Assignment Panic? Never!

I know a lot of you are starting to face the hand-in horror of Friday. Here are a couple of helpful hints; take a deep breath and read them through!



If you're writing on the Press poem:


I suggest that paragraph 1 should set up your understanding of the speaking voice - who is the speaker and what is their position on the refugees? Once you've explained some of the complexities around what is said versus what is implied in this poem, your analysis will flow a lot smoother.

Now, take my worksheet of questions that I gave you in class, and turn a couple of your favourite points into one paragraph each. Remember, whenever you're trying to make a point, it helps if you use a quote from the poem (properly referenced, of course!) to back up your ideas. Don't just drop a quote in cold - use it in a sentence. Make it work for you.

Above all else: don't rush your points. Take the time to do your ideas justice. You have 3 pages - use them! Remember my 3 critical analysis questions and APPLY them.

If you're writing on the Conrad:

This is a lovely, but broad essay topic - like Marlow, you will need to navigate your own path through the jungle of ideas. You HAVE to use quotes from the text in this! They will act like road signs and draw your reader back to the text, making your final mark that much higher.

Remember: one idea per paragraph. If you speak of the "heart of darkness" being the literaral geographical space of Africa as represented by Colonial Europeans, don't suddenly begin referring to the brutality that lies in the Coloniser's own hearts - it mixes ideas! You need to insert a nice, fresh paragraph break. That way, your marker won't get theme-claustrophobia.

Please remember to reference all quotes using Harvard conventions: ".....quote....." (Author surname, year of publication: page number).

Your essay will consist of three or four main points (ideas as to what the "heart of darkness" might refer to) and, for each one, one or two strong links to the text supporting your argument. It will mean re-reading several sections of the book to find the right quotes. Yes, RE-READING!

Remember, I am happy to look at drafts, but not on Thursday. If anyone asks me for help on Thursday, I may take payment in fingers.