The final project for this course is the creation of an interpretive essay.
The ability to interpret written works is a skill that transfers across not only literature but all disciplines. The ability to critically read and interpret a text and then logically communicate and support an argument based on what you have read will serve you in many different areas of your life. Throughout this course, we have specifically applied these skills to literary works in multiple genres. We have also explored ways in which identity and culture shape literature and vice versa. You will apply what you have learned to complete this final project.
For the final project, is based on this reading…
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien – (I’ll add the pictures of the reading) Write an interpretive essay of that work. You will focus on creating a strong thesis statement related to this text, and then build an interpretive essay that supports your thesis statement. You must use appropriate terminology throughout your essay as you develop your argument in support of your interpretation of the selected text.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
• • Discern basic themes and fundamental elements of literature through critical reading
• • Explain the larger significance and importance of literary elements using appropriate terminology
• • Explain how literature, culture, and identity shape each other based on fundamental exploration of literary texts across genres
• • Write introductions, transitions, and conclusions that logically communicate meaningful interpretations of literary texts

1. Apply the process of literary interpretation to create a thesis statement related to your selected text, and structure an essay that supports your thesis statement.
   Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
   I. Introduction: In this section, you will introduce your chosen text, including the author’s background and context, and your thesis statement. A. Text: Briefly introduce your chosen text and its author to set the stage for your thesis and provide context for your analysis.
   The final project for this course is the creation of an interpretive essay.
2. Message: Summarize the author’s overall intended message or draw connections between the author’s time period, culture, etc., and the text as a whole.
3. Rationale: Explain why you chose this text and/or author to provide context for your reader. What in your life or experiences led you to select this text for your interpretive essay?
4. Thesis Statement: Craft a thesis statement that clearly states your position and argument. This should provide a clear road map for your reader for what will be presented in the essay.
   II. Body: In this section, you will create sub-arguments or analyses that support your stated thesis. You should develop no fewer than three supporting arguments (three body paragraphs), each based on textual evidence. Be sure to use appropriate literary terminology in your arguments.
   Supporting Arguments: Develop three supporting arguments, beginning with topic sentences, that are based on your critical reading of the text and that relate back to your thesis statement. Your supporting topics should discern basic themes or elements of the text that support your thesis.
   Topic Sentence Structure: Use topic sentences (your supporting argument statements) that are clear and serve to logically organize the essay. Textual Evidence: Incorporate textual evidence that supports each of your sub-arguments. In other words, what themes or fundamental elements from the text support your topic sentences?
   Integration: Integrate your textual evidence in a way that allows each paragraph to flow from topic sentence to explanation of the evidence. In other words, make sure there is a logical flow from the topic sentence to your specific quote or paraphrase of the text to your explanation of the quote or paraphrase.
   Analysis of Textual Evidence: Explain how the evidence you selected from the text supports your sub-arguments and thesis statement, using appropriate literary terminology In other words, how do the facts or reasons you cited from the text support your thesis?
   Transitions: Use effective transitions from idea to idea and paragraph to paragraph so the essay flows logically to allow the reader to follow your message.
   III. Conclusion: In this section you will summarize your overall argument and expand on that interpretation, leaving the reader inspired or reflective.
5. Thesis Restatement: Summarize your argument to communicate your overall interpretation of the text, including a restatement of your thesis
   statement.
6. Context: Explain the larger impact or significance of your argument to literature. In other words, apply your argument to a larger or wider
   context.
7. Cultural Significance: How could culture impact interpretations of the text? How could the text impact culture?
8. Identity: Discuss the significance of identity in relation to your argument and the text. In other words, what is the relationship between this
   piece of literature and identity?
   submit your interpretive essay. Your final submission must be a structured essay that addresses all of the critical elements listed above. Pay particular attention to critical elements that you may not have incorporated into the milestones, such as topic sentence structure, integration of textual evidence, and analysis of textual evidence. All of the ideas you outlined should be developed in your final interpretive essay so that it is a complete, polished artifact
   Final Project Rubric
   Guidelines for Submission: Your interpretive essay must be at least 6 paragraphs in length, with 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins. All sources must be cited in MLA format.
   Introduction: Text Meets “Proficient” criteria, and introduction exceptionally sets the stage for the thesis and analysis

Introduction: Message Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides unique insight regarding the author’s overall intended message or connections between the author’s time period, culture, etc., and the text as a whole

Introduction: Rationale It has ti Meet “Proficient” criteria and provides unique insight into personal experience and the chosen text and/or author

Thesis Statement has to meet “Proficient” criteria and thesis statement exceptionally articulates the argument and main points of the essay

Body: Supporting Arguments It has to Meet “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the basic themes or elements of the text that support the thesis

Body: Topic Sentence Structure Has to meet “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated use of topic sentence structure to logically organize the essay
Body: Textual Evidence Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated understanding of using textual evidence that will support each sub-argument

Body: Integration Has to meet “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates masterful integration of textual evidence

Body: Analysis of Textual Evidence has to meet “Proficient” criteria and provides unique insight regarding how the evidence selected from the text supports sub-arguments and thesis statement

Body: Transitions has to Meet “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates masterful utilization of transitions between ideas and paragraphs

Conclusion: Thesis Restatement has to Meet “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated interpretation of the text

Conclusion: Context has to meet “Proficient” criteria and provides unique insight regarding the larger impact or significance of the argument to literature

Conclusion: Cultural Significance has to Meet “Proficient” criteria and provides unique insight regarding how culture could impact interpretations of the text and how the text could impact culture
Conclusion: Identity Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the significance of identity in relation to the argument and text

Articulation of Response The Submission needs to be free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format