rough draft
Now that you have proposed a thesis for this paper focusing on a c
rough draft
Now that you have proposed a thesis for this paper focusing on a character from the play and reflected on the character in the discussion board, your next step is to write the paper draft. F
The draft is worth 25 points and should be a minimum of 750 words from your titles to your close. Keep in mind a well-developed paper well exceeds the minimum word count.
Plan for 3 to 4 hours or more for this stage of the paper. Closely review this info and samples as you work on your draft and come back to the modules frequently. Consult the other related course modules we started with for more details, examples (including a sample student paper), and resources. Try to work on this major paper with many technical parts a step at a time over several days rather than trying to do it all at once. This is especially important if you are working on improving your course grade average since this is a major assignment.
Before you write this paper, check how you did on your other graded paper by thoroughly reviewing your feedback from your section instructor for what worked well in your previous writing assignments and what needs attention. Think about how you can learn from the prior assignment to avoid similar errors. Use the Learning Resources to help you improve.
In addition, see your discussion board feedback post to check if your thesis needs attention or if you have a question. Let your section professor know if you have any questions. To view discussion feedback, go to the Grades tab.
You are also strongly recommended to submit your draft to either the Virtual Tutoring service provided by TN eCampus or the WSCC Writing Center tutoring service. See more about these services in the Learning Resources module in Content.
Keep in mind the final is a “high stakes” paper, so do your best on the draft. Carefully follow instructions and samples. Read and review each item in the module as you draft. Remember your section professor can see how much of the Content you read and if you checked the recommended module and resource items in your feedback.
Instructions
Below are the instructions for what to include in your draft. See the Writing a Literary Analysis module for the format, literary present tense, titles, thesis, intro, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Start with basic info on the top left of your page. This includes your name, section professor, course info, and date.
Include a grabby, original title and then a subtitle of what your paper is about.
Begin your intro paragraph with an interesting, grabby opening to pull in your reader. Connect with your readers about the topic
State your main point (thesis) at the end of the paragraph.
Write at least 3 or more well-developed body paragraphs where you start with a topic sentence; help readers see and hear the characters by properly introducing, quoting, and citing. Interpret and explain the passages and show what they reveal about the character and how they relate back to your thesis. Frequently quote from the work to immerse the reader in the work and to support your points. You can also include the author’s stage directions (see italics in play). Add some figurative analysis where you can go deeper than the surface meaning. See how to introduce, insert passages, and cite the play in the separate quoting section below. Show your literary detective skills. Remember to use literary present tense for action happening during a scene. End with a reflection to wrap up this point.
Write a conclusion paragraph that follows the guidelines in the Writing a Literary Analysis module. Avoid starting with a signal phrase like “In conclusion.” Your goal is to do a reflection on the work, remind readers of your main point with a fresh thesis, help them see a takeaway message for the lesson they can apply to their own lives today, and a well-worded and impacting last sentence. End strong.
Skip several lines and include your word count from your titles to the last sentence. Put your word count over the minimum like 875/750. This shows you have written 875 words out of the 750 minimum. Remember not to count your info at the top left of the page; start with the titles. That is where your paper really begins.
Quoting Guidelines and Samples
Before you start drafting, a tip is to go through the play and list possible quotes to show your character’s traits and the cause or effect point from your thesis.
As noted in Module 2: Writing a Literary Analysis notes, you are like a literary detective closely looking for the best direct evidence from the drama. One of the essential parts of your body paragraphs will be lots of direct quoting from the play to support your points and convince the readers of your character’s trait, cause, and/or consequences. Be sure to use the Project Gutenberg version of the play in the reading section since it is translated from Norwegian, and there are multiple versions. By using this translation, it will streamline your drafting and feedback as your section professor checks your quotes and format.
You can search for key words to find quotes or check if you are accidentally plagiarizing when you draft stages of the paper. To search for key words, click “Ctrl” and “F” at the same time in the PDF copy for a pop-up search box. For example, in the play, “secret” is a key word, so you could search for it and find the passages.
When quoting from a drama, you will have mostly characters speaking as your main evidence since a play is based mainly on characters talking. Start with the speaker and a verb that matches how the person might sound on stage. This allows smooth integration of the quotes into your essay.
Avoid repeating “says” and “states.” You can check the Repetition item in the Learning Resources module for the Word Hippo online site that can help you find other words if you need options. Just match the word you choose with a word that fits naturally like for “says”; some replacement words include utters, announces, remarks, and responds. Listen to how you see and hear the character’s attitude. Would explains, confesses, reveals, shouts, exclaims, or laments fit the tone?
After a speaker and verb intro, put a comma after the intro and then insert the quote as it appears in the play.
Avoid mixing italicized stage directions from Ibsen with character spoken lines since the character does not say these words. If you wish to quote from the stage directions, see how to do this separately below.
Sometimes, you might have a full sentence intro to a quote. See the Dr. Rank sample below in the “Sample Play Quotes” for how to avoid a comma splice error.
Cite the page number first to help readers find the quote. Then, cite the act.
If the author is not in the intro to the quote, include his last name in the cite.
Use parenthesis to insert your documentation. Space after a quote to cite, so the cite does not affect the wording.
Use a semicolon to separate the page number and act. Space after the semicolon to make the parts distinct.
How to Quote Characters Speaking
When quoting from a character, start with the character’s name. Once you state the main character’s name fully the first time in your paper, use just the first name like Nora. This cuts down on wordiness and repetition. If you wish to refer to Torvald as Helmer and Christine as Mrs. Linde, that is fine, just be consistent. Avoid switching back and forth which can confuse your readers.
In our copy of the play, most of the quote samples below are on page 62. They appear in Act 3 of the play. So, the cite has (62; act 3) to document the quote.
Please do not copy and paste the sample quotes into your paper which is a form of plagiarism. If your wish to use the quotes, then create your own intro and context.
Quotes are smoothly integrated into a sentence rather than just “dumped” into the paper.
Notice Ibsen’s stage directions have been omitted since these are not spoken by the character. See below for how to quote stage directions.
Also, notice one quote has a speaker and verb quote followed by a comma which is the most common way to intro a spoken passage.
The second quote shows how to have a fuller intro that is more than just a speaker and verb. For this type of longer intro that could stand alone as a separate complete sentence, use a colon to avoid a comma splice. A tip is to check right before the quote. Notice there are nouns before the second quote sample rather than a verb.
Sample Play Quotes
At the end of the play, Helmer calls out, “Nora! Nora!” (Ibsen 62; act 3). When she does not reply, he mutters to himself, “Empty. She is gone” (Ibsen 62; 2).
Dr. Rank reveals important information to both Nora and the audience: “A lawyer of the name of Krogstad, a fellow you don’t know at all. He suffers from a diseased moral character, Mrs. Helmer; but even he began talking of its being highly important that he should live” (Ibsen 13; act 1).
How to Quote Ibsen’s Stage Directions
In a drama, the author includes stage directions to show characters who to act on stage. These are not spoken, so as noted above, avoid mixing them in with a character’s spoken passages. These are done in italics to distinguish them from spoken lines. Sometimes, you can find very strong evidence in the stage directions. What a character does shows their personality trait. Quoting from the stage directions also shows careful study of the character in the play and adds variety to your quoting.
Reproduce the stage directions in italics the same as they appear in the play. As noted above, if Ibsen does not appear in the intro to the quote, then include his last name in the cite. If he appears in the intro to the quote, then omit his name from the cite since it is already noted.
Please do not copy and paste the sample quotes into your paper which is a form of plagiarism. If your wish to use the quotes, then create your own intro and context.
Sample Stage Direction Quotes
At the end of the play, Helmer “sinks down on a chair at the door and buries his face in his hands” (Ibsen 62; act 3).
Ibsen describes, “She is laughing to herself, as she takes off her hat and coat. She takes a packet of macaroons from her pocket and eats one or two; then goes cautiously to her husband’s door and listens” (1; act 1).
Notice stage directions are in italics to show they are not spoken. See tip about avoiding mixing stage directions with characters speaking.
Long Quote
When you type or copy in a quote and it ends up running over 4 sentences in your paper, use block quote format. You can find examples on the Purdue University OWL site. You will hit enter to move the quote down. Double-tap on the left to show it is not a paragraph break. Put a period at end of the quote. If it ends in a question mark, exclamation, or dash, use this punctuation instead. Then put the cite. This gives a long quote its own block in the paper, so it is easier for the readers to view and process. Try to avoid too many block quotes which can weigh your paper and readers down. You can break a long quote into smaller quotes with your explanation or analysis in between.
Quoting Tips
Avoid going online to see what others are saying about the play or characters or to find a list of quotes. Focus on the play itself. You have ample evidence. Let the play guide you.
Avoid summarizing the play too much. A literary analysis is not a summary of the work. SHOW with direct evidence from quotes in the play. Prove you have closely studied the play, identified the best evidence to support your points, and smoothly integrated the evidence into your essay.
Use present tense to intro quotes & for action happening on stage during an act.
Avoid mixing Ibsen’s italicized stage directions with characters’ spoken passages. Do them separately.
Avoid just copying and pasting quotes from the play like character name, colon, & passage. This is done for stage productions to show who is talking at the time. These are called “dumped quotes.” The readers need more setup and context.
Example of How NOT to Quote and Common Errors
Avoid just “dumping” the quotes into your paper. Readers need a formal introduction and may need context (showing what is going on in the scene). Here is an example of dumped quotes without proper introductions, quoting, and citations.
Nora [putting on her cloak]. I cannot spend the night in a strange man’s room.
Helmer. But can’t we live here like brother and sister–?
Names are often in all caps in the stage directions to help actors and stage managers know who is doing what and when. Avoid this when quoting from the play script for a formal college essay. If you use stage directions, put names normally like the MAID or NORA would be the maid and Nora. The PDF copy does not have all caps for characters’ names, but the HTML version of the Project Gutenberg site does have all capitals.
Dashes are 2 hyphens or 1 long dash. This is a strong punctuation mark to show someone being interrupted or suddenly stopping what they are saying. It is used for dramatic effect. Dashes can also be used in a passage to emphasize particular words. There is no spacing around this dramatic punctuation.
If you need to refer back to key words already quoted and cited in your essay, use quote marks to show you are emphasizing the key wording. For example, if you have already quoted Nora referring to how her husband treats her like a “doll” or how her father treated her like a “doll,” then quote these key words. Another cite is not necessary since the key words are already quoted and cited in your paper, but show this is key wording from the work. If you need help trying to avoid repeating a key word from a quote as you explain, try the Repetition item in the Grammar section of the Learning Resources module which has a helpful website called Word Hippo. Choose wording that naturally fits what you are trying to replace.
Contact your section professor if you have a question about a quote.
Work Cited
The last page in your document for the Work Cited. It goes on the page after your conclusion and word cont.
We are using the standard Modern Language Arts (MLA) format used nationally for English papers and other types of papers.
Center the title Work Cited at top of the page. The title is singular since you have only one source.
This page is double spaced like the rest of the paper.
Start on the left for your entry. Do not tab. If your source takes up more than one line, it will have a hanging indent. This means the second line (and lines after if a long source) will be tabbed over.
Go to the end of your 1-inch margins and then tab. If the second line will not tab without moving the first line, then hit enter at the end of the first line to be able to adjust the second line.
Works Cited Format for Online Sources
Go to the drama reading section of the module and check the main source for the play. This takes you to the Project Gutenberg site where the author’s work appears. Note this is different than the MLA source info for videos.
The MLA work cited form for an online poem or song lyric web page includes the following:
Author with last name first
Title of play in italics (long works are italicized)
Name of the website where play is located in italics
Sponsor of the site. This can be found on the “About” tab on the website. This is not in italics.
Publication date. This is the “release date” on the first page of the HTML version of the play on the Project Gutenberg website. Since having a date the play was posted, we do not need your access date at the end of the form. On this page, months are abbreviated (unless May, June, or July which are already short).
The web address (URL) where the play is located.
Sample Work Cited
You will double space this page like the rest of your document. Start on the left. If an entry is longer than 1 line, then tab the next line or lines. This is called a hanging indent. Our online modules are not able to do double spacing and hanging indent, but you can apply the format in your document. If you would like to see a sample with the spacing, go to the Purdue OWL site. Scroll down to “A Page on a Web Site” format.
Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll’s House. Project Gutenberg, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, Mar. 2001, https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2542.
Rubric and feedback
Before you submit, see the rubric associated with this assignment.
See Assignments or click quick access link to view the rubric: Module 5: Drama Analysis Draft Rubric.
You are encouraged to use the rubric as a self-checklist before and after submitting. If you have missed something, you can make the correction and resubmit your document.
After your assignment is graded, review the rubric to see what worked well and how to improve.
Feedback will be in both Assignments and Grades.
Let me know if any questions.
Keep in mind the grade you make for the 25-point draft stage may not be the same as what you might earn on the final paper worth 100 points. See the final paper rubric for the breakdown of points for each part and the increased weight of the items. The final paper is thoroughly assessed while the draft is checked by your section professor and some tips are given for how to improve. You can also send your draft to the virtual tutoring options for more individual feedback.
Tips
Here are some tips to help you as you draft your paper. These are from common errors students often make; try to avoid these issues to increase your points for this assignment, save you time later, and give you a better chance on your higher stakes final paper. You can review these items and more in the Writing a Literary Analysis module.
Use present tense for action during a scene and to introduce quotes.
Avoid repeating “says” and “states.” Listen for the tone of the author’s words. Try verbs like expresses, describes, explains, elaborates, or confesses. Match the verb to what seems to be the tone of what the character is saying or what the author is showing in his stage directions.
Avoid going online to read about the author, play, or character. Focus on only the author’s words. If you consult online sources, this will show in the Assignments plagiarism tool. See more about the program in the Plagiarism section of the Getting Started module.
Avoid informal wording. Use this wording only if it is in a quote. Informal wording is considered too casual and conversational for a formal college essay. See more about word choices in the Academic Language item in the Grammar section of the Learning Resources module. This language is OK for discussion boards, which are more personal but avoid informal wording in our formal papers. Informal wording includes I, me, my, we, us, our, and contractions unless in a quote.
If you have a specific question about your draft or tutoring service feedback, please contact your section professor. Allow enough time for a response before the assignment is due.
After you submit to Assignments, go to a new tab like checking Grades. Then, come back to the Assignments tab, click on your submission, and open it in the Assignments tab. If anything needs attention, update your original document and resubmit. If you have issues uploading, try a different Internet browser.
Keep in mind the grade you earn for the 25-point draft stage may not be the same as what you might earn on the final paper worth 100 points. See the final paper rubric for the breakdown of points for each part and the increased weight of the items. The final paper is thoroughly assessed while the draft is checked by your section professor and some tips given for how to improve. You can also send your draft to the virtual tutoring options for more individual feedback.