Homework Help: English

Posted by Y on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 2:02pm.

I've asked myself THE question over and over again.

When on Earth am I going to write something in English class that somebody would actually want to read other than the teacher? Throughout my school carrer I've been wandering this and began hating English.

I can't recall how many times I've been asked to write a perrsasive essay for summer reading that requires me to read to books then support with evidence which book you thought was better...

That kind of thing drives me crazy. It's an opinion is it not? If I think book A is better than B then that's that. Why do I need to support my thoughts? It's not a fact that book A is better than B so I don't need to spend years of studing and traveling to the far corners of the Earth gathering evidence and then reporting my finds and supporting them with ancient inscriptions and so forth.

It's an essay on what I think... Not an essay on who was more succsessfull (ouch) in creating a society the Greeks or Romans? That would be an essay I would have an easy time creating. An essay that would actually require evidene and so forth.

Every time I get summer reading I get a big hedache because I feel like I'm in the second grade again.

So here we go...

In a five-paragraph persuasive essay, discuss whic author was more successful in creating a good piece of literature. Use examples from both books to explain your thinking.

Somebody please HELP ME :( before my head bursts. I can I think of this in a more logical way? Is there a way you can translate that into something that looks worth my life?

Becasue I still have to do this assignment no matter how dumb it is and it's the first grade in the book!

Another question I have for another class goes like so...

What is the author's thesis?
How does he prove it?
Is the book any good? :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:( Why?

On this essay I'm limited to three pages to :(. I should I organize this essay? Do I need an intorduction of some sort? A conclusion? It's not an essay or is it? All I have to do is answer those questions so...

Please help me get over this. Please help me please I'm begging you HELP!!!

English - SraJMcGin, Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 2:17pm
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Just consider it an exercise in prooving you understand how to write an essay! Yes, you will need an introduction, stating why you are writing the essay, or what you wish to proove. Also, yes, you will need a conclusion. If you need any assistance in HOW to write a good essay, just let us know. As for how to analyze literature, the following should provide that for you:

1. (You'll love the first question here, "so what?"): http://www.nvcc.edu/home/ataormina/eng256/support/analyzelit.htm

2. ( a guide): http://www.goshen.edu/english/litanalysis.html

3. http://www.sou.edu/english/idtc/paradigm/resources/formalst.htm

4. (CLEP exam): http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/ex_ail.html

5. http://www.ehow.com/how_2158235_study-analyze-literature.html

In addition, you are wise to "tackle" this assignment early in the summer. That way you can finish it and enjoy the rest of the summer! Once you ascertain the books to read there will be lots of help (summaries, etc.) online so let us know the titles.

Sra
English - GuruBlue, Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 3:40pm
SRA has given you some great sites for help....now let me maybe suggest a "why".
Among other subjects, I taught debate, critical thinking. I continually asked my students to analyze pieces of writing. They sounded just like you.<G> When anyone reads something, the first thing that needs to be asked, is "whose ox is in what ditch?" in other words, what is their bias, what are they trying to persuade you. Unless you think analytically, critically about what you read and what you listen to, you are likely to end up following instead of leading. Hope that makes sense to you.
We will be glad to make suggestions, corrections when you have written your essay.

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