Literary merit

Culture Writing Project Directions:
Instead of doing several short essays this semester we’re going to be working on building one longer writing
project that will be submitted in 2 parts. This semester we’re going to be arguing in defense of the stories we
love and discussing what “literary value” means.
Topic of the writing project
Literary merit:
Choose a book, short story, poem, play, song, television show, film, video game, manga, or comic book that
you like, which is typically not viewed as having literary value, and argue that it is valuable.
OR
Choose a specific medium and/or genre and argue in defense of its literary value.
Ask yourself:
How are other people defining literary value and what is your definition of
literary value?
What about this text, medium, or genre makes it meaningful? Valuable? Unique? Important?
What literary elements does this text, medium, or genre make use of?
Does this text, medium, or genre have educational value? If so, what elements show this?
Writing Project Draft #2 Directions
Include:
A concise few sentences in your introduction paragraph which shows your definition of literary value:

1. this can have several points for example: educational value, social impact, etc.
2. make sure to explain each point separately by providing a reason why you think this element adds to the
   literary value of a story
   A short summary of the work you’ve chosen
   A clear thesis in your introduction paragraph that tells your reader:
3. the title of the work you’re discussing
4. the creator of that work
5. why you believe it has literary value
   Organized body paragraphs that:
6. stick to one main idea
7. use the quote sandwich method to give evidence from the work as examples to prove your points (cite
   quotes correctly if used)
8. thoroughly explain how this example and this point or element connect to the literary value of the work
   you chose
   In addition to revising/ reorganizing the first draft of your essay and adding more ideas, your Draft #2
   revision/ expansion should include:
9. At least one outside source that disagrees with some part of your argument. This source does not have to
   be limited to scholarly sources. This source can be found through the library, the internet, or interviews
   that you conduct yourself.
10. If you choose, you can add more outside sources that either agree or disagree.
11. Please also include a discussion of historical context for your chosen work. Do you think your text is
    reacting to a cultural belief or value from that time period? Do you think your text is timely, timeless or
    both? AND what does this say about your text’s literary value?
    How to format quotes:
    Quotes or descriptions of scenes or images should be:
12. Put into quotation marks if they are direct quotations
13. Have in-text citations after the quote or paraphrase in MLA format
    3.
    Examples for films or television: Use the title and the time stamp.
    For example, In Get Out Chris asks the man who is attempting to steal his body, “Why us? Why Black people?”
    (Get Out 1:24:49).
    Example for poems or songs: Use the author’s last name and the line number(s).
    The speaker says, “Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never/ saw before” (Gaiman 1-2).
    Example for books/ comics books: Use the author’s last name, the page number(s), and the panel
    number(s). Count panels from left to right, then top to bottom.
    In Issue 9 of Thor: God of Thunder Gorr says, “You should have brought more Thors” (Aaron 4/5).
    An MLA style works cited page at the end of your essay that includes:
14. a citation for the work you are discussing