interest in the idea of democracy

ENG 272

ESSAY ASSIGNMENT-Part I

1. Essay Topic

· Review the following Characteristics of Romanticism from Lecture 4 AND choose 3 characteristics as the basis of your essay:

· predominance of the imagination – over reason and formal rules

· love of nature – the most important being that nature is the living garment of God

· interest in the past – especially the Medieval period

· individualism – a reaction against whatever characterized Neo-Classicism

· individualism – encouragement of revolutionary political ideas

· interest in the common man and human rights

· sympathy with animal life and children

· interest in the idea of democracy

· preference for the simplicity of natural scenery to modern industrialized life

· Identify an assigned poem that illustrates each of the 3 characteristics you choose.

· Use only these sources: Lectures 4-7: assigned poets and poems.

· Message me any questions you have about your proposed topic at least 3 days before the essay is due.

2. Organization and Development of 5-Paragraph Essay:

· Paragraph #1 – Introductory Paragraph

· Introduce your topic with no more than 2 sentences.

· Specify in sentence 2 (thesis statement) the three characteristics (main points) which you will address in your essay. This 3-point thesis names the 3 characteristics of Romanticism that you will discuss through selections of assigned poetry.

· Paragraph #2 – Main Point 1 (Body 1) Paragraph

· Begin this paragraph with a topic sentence about the first characteristic (main point) named in the thesis. Sentence 1 is a topic sentence that names the first characteristic of Romanticism named in the thesis AND the poem you will discuss in main point 1 (body 1) paragraph.

· Develop this topic sentence with 3-5 sentences of support.

· Paragraph #3 – Main Point 2 (Body 2) Paragraph

· Begin this paragraph with a topic sentence about the second characteristic (main point) named in the thesis. Sentence 1 is a topic sentence that names the second characteristic of Romanticism named in the thesis AND the poem you will discuss in main point 2 (body 2) paragraph.

· Develop this topic sentence with 3-5 sentences of support.

· Paragraph #4 – Main Point 3 (Body 3) Paragraph

· Begin this paragraph with a topic sentence about the third characteristic (main point) named in the thesis. Sentence 1 is a topic sentence that names the third characteristic of Romanticism named in the thesis AND the poem you will discuss in main point 3 (body 3) paragraph.

· Develop this topic sentence with 3-5 sentences of support.

· Paragraph #5 – Concluding Paragraph

· The first sentence of this paragraph is the summary statement. It must rename the three characteristics of Romanticism, in the order presented, and refer to the poets and/or poetry discussed.

· The last sentence should be a related closing thought; do no mention any new information.

· Limit this paragraph to more than two sentences.

3. Format:

· Microsoft Word only

· Double spacing throughout

· Indentation of each paragraph

· 12 pt. Times New Roman

4. Writing Guidelines and Length:

· Use standard English and spelling

· Use present tense only.

· Use third person only.

· Do not use contractions.

· Do not include end notes or works cited, as this not a research assignment

· Include no less than a total of 300 words and no more than a total of 500 words.

· Place the word count after paragraph 5 as shown in the sample.

5. Identification Heading to be typed in the upper left area of page 1:

· Your name/WCCS Student ID#

· ENG 272

· Date submitted

6. Title:

· Center a brief title which capsules the subject of the paper.

7. Submission:

· Submit your essay to the Canvas assignment. There are no exceptions.

· Submit your essay by the required due date/time. An essay submitted after the due date/time will be penalized 10 points up until 48 hours of the due date/time. An essay submitted after 48 hours will be assigned a grade of 0%.

8. Grading Concerns:

· Plagiarism of any kind will earn a grade of 0%.

· An essay that does not address the topic will earn a grade of 0%.

· An essay that uses research of any kind will earn a grade of 0%

· An essay that is not in correct format will earn a grade of 0%.

· A late essay is penalized as stated in the preceding section.

· Content development, organization, and writing will be evaluated.

9. A sample essay follows – do not copy any portion!

Jessica Baker/0000000

ENG 271/00000

Submission Date

Romantic Focus on Nature and Humankind

The Romantic Movement is characterized just as much by what it utilizes as by what it rejects. Romanticism, a reaction against the strict rules and order of the Neo-Classical Ages, often focuses on the simplicity and beauty of nature, an interest in the common man, and revolutionary political ideas.

Wordworth’s “Ode on Intimations of Immortality” focuses on the simplicity and beauty of nature. In this poem, the poet speaks of glorious nature as pure and heavenly in his youth. He argues that children can see the Earth suffused with the magic of nature, but as they grow older, the magic dies. As the poem progresses, the speaker comes to the realization that just because a child’s imagination dies does not mean his appreciation for nature dies. Instead, each element of nature can stir him to “thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.”

Blake’s “The Little Black Boy” focuses on interest in the equality of common man. In the poem, Blake reminds his readers that the cloud of racism confuses people: “I am black, but oh my soul is white.” Blake explains that God does not distinguish people by the color of their skin. In fact, he proposes that, in the end, both the little black boy and the little white boy will stand before God, alike, and love each other. Blake’s message clearly depicts Romanticism’s concern for the equality of common man as well as his own reaction to the anti-slavery movement of the time.

Blake’s poem “The Chimney Sweeper” focuses on a revolutionary political idea concerning the need for child labor laws. In the poem, Blake describes the enslaved, overlooked children who clean soot out of chimneys, and, as a result, frequently die untimely deaths. The poet urges society to help “free” the thousands of children that are “lock’d up in coffins of black” through passing new legislation to protect child workers. In this poem, Blake, as many romantic poets, shines a light on an injustice of society and of sympathy for children.

Focus on the simplicity and beauty of nature, interest in equality for the common man, and revolutionary political ideas are characteristics of Romanticism clearly portrayed in these poems by Wordsworth and Blake. Through individual thought and expression, the age of Romanticism highlights the importance of nature and all its inhabitants.

Word Count: 392

Note: In this sample essay, the writer develops 3 characteristics of Romanticism by illustrating each with an assigned poem by 2 different poets. Other possible options are these:

· 3 characteristics illustrated in 3 different assigned poems by 3 different poets

· 3 characteristics illustrated in 3 different assigned poems by the same poet

· 1 characteristic illustrated in 3 different assigned poems by 3 different poets

· 1 characteristic illustrated in 3 different assigned poems by the same poet

Continue your reading in Part II of the Essay Assignment, which emphasizes essay organization via through key statements.