Briefs

Reading literature is an act of attention. One of the ways we can exercise that attention is by writing regularly in response to the texts we are reading. To write meaningfully about a literary text, attention must be paid to the text itself. Therefore, throughout the course, you will write four (4) of seven "briefs"--short formal papers--responding succinctly to a prompt about a specific Evolving Canon 1 text we are studying. The purpose of the briefs, therefore, is practice in reading closely and analyzing the language and themes of a text.

The prompt for each brief appears as links on the course syllabus. Each prompt will open as a separate window on your browser. Everyone will write the first brief and then will select three other briefs of his/her own choice and interest to write. At the end of the semester--only after you have completed the required four (4) briefs-- I will drop the lowest grade of your four briefs in calculating your class grade. If you write only three briefs, you will receive a zero (0) on your fourth brief, and I will calculate this portion of your course grade based upon all four grades. A successful brief will begin with a sharply focused thesis statement and provide evidence from the text (both direct and indirect quotations) to support your thesis. Briefs are strictly limited to two double-spaced academic pages. Although briefs are short, they are formal writings. All briefs are due at the start of class on their due date. No brief can be written after its due date has passed.

A successful brief begins with a sharply focused thesis statement and provide evidence from the text (both direct and indirect quotations) to support the thesis. Harmon and Holman's A Handbook to Literature may be an important resource as you analyze the brief prompt and draft your response. The literature websites on the Resources page of our Evolving Canon 1 website may also prove helpful. Otherwise, writing a successful brief requires no outside research or secondary sources. Although shorter and more narrowly focused than a formal analytical paper for a literature class, if you have not written about literature (before or recently), the "Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis Paper" may be of help.