Comprehensive Interpretation of Haruki Murakamis after Dark Length & Assignment: 5 complete pages of writing, not including the Works Cited page at the end. Writing should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and 12 point standard font size.

Select only one of the following narratives as the focus for this essay and provide a comprehensive and detail interpretation of it: Haruki Murakami’s After Dark (2004) or Emine Sevgi Özdamar’s “The Courtyard in the Mirror” (2001).

Focus of this Essay

In this essay, your interpretation of scenes and analysis of ideas should focus on a spatial reading of the narrative you have selected from the above list. Demonstrate how this novel addresses the concept of East-West cities and spaces. To do this, consider how various spaces in the novel impact the significance of your interpretation. How are characters influenced by these spaces and places? How might space/place function as a character within the story and reveal the meaning of what an East-West place is? What do the spaces mean in relation to how things develop in the plot?

Consider the different manifestations of spatial constructions. These are the different ways to articulate the meaning of spaces and places: public/private, gendered, racial and/or ethnic, class-based, physical/psychological, real/imagined, secular/spiritual, systems and hierarchies of power, etc.

Writing about the Spatial East-West Identity

Remember that your essay must focus on how the different spaces throughout the novel reveal the points you propose to make. You do not want to only mention the cities distantly as though they are merely backdrops. Consider specific locations in the cities: streets, rooms, courtyards, various enclosed and exposed locations, public and private spaces, real places and imagined. Consider too how the spaces create experiences for key characters: memories, pain, happiness, revelations, etc. This should be done throughout the essay. Always think about how specific location trigger this and orchestrate the experiences you mention throughout your points. Where do you see the world of the West and the East merging and overlapping? In what ways are the urban spaces showing us how East and West can co-exist side-by-side, collide, or even coalesce into a “third” space that breaks the binary of East vs. West?

Provide a critical and formal interpretation of the novel that is both original and insightful. Support your ideas through a strong interaction with the primary source and with relevant secondary sources that augment your interpretation of the novel. You should avoid writing in first person point of view in order to maintain stronger objectivity. In your analysis, you are not trying to solve a societal problem or offer a solution. Avoid making sweeping generalizations or clichés. The focus should be on bringing greater meaning to the work of literature itself and explaining the significance of the East-West literary spaces you are focusing on.

Comprehensive Interpretation of Haruki Murakamis after Dark Sources

1 Primary Source (which is the novel itself) + 2 Secondary Sources (which can come from academic databases, literary collections, or books. However, you should not use another work of literature as a secondary source for this assignment). Be sure that you do not quote from literature reviews that simply summarize the plot. These sources can be either directly or indirectly connected with the stories you are analyzing. Also, do not use sources such as Wikipedia, standard dictionaries, purchases/prewritten essays, or literature summary websites such as SparkNotes, Shmoop, About.com, Infoplease.com, enotes, Cliff’s Notes, Gradsaver, or any generic informational websites or study guides since much better, college level sources are available to you. Please ask me if you are uncertain whether a source you wish to use is appropriate for this essay. Use the Library Guide to help you research appropriate and professional articles and resources. A link to this is in the Canvas Course Reader which is under the “Modules” section of Canvas.

Due Date:

Electronically upload a final copy of the essay to Canvas by clicking on the “Submit Assignment” icon in the “Second Essay” file on Wednesday, March 13 by 11:59 PM. (The essay cannot be submitted after this date and time, not even for partial credit).

Comprehensive Interpretation of Haruki Murakamis after Dark Criteria of Evaluation

Development of a strong introduction that includes a clear thesis statement, opening arguments, and writer-based techniques such as a forecast or a framing device. Central interpretation should be about how the spaces/places in the novel are generating an East-West identity.

Creation of a background paragraph that provides context for your topic. It may include a partial summary of the play; however, it should be geared toward the direction you take regarding your interpretation.

Crafting and organization of support/body paragraphs that include the components of Assertions, Examples, Explanations, and statements of Significance (AXES) to convey critical readings and interpretations of the texts with which you are working. Never over quote nor end your paragraphs with a quotation. Quotes should not be substitutes for your own writing. Always explain the quote’s significance, especially in relation to the thesis statement. For quotes four lines or more use the “block format” and explain the details of this long quote and why it means. Analysis must focus on specific spaces/places throughout the novel that articulate an East-West identity.

A concluding paragraph that presents more than a recapitulation of the thesis and main points, but a “Big Picture” of the importance of your analysis.

An ability to select, integrate, and properly cite researched sources using the 8th edition MLA.

Proper use of grammar and syntax will be important in conveying ideas lucidly.

Comprehensive Interpretation of Haruki Murakamis after Dark Format

Your essay should include a creative title that reflects your interpretation of the short story.

Number the pages in the upper right-hand corner; let computer insert the numbers.

Appropriate single-spaced heading (your name, my name, course number & section, due date) should appear in the upper-left corner of the first page only.

MLA format (parenthetical citations and Works Cited entries for each source) is required.

Comprehensive Interpretation of Haruki Murakamis after Dark Consult

Library Guide: link is available in the Canvas Course Reader in Canvas’ Modules

Review Moreno’s “Architecture of the Interpretive Essay” in Critical Interpretations of Literature (p. 78-81)

Gardner’s “The Writing Process” in Critical Interpretations of Literature (p. 1-30)

Sample Student Essay: Outline in Critical Interpretations of Literature (p. 90-91)

Sample Student Essay: annotated version in Critical Interpretations of Literature (p. 92-96)

Using MLA documentation: Fister’s “Working with MLA Sources, 8th edition Style” in Critical Interpretations of Literature (p. 66-77)

MLA Library Guide tab in the Library Guide

MLA Sources section in Canvas’ Modules

MICHAEL MORENO ENGLISH 115: INTRO TO NOVELS

GREEN RIVER COLLEGE WINTER QUARTER 2019 (ONLINE)

SECOND ESSAY (437.5 points)

Length & Assignment:

5 complete pages of writing, not including the Works Cited page at the end. Writing should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and 12 point standard font size. Select only one of the following narratives as the focus for this essay and provide a comprehensive and detail interpretation of it: Haruki Murakami’s After Dark (2004) or Emine Sevgi Özdamar’s “The Courtyard in the Mirror” (2001).