Essay Instructions Goal:  analysis of a collection of works to include research about the author in at least 7-8 pages. ·  “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner ·  “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner · You will make eight connections, which will translate into eight body paragraphs (see “tentative outline” handout).  To support your major points, you will provide evidence.  Thus, you must directly quote from each selection your evidence; each of your eight body paragraphs will include at least one direct quote from your evidence (story ) AND  at least one direct quote from your outside source.  So that you will have a total of sixteen direct quotes, two for each of your eight body paragraphs.  A minimum of two outside sources are required for this essay.  You must use at least twosources from the library’s database (NY TIMES is acceptable).  Remember that the story(ies) are its own source and will need to be included in your WORKS CITED page. Follow MLA.  Your introduction will include the title and author of your selected work and any necessary background information about the author. Engage the reader; take a stand, or make a judgment.  Your THESIS STATEMENT will be phrased as an arguable claim.  This means that you WILL NOT write a thesis statement that outlines your four major points.  For instance, if your eight major points reveal something about race, class, gender, society, family, relationships, love, violence – all the broad universal themes of being human, then state that, claim that, own that!  WOW!  You’ve got some thesis statement to craft, and it may not happen until after you hammer out your eight points of connections.   Each of your six body paragraphs will include a first sentence that is your major point – your topic sentence. Each body paragraph will include at least two direct quotes.  Follow MLA.  Your conclusion will be a grand statement.  What is YOUR point of view concerning this writer?  What can YOU say about how writing served this writer’s life?  BE BOLD!  BE CONFIDENT.  MAKE YOUR CLAIM & DARE US TO DISAGREE WITH YOU! Essay Checklist  Essay should be 10 paragraphs (intro, 8 connection paragraphs, and conclusion)  Each connection paragraph should start by clearly stating the connection. For example: William Falkner’s southern roots clearly influenced his literature.  Each paragraph should have at minimum TWO direct quotes. One quote should be from an outside (academic/library) source and the other is from the literature. An example of an outside source quote would be William Faulkner “was born in Oxford, Mississippi” (Author #). An example of a quote from the literature would be Miss Emily was from Mississippi as well as reflected when Faulkner writes "See Colonel Sartoris. I have no taxes in Jefferson" (Faulkner #).  Your thesis statement should go at the end of the intro paragraph and reflect not only the 6 connections you are making but also the bigger theme. For example, Flannery O’Connors life influ ...

1. Essay Instructions
Goal: analysis of a collection of works to include research
about the author in at least 7-8 pages.
· “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner
· “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
· You will make eight connections, which will translate into
eight body paragraphs (see “tentative outline” handout). To
support your major points, you will provide evidence. Thus,
you must directly quote from each selection your evidence; each
of your eight body paragraphs will include at least one direct
quote from your evidence (story ) AND at least one direct
quote from your outside source. So that you will have a total of
sixteen direct quotes, two for each of your eight body
paragraphs. A minimum of two outside sources are required for
this essay. You must use at least twosources from the library’s
database (NY TIMES is acceptable). Remember that the
story(ies) are its own source and will need to be included in
your WORKS CITED page. Follow MLA.
Your introduction will include the title and author of your
selected work and any necessary background information about
the author. Engage the reader; take a stand, or make a
judgment. Your THESIS STATEMENT will be phrased as
an arguable claim. This means that you WILL NOT write a
thesis statement that outlines your four major points. For
instance, if your eight major points reveal something about race,
class, gender, society, family, relationships, love, violence – all
the broad universal themes of being human, then state that,
claim that, own that! WOW! You’ve got some thesis statement
to craft, and it may not happen until after you hammer out your
eight points of connections.
Each of your six body paragraphs will include a first sentence
that is your major point – your topic sentence. Each body

2. paragraph will include at least two direct quotes. Follow MLA.
Your conclusion will be a grand statement. What is YOUR
point of view concerning this writer? What can YOU say about
how writing served this writer’s life? BE BOLD! BE
CONFIDENT. MAKE YOUR CLAIM & DARE US TO
DISAGREE WITH YOU!
Essay Checklist
Essay should be 10 paragraphs (intro, 8 connection
paragraphs, and conclusion)
Each connection paragraph should start by clearly stating the
connection. For example: William Falkner’s southern roots
clearly influenced his literature.
Each paragraph should have at minimum TWO direct quotes.
One quote should be from an outside (academic/library) source
and the other is from the literature. An example of an outside
source quote would be William Faulkner “was born in Oxford,
Mississippi” (Author #). An example of a quote from the
literature would be Miss Emily was from Mississippi as well as
reflected when Faulkner writes "See Colonel Sartoris. I have no
taxes in Jefferson" (Faulkner #).
Your thesis statement should go at the end of the intro
paragraph and reflect not only the 6 connections you are making
but also the bigger theme. For example, Flannery O’Connors
life influenced her work in these ways (your connections) to
show __________________________ (the point of her
literature).
Every connection paragraph should start by clearly
establishing the connection. For example, if your first point of
connection between Langston Hughes’ life and his literature is
religion, your first line would look like this: Langston Hughes’
views on religion greatly influenced his literature.
Every connection paragraph should also end with a transition
sentence. For example, you would write: Not only did religion

3. influenced Hughes’ work, his family dynamics did as well.
Remember each quote is worth 2.5 points! That means your
quotes are worth40 points in this paper. If you do not include
them the best you can do on this paper is 60%
Your outside research is the biographic information about
your author. The literature research is from the stories in the
textbook
Don’t forget to use MLA format.
Title your essay
Start your intro with an attention grabber!
William Faulkner Workshop
Connections between his life and his literature
Southern Upbringing Barn Burning and Rose for Emily
Racism Barn Burning and Rose for Emily
Dialect Barn Burning and Rose for Emily
Mammy Barn Burning and Rose for Emily
Change in financial status Barn Burning and Rose for Emily
Military Barn Burning and Rose for Emily
Family Barn Burning and Rose for Emily
Love Life Rose for Emily
Blockage of Wants Barn Burning and Rose for
Emily
Travel Barn Burning