. D papers may be poorly structured or seem disorganized. D essays may contain
some good ideas, but the actual construction of the essay forces the reader to work too hard to
figure out what the writer is attempting to say. D essays may telegraph information or expect
the reader to comprehend ideas that are not clearly stated. Some of the essay assignment
guidelines may not be followed. D essays may have numerous errors in language usage,
sentence construction or grammar.

F essays fail to offer an adequate argument or discussion of the text. They may have an unclear
thesis or no thesis at all. The structure of the essay may be unclear and/or disorganized. These
essays offer little if any support from the primary text, and secondary support may be used
incorrectly. F essays may have one major problem that contributes to the failure or they may
fail on several levels. Some F essays are fraught with errors in language usage, sentence
construction or grammar.

If an essay fails in any major composition area, then the entire essay may be awarded a
failing grade.