literary analysis of two selected popular works of contemporary fiction (The Hunger Games and The Road)

LIT322FinalProjectGuidelinesandRubric1

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Literary analysis of two selected popular works of contemporary fiction (The Hunger Games and The Road) 

LIT 322 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview
In this class, we have explored popular fiction in several genres. We have also examined universal themes such as sacrifice, appearance versus reality, goodness,
and perseverance as they are portrayed in literature. We have taken a close look at the literary devices used to illustrate those themes in multiple texts.
Throughout this class, we have also dug deeper into the question of why books are popular and whether it is tied to their themes, societal concerns, and/or
events.

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The final project for this course is the creation of a thesis-driven literary analysis paper. The paper should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the
critical elements outlined in the final project prompt and rubric. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course from your peers
and your instructor in the short papers and two milestone assignments submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final paper will be submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will write an analytical essay that demonstrates your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 Analyze the themes utilized in popular and contemporary genre fiction

 Connect trends in contemporary and popular fiction to current societal events, which influence audience consumption

 Utilize literary and cultural analysis to interpret common themes found in popular and contemporary fiction

 Create analytical works that focus on common themes found in popular fiction and their connection to commercial success

Prompt
Imagine that the Literature Department at SNHU is creating a journal of critical literary studies. The editors of the journal have issued a call for papers for a
special issue on contemporary and popular fiction. Specifically, the editors are looking for critical essays that compare and contrast a theme that reflects trends in
contemporary literature and the connection to the commercial success of those works. Contributors are encouraged to consider the question of why certain
books become popular. Why do these works resonate with so many people? Is the commercial success of these works connected to concerns or issues in our
everyday lives? Are their themes universal and/or complex? Or, do they focus on themes or events of particular concern within our current society?

Prepare a 5–7 page submission to this journal. Your essay should provide a literary analysis of two selected popular works of contemporary fiction, which you
have read in this course. Select 1–2 literary devices (symbol, metaphor, imagery, etc.) to illustrate that theme in both novels. (See the complete list of literary
devices on this website.) Your goal is to create a thesis that makes a claim about your chosen theme and literary device. Here is a sample thesis on another topic
and work:

In Ghost Singer, Anna Lee Walters uses ghosts, particularly the figure of the naked Indian man, to record and recover the violent and erased histories of
Native Americans; similarly, in Donald Duk, Frank Chin uses ghosts to haunt the dreams of Donald Duk to help reestablish Chinese traditions and make
the history of Chinese immigrants and Chinese-Americans visible. Thus, the theme of cultural haunting in Donald Duk and Ghost Singer becomes a
reconstructive agent, functioning as a means of cultural translation—a vehicle for the reestablishment of history and tradition.

Literary Devices and Terms

As you compare and contrast the theme in both works, discuss how the theme reflects trends in contemporary literature and/or current societal events. Also,
consider the connection of this common theme to the commercial success of the novels. For example, you might consider how Suzanne Collins uses televised
interviews in The Hunger Games and Gillian Flynn uses Amy’s false diary assignments in Gone Girl to illustrate the theme of appearance versus reality. As you
write your paper, analyze specific passages and include concrete examples to support your interpretation of the literary device and theme.

The following critical elements must be included in your essay:

I. Craft the Introduction to Your Essay
A. Theme and Novel Introduction: Introduce your two novels and the theme, which is present in both works. Discuss why this theme was

chosen.
B. Thesis Statement: Write a clear thesis statement indicating how you will compare and contrast the way in which each book addresses this

theme. Include your general thoughts about whether this adds to or detracts from the book’s popularity.

II. Craft the Body of Your Essay
A. Literary Analysis: The paper must analyze at least one specific literary device—such as the use of plot or imagery in the texts. If you choose to

analyze the plot, for example, do not merely summarize the texts. Thoroughly analyze the chosen literary device, as it relates to central theme,
across multiple texts. In other words, the paper should highlight your literary analysis skills.

B. Compare and Contrast: The paper must compare and contrast the use of the chosen literary element(s) between the two texts. Specifically,
how does each author use the chosen element(s) to illuminate a theme? In what ways are the authors’ uses of the literary device(s) similar? In
what ways do they differ? Explain how the literary device(s) and/or theme add to or detract from the book’s popularity.

C. Supporting Evidence: The paper must include specific textual support (e.g., quotations, passage references) to help build your thesis argument.
A minimum of two course texts must be cited. You should also cite two academic sources (critical essays, book chapters, or periodical articles).

D. Interpretation: The paper must clearly apply the analysis of the literary device(s) to a common theme and discuss trends in contemporary
literature, current societal events, and the commercial success of the novels. Include a brief discussion of historical happenings that may have
influenced the genre, author, or work.

III. Craft the Conclusion of Your Essay

A. Review: Be sure to circle back to your thesis statement and review the main points you made in the body of your essay.
B. Summarize: Include your final thoughts about the way the author addresses the theme and whether this adds to or detracts from the book’s

popularity.

IV. Writing Mechanics
A. Structure: As you develop your thesis, be sure to use a clear pattern of organization. Make sure your flow of ideas is logical and easy to

understand.
B. Articulation of Response: The paper should be free of errors related to citations, tone, style, grammar, spelling, and syntax. It should be

presented in a professional and easy-to-read format.

Milestones
Milestone One: Literary Analysis Proposal
In Module Three, you will write a literary analysis proposal that briefly describes key elements of your final paper. Your proposal should include your primary
sources, your chosen theme, the literary device(s) that illustrates the theme, a thesis statement, and a discussion of the commercial success and historical
significance of your chosen works. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two: Rough Draft
In Module Five, you will submit a draft of your final paper for instructor review. Your draft should contain an introduction, body, and conclusion, and should
have a works cited page that lists at least two academic sources in addition to your primary sources. Include applicable matching in-text citations within the draft
for each source. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

Final Project: Literary Analysis Paper
In Module Seven, you will submit your final literary analysis paper. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final
product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Final Project Rubric

Guidelines for Submission: Written components of projects must follow these formatting guidelines: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch
margins, and citations in MLA format. Your final essay should be 5–7 pages in length (not counting your works cited page). A minimum of two course texts must
be cited as well as two academic sources.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction:
Thesis

Statement

Meets “Proficient” criteria and
includes substantial and relevant
context to draw and support
conclusions on book’s popularity

Develops an introduction which
includes the novels, the theme,
and what will be compared and
contrasted; includes tie-in to
book’s popularity

Develops an introduction which
includes the novels and the
theme, but does not discuss
what will be compared and
contrasted in the paper. Does not
include tie-in to book’s
popularity

Introduction does not include the
chosen novels and the theme;
does not include tie-in to book’s
popularity

10

Body:
Literary Analysis

Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides substantial and relevant
context to draw and support
conclusions

Provides an analysis of chosen
literary device(s), as it/they
relates/relate to central theme,
across multiple texts

Provides an analysis of chosen
literary device(s) across multiple
texts, but does not relate
device(s) to central theme across
multiple texts

Does not analyze chosen literary
device(s)

20

Body:
Compare and

Contrast

Meets “Proficient” criteria and
incorporates substantial and
relevant context to highlight
connections and differences
between authors

Compares and contrasts chosen
literary device(s) as used by two
authors to illustrate central
theme; explains how the literary
device(s) and/or theme relates to
book’s popularity

Compares and contrast chosen
literary device as used by two
authors to illustrate central
theme, but does not explain how
the literary device(s) and/or
theme relates to book’s
popularity

Does not compare and contrast
chosen literary device used by
two authors

20

Body:
Supporting

Evidence

Meets “Proficient” criteria and
integrates evidence with
substantial and relevant detail to
support thesis

Utilizes scholarly resources to
support claims

Utilizes resources, but the
resources do not directly relate
to the thesis OR they are not
scholarly (reputable) resources

Does not utilize resources

15

Body:
Interpretation

Meets “Proficient” criteria and
incorporates substantial and
relevant detail into argument to
draw conclusions about theme,
commercial success, and
historical events

Constructs an argument that
applies an analysis of chosen
literary device to central theme;
includes tie-in to commercial
success and historical events

There are gaps in the application
of the literary analysis of the
chosen literary device to the
central theme which affect the
success of the argument; may
include tie-in to commercial
success and historical events but
lacks context and detail

Does not apply the analysis of
chosen literary device to central
theme; does not include tie-in to
commercial success or historical
events

15

Conclusion:
Review

Reviews key points and
incorporates substantial detail in
a summary statement about the
topic to support thesis claim

Reviews key points and creates a
summary statement about the
topic based on thesis statement

There are gaps in the review of
key points and/or the summary
statement about the topic based
on thesis statement

Does not review key points and
create a summary statement
about the topic based on thesis
statement

10

Writing
Mechanics

No errors related to grammar or
formatting; utilizes course
concepts and terminology

Minor errors related to grammar
or formatting; utilizes course
concepts and terminology

Some errors related to grammar
or formatting; utilizes some
course concepts and terminology

Major errors related to grammar
or formatting; does not utilize
course concepts and terminology

10

Earned Total 100%

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