Personal Response and Research Essay
Select one work that we have read in class (short story, play, or poem) this semester that has particularly appealed to you, either because of its subject matter, theme, location, characters, or other aspect. Briefly summarize it and then explain why it appeals to you. As part of your explanation, look for information about the author and the conditions under which the work was created. Include information about the author and the general response to the work in addition to your own response.
In your essay you should discuss the following topics in this order:
1 The work you want to write about (title, author), including a brief summary/description of the work
2 Background of the author, including the reason that the work was written (if known)
3 The general reception that the work has had[unique_solution]
4 Your response to the work (this will probably be the longest section of the paper)
The essay will be four to five pages long.
Be sure the follow standard organizational pattern: introduction (including purpose statement and blueprint statement); body (there will be at least three sections in the paper: description/summary of work, general response to the work, and your response to the work); and conclusion.
You will use outside references to discuss aspects 2, 3, and 4. You should refer to at least three external sources and cite them according to MLA format. See Appendix II, pp. 1641-1651, for examples of MLA format.
Work Chosen: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare