Response Essay Early Modern Japanese literature

English 221/Intro to Literature
Summary/Response Essay

Write a 3-4 page paper of summary and response about one of the selections that has been covered so far on our reading list.
Enlightening Period
Early Modern Japanese literature
INTRODUCTION—Mention title/author you want to discuss clearly in your introduction. The Lead –ins PowerPoint file can help with this. Your introduction should give an overview that reflects your overall response to the work and its potential appeal to readers. You will need a specific thesis at some point in the introduction that clarifies your focus on the literature—what you have decided to concentrate on in your paper. Avoid using obvious statements as openers for thesis statements. A list of DON’Ts would include the following: In this paper, I am going to discuss . . . , or I have decided to write about . . . , or My essay is on . . . .

SUMMARY/RESPONSE
Include some discussion in your paper of the origins/history of the piece and its significance and contributions to literature. You will need to quote something directly from the literature itself and from the textbook commentary included at some point. Some biographical information on the author could also be appropriate. Be sure to clarify appropriately by citing author of the work AND—when appropriate—the textbook author Martin Puchner. Do NOT use any other outside sources for this paper.

Plot, Setting, & Characters. You should include an occasional direct quote from the selection itself to reinforce your discussion: for example, a passage that is especially effective in demonstrating a prevalent theme or literary motif, a passage that sets up or indicates some sort of conflict in plot or obstacle for a character. Be sure to put quotation marks before and after any passages or lines taken from the source text.

What themes, techniques, and motifs are present in the literature? What did you enjoy most about this literature? What elements of this literature do you think others might most enjoy? Feel free to do some literary analysis with your response.

MLA DOCUMENTATION
Cite author/page number when you borrow insight, ideas, OR words from the commentary provided by Martin Puchner in his chapter comments: ie (Puchner 12). Paraphrases and direct quotes both need citations. Direct quotes need quotation marks surrounding direct borrowings from the text. Cite author/page number of the selection itself when needed (Swift 123). In addition, include a Works Cited list at the end for the textbook selection AND for the textbook itself. See samples on the handouts provided in this folder. Refer also to PURDUE OWL (online writing lab) for more details about MLA documentation. Failure to provide appropriate documentation could result in charges of plagiarism and a score of zero for this paper.

English 221/Intro to World Literature II
Summary/Response Peer Evaluation

Use the following components and criteria for this assignment as a checklist to give feedback to your peer. In addition, include some specific comments below as needed.

______includes historical context, background, & biographical information

______discusses thematic concepts & literary motifs present

______includes information on work’s contribution/significance to literature
or culture

______ includes student response, reaction, & interpretation

______includes some discussion of plot, setting, & character

______uses correct MLA documentation (in-text citations & a Works Cited)

______follows a logical plan with coherent paragraphs + Intro & Conclusion

_____ contains clear sentences, correct word choice, & avoids wordiness

______uses correct spelling, grammar, punctuation & consistent point of view

COMMENTS: