Write an essay of 1500 words on the following topic:
The Bedford Glossary defines satire as “A literary genre or mode that uses irony, wit, and sometimes sarcasm to expose humanity’s vices and foibles. Through clever criticism, satirists debunk and deflate their targets, whether persons, groups, ideas, or institutions. [S]atire generally has a moral purpose: to provoke a response to correctable human failings, ideally some kind of reform.”
Choose one poem or two poems, or prose, from The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century section of the course, and analyze it/them in terms of its satire. Answer the following questions in your thesis, and use them to guide your analysis in the essay as a whole:
What “targets” are being ridiculed?
What irony, wit, Horatian tones, and/or Juvenalian tones are used to satirize the objects?
Refer to the rubric and the longer descriptions in it for further guidance.
Quoting, citing, etc.: There are many sources out there for citing poems, but if you are wanting a short guide, here is one (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. The best site for complete guidance to citing correctly is this one (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
Rubric
Final Exam
Final Exam
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Intro Paragraph / Thesis
Thesis summarizes the ideas about the one topic from the Preface, Biographia, and/or the letters. Thesis has observations about how the poem or poems reflect and extend those ideas. Thesis is an easily identifiable, well-phrased answer to the question that assesses the text and addresses a specific idea to be analyzed and proven in the essay; the idea offered in the thesis reflects sound critical, analytical thinking; title and author of work are appropriately referenced
10.0 pts
Full Marks
0.0 pts
No Marks
10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Body Paragraphs / Organization
Each topic sentence clearly connects to the thesis and offers an identifiable, well-phrased idea to be proven in the paragraph; concrete details are well-chosen and incorporated; paragraphs are well-organized to create a coherent, carefully developed and supported argument; transitions between ideas are logical and each idea builds on the preceding; writer maintains focus and control of argument so that the point of each paragraph is always clear; avoids plot summary.
10.0 pts
Full Marks
0.0 pts
No Marks
10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Literary Analysis
Writing reflects a critical, analytical understanding of the text; through clear reasoning, writer draws sophisticated, insightful inferences from concrete details to support the connected ideas of the thesis; inferences are developed so that all claims and points made are well-supported and persuasive; analysis focuses on both thematic and stylistic elements of the text, demonstrating writer’s ability to interpret the function of literary devices in the service of thematic meaning; appropriate balance of quotes & writer’s analysis; writer is clearly engaged with and moved by his/her thinking process; avoids plot summary
10.0 pts
Full Marks
0.0 pts
No Marks
10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Language Style/Voice
Writing is academic in tone, demonstrating a clear sense of purpose and audience; writer’s voice is evident — confident and sophisticated; vocabulary and phrasing are academically appropriate, persuasive, and sophisticated without being pretentious
5.0 pts
Full Marks
0.0 pts
No Marks
5.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Mechanics
Essay includes a variety of sentences marked by varying opening words and structure; effective syntax and grammar demonstrate a mastery of writing conventions and serve the author’s purpose; consistent adherence to MLA guidelines; accurate Work Cited page; absence of misspellings, punctuation errors
10.0 pts
Full Marks
0.0 pts
No Marks
10.0 pts
Total Points: 45.0