8/2/22, 4:29 PM Essay: Theme Analysis Essay
https://canvas.tccd.edu/courses/56796/assignments/967333?module_item_id=2756546 1/4
Essay: Theme Analysis Essay
Due Jul 31 by 11:59pm Points 100 Submitting a website url or a file upload
File Types docx and pdf Attempts 0 Allowed Attempts 2
Available until Aug 3 at 11:59pm
Start Assignment
Prepare
First, choose which two works you’ll be focusing on for this essay.
You can choose two short stories, two poems, or one of each
It is recommended (though not required) that the two works you choose come from the same
Module
The two works should have a topic or theme in common
Then, re-read the works.
What do they have in common? What topics, themes, and literary devices are shared?
How do they differ? Are they expressing the same theme in different ways? Discussing the same
topic but expressing different themes?
What literary elements does each use to illustrate or emphasize its theme?
Make note of quotes from the texts that you might want to use in your essay.
Review these resources:
The Spiderman Paper.docx (https://canvas.tccd.edu/courses/56796/files/7764960/download?
download_frd=1) : This annotated sample essay points out all the required formatting and
organizational components in an essay
Video guide to literary analysis (https://youtu.be/pr4BjZkQ5Nc)
Writing Toolkit: Compare / Contrast
Write
For this essay, you’ll be comparing how two different works explore the same or similar themes
in their own ways.
You can choose A or B:
A. Write about two works that share theme – which means they both make the same overall point
8/2/22, 4:29 PM Essay: Theme Analysis Essay
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Essay 1
B. Write about two works that share a topic, but have different themes – which means that they each
make a different point about the same general topic
For example, if there are two stories about growing up that seem to make the same point, that would be
option (a); if there were two stories that each made a different point about growing up, that would be
option (b).
Your essay should:
Be at least 750-1000 words
Be organized – it should have an introduction (including your essay’s thesis), at least two
discussion sections, and a conclusion
Focus on supporting its thesis statement
Include quotes in each body paragraph
Use MLA format, including internal citations
You should avoid:
Copy / pasting from other submissions
Summary – focus on making and supporting points
Unprofessional discourse
Conversational language (you, I, etc.)
8/2/22, 4:29 PM Essay: Theme Analysis Essay
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Criteria Ratings Pts
20 pts
20 pts
20 pts
20 pts
Thesis 20 pts
Thesis presents
clear argument,
thesis focuses on
theme, thesis
relates to
meaning beyond
summary.
17 pts
Thesis meets
most criteria:
clear argument,
focused on
theme, relates to
meaning beyond
summary.
15 pts
Thesis meets few criteria:
presents clear argument,
focuses on theme, relates to
meaning beyond summary.
Review Lesson 2 information
about thesis statements.
10 pts
Off
topic /
missing
Topic
Sentences /
Organization
20 pts
Essay is
organized
around
topic
sentences
that clearly
and
directly
support
thesis.
Thesis is
not
organized
around
summary.
17 pts
Essay is organized by
arguments, but in some
paragraphs over-relies on
summary. Be sure that
topic sentences lead each
paragraph and directly
relate to thesis. Do not
begin paragraphs with
summary.Clarifying topic
sentences and
connections to thesis
would be beneficial
14 pts
Essay is not organized by
arguments, and in most or
all paragraphs over-relies
on summary. Be sure that
topic sentences lead each
paragraph and directly
relate to thesis. Do not
begin paragraphs with
summary.Clarifying topic
sentences and
connections to thesis
would be beneficial
10 pts
Essay is
almost
entirely
summary.
Formatting /
Clarity
20 pts
MLA format –
750-1000
words –
Purposeful
paragraphs –
Clearly written
with evidence
of revision –
Relatively free
from error
17 pts
– MLA format
with some
mistakes –
750-1000
words –
Purposeful
paragraphs –
evidence of
revision –
Some minor
errors
14 pts
– MLA format inconsistently
used – Essay written about
a story outside of Lesson 5
– May be too short – Less
Purposeful paragraphs –
Some evidence of revision –
Several minor errors,
possible some major clarity
errors
10 pts
Not written to
meet formatting
and clarity
requirements.
Review MLA
format and work to
revise more
carefully. A visit to
the writing lab
Ev may be beneficial.
idence 20 pts
– Essay
supports each
point with
evidence from
story – Quotes
are clearly
integrated and
properly cited
18 pts
– Essay
supports most
points with
evidence from
story – Quotes
are mostly
integrated and
properly cited
14 pts
– Essay uses quotes to
support some ideas – Not
all quotes are integrated
into the author’s
sentences – Review
quote integration and
citation guidelines
10 pts
– Essay needs
more support
from quotes –
Essay makes
claims that are
not or cannot be
supported by
story
8/2/22, 4:29 PM Essay: Theme Analysis Essay
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Total Points: 100
Criteria Ratings Pts
20 pts
Composition 20 pts
– Essay is
written to
exceed
assignment
requirements
– Analysis of
theme is
focus of
essay
17 pts
– Essay relies on
summary and
does not make
enough use of
original analysis
– Structure to
support a thesis
is clear – Essay
focuses on
theme analysis
15 pts
– Essay relies too heavily
on summary and does not
make enough use of
original analysis – Structure
to support a thesis is less
clear – Essay is not entirely
focused on theme analysis
– essay may misidentify
theme – Off topic / wrong
story
10 pts
– Essay is almost
entirely
summary –
Essay does not
have a thesis
and structure to
support thesis –
Original points
not included –
Not focused on
theme
