Produce a focused analysis, three to four pages in length, of Gerald Graff’s essay, “Hidden Intellectualism.”
Getting Started:
Make sure you understand the meaning of analysis; according to the Norton Field Guide, “Your goal in analyzing a text is to lead readers through careful examination of a text to some kind of interpretation or reasoned judgment” (69). Consider it your job to attempt to define and explain what you see in Graff’s “Hidden Intellectualism.” Rather than just answering the question, “What is here?” Think about why and how the text uses particular details to communicate something to an audience.
Remember that this analysis should not be a list. Instead of describing everything about the text, focus on the most important aspects of “Hidden Intellectualism” and begin to interpret it by ascribing meaning …show more content…
to these details.
Completing the Assignment:
1.
Start by identifying basic information about the text. What is it? Where did it come from? Who made it?
2. Revisit the preliminary work we do in class to understand “Hidden Intellectualism.”
3. Use the reading strategies that your book suggests (pgs. 396-413). Brainstorm by breaking the source down into its significant parts and describing those parts in detail, talking about the patterns and connections between them, and, most importantly, making explicit the possible implicit meanings of what you see.
4. When you begin your analysis, remember to be specific; examine the text line-by-line, teasing out the meanings and implications. This will allow you to observe patterns or connections between elements.
Formatting and Length Requirements
3-4 pages in length (this means that you need to have written at least 3 full pages—just making it to the top of page 3 will be considered short)
Typed, double-spaced with 1-inch margins in Times New Roman, 12pt font
Use MLA style citation and format and include a Works Cited page. Your Works Cited page will likely only include your primary source that you are
analyzing.
We will go over this in class. If you have any questions, and refer to pages 484-523 in your textbook and to the Purdue OWL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Title and MLA style header
To view a sample, annotated paper that has an MLA style header and title, visit: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090701095636_747.pdf