Essay 1 -- English 111, Section N1
Professor Robert Brazeau
September 20, 2008

Write a 750 word essay, due November 4, on one of the following topics.  This essay is worth 10% of your term work.  On October 23rd bring a draft copy of your essay to exchange with a member of your class. 

1.	Discuss patterns of symbolism and imagery in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily.”  What is Faulkner saying about the American south in this story?

2.	Discuss the representation of death as it is represented in Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress.”  

3.	Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” uses irony and sarcasm to deliver its critique of capitalism.  Discuss two significant uses of irony in the story and suggest how they contribute to Melville’s central concern in the story.  Is Melville’s critique ultimately successful?

	Checklist

-devise an ORIGINAL TITLE for your essay that includes the title of the work on which your paper focuses.

-after careful consideration and brainstorming on the topic, develop an ARGUMENT that addresses the topic you have chosen.  DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE PLOT.

-DO NOT RESTATE or REWORD the assigned topic in your essay or its title.

-your introduction must have a THESIS STATEMENT that clearly indicates the focus of your essay or its ARGUMENT, and its MAIN POINTS.

-SUPPORT your interpretations and arguments with QUOTATIONS from the text.