The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck

Literary Studies Writing Assignment English 1302

 

Using research skills, interpretive modes, and writing styles appropriate for literary studies, you

can evaluate textual evidence and interpret ideas relative to a topic in order to educate the

reader, urge the reader to consider your perspectives, participate in dialogue about literature,

and ultimately contribute to the body of knowledge.

 

Objectives • Identify literary elements

• Analyze and interpret literature

• Communicate literary interpretations through writing

Directions 1. Complete lessons 10–13 in eCampus

2. Complete a rough draft

3. Complete the Peer Review Assignment

4. Complete revisions with the help of the Writing Center, tutors, and editors

5. Submit your final digital copy to eCampus

 

Format Write a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 750 words according to MLA guidelines for literary studies papers. Include a Work Cited page, but do not include a cover page. No

secondary sources are required or expected. Only one entry (your primary source) shall be

listed on your Work Cited page.

 

Final Submission and Extra-credit 1. If you worked with the Writing Center and wish to receive extra-credit, attach a

photograph of your Writing Center stamp or OWL report at the end of your digital copy.

2. Click the Submit Compositions button, click the submission link, and upload your digital

copy before the deadline.

 

Penalties or Rejection • Plagiarized text

• Does not address the topic and/or objectives of the assignment

• Provides no textual evidence or documentation

• Late or missing submission

• Incorrectly formatted

 

 

 

Topics

Choose one of the following topics for your thesis:

 

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck, Dorax seems quite different than the other sheep dogs on the ranch. What makes him different and how does this difference define

his character? Does this symbolize anything?

 

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” Olive Huck uses many tropes such as symbols, similes, metaphors, and irony. Choose one of these tropes and evaluate her use of this trope.

Does this trope work well or does her trope need improvement? For example, Dorax is blamed

for killing sheep, but he is protecting sheep and the ranchers. What does this situational irony

mean?

 

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” how does Olive Huck capture the local color of

Texas in the early twentieth century? What does this mean for the story?

 

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” Olive Huck captures the ranching life of Texas. How

can this story help urban readers understand nature, Texas ranching, or ranching life?

 

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck, Dorax meets a tragic end. How does

his death represent the conflict between industry, symbolized by the rancher’s firearm, and

nature, symbolized by Dorax himself?

 

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck presents a domesticated dog who

“consorts” with a wolf pack and seemingly leads them to the sheep but turns to defend the

sheep once the pack begins the hunt. What does this mean?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NLC English Department Literary Studies Paper Rubric

 

CRITERIA

 

Excellent

(18-20 points)

Proficient

(16-17 points)

Satisfactory

(14-15 points)

Unsatisfactory

( 12-13 points)

Deficient

(0-12 points)

Thesis

Engaging opening

that introduces the paper’s topic,

a problem, research question,

purpose, and

method for writing; the thesis

is an easily identifiable, well-

phrased argument that assesses

literature and addresses a

specific idea to be explored and

argued; the thesis reflects sound

critical, interpretive, and

analytical thinking; title and author of

work are appropriately identified.

Generally engaging

opening; areas to be strengthened

may include presentation of

general topic,

development of transition between

general opening and specific thesis

statement; thesis statement is

phrased as an argument but may

be strengthened through

clarification of the main idea being

offered and purpose.

Opening is

functional but too brief and/or

simplistic; topic is apparent but needs

to be developed to

engage the reader; weak sense of

purpose and claim; paragraph topics are

vague or disconnected from

the thesis; thesis may be too general,

vague, or imprecisely

presented; thesis may not directly address the prompt.

Opening is

ineffective, poorly organized, and

underdeveloped; thesis statement

may summarize plot

points rather than present argument

about text or may be missing; thesis

may not address the prompt or a viable

topic; author and/or title of text may not

be referenced properly.

Fails to fulfill the

requirements of the assignment.

Development

Each paragraph clearly connects to

the thesis and

offers identifiable,

well-phrased ideas

to be fully argued in each paragraph;

concrete details are well-chosen

and incorporated in the body

paragraphs;

paragraphs are

well-organized to create a coherent,

carefully developed and

supported argument;

transitions

between ideas are logical and each

idea builds on the preceding.

Each paragraph generally connects

to the thesis but

one or more main

ideas may need to

be clarified; concrete details

are generally well- chosen though

some may be irrelevant or

insufficient as

evidence to

effectively support the thesis and/or

paragraph; paragraphs are

generally well- organized,

although some

transitions may be awkward; focus

and control of argument may

need improvement

because the point of a paragraph

may not always be

clear.

Supporting ideas within body

paragraphs are

present but weak in

one or more

following areas: main idea not

discernible, a fact about the text is

summarized, and/or unclear connections

to thesis

exist. Concrete

details are present but weak because

they provide insufficient evidence

to support the body paragraph and/or

lack insightful

inference. Lack of coherent

organization of ideas within paragraphs;

abrupt transitions that impede flow.

Topic sentences absent or

consistently lack

focused ideas,

either offering

general, irrelevant comments or

stating facts about the text; there is no

discernible argument or point

guiding the paper;

concrete details are

absent or ineffective/

insufficient; consistent lack of

coherent organization of

ideas within

paragraphs and from one paragraph

to the next; points of paragraphs are unclear.

Fails to fulfill the requirements of the assignment.

 

 

Literary

Interpretation

Writing

demonstrates analysis, critique,

and interpretative

functions;

inferences are well developed so that

all claims and points made are

well-supported and persuasive;

focuses on both

thematic and

stylistic elements of examined

literature; demonstrates

writer’s ability to interpret the

function of literary

devices in the service of thematic

meaning; appropriate

balance of quotes to writer’s

commentary; writer is clearly

engaged with and moved by his/her

thinking process and philosophy.

Writing generally

reflects a critical, analytical, and

interpretative

understanding of

the text but is uneven or vague;

inferences demonstrate

interpretive ability but could be

developed further

to better explain

significance of detail and support

thesis; some claims may be

vague, generalized, or

lacking in support;

analysis could be stronger through

focus on stylistic elements that

create thematic meaning; some

imbalance of quotes and

writer’s analysis.

Writing

demonstrates basic comprehension, but

not a critical,

analytical, or

interpretive understanding, as

reflected by the following:

interpretive analysis inconsistent or

unsubstantiated;

frequent summary

of plot; writer restates the content

of cited sources rather than draws

significant inferences about

sub-textual

meaning; little or no analysis of how

stylistic elements of the text create

meaning. Writing weakened by

frequent generalizations,

unsupported claims, assumptions, vague statements.

 

 

 

Writing

demonstrates some awareness of

literary details but

not a critical or

analytical understanding of

the text; points made are vague and

unsubstantiated; plot summary is

present; no literary

interpretation

present.

Fails to fulfill the

requirements of the assignment.

Language &

Style

Paper reflects an

argumentative

mode of writing appropriate for

the topic; it is academic in tone;

writer’s voice is evident, confident,

and sophisticated;

vocabulary and

phrasing are academically

appropriate, persuasive, and

sophisticated without being

pretentious.

Writing is

generally

academic in tone; writer’s voice may

not be consistently persuasive but is

discernible; writing

demonstrates an

awareness of the

purpose to persuade;

vocabulary in some places may

be simplistic or ineffective.

Writing tends to be

mechanical in tone;

writer’s voice is not discernible in the

paper; writing demonstrates

inconsistent awareness of the

purpose to

persuade;

vocabulary tends to be simplistic,

marked by instances of informal or

imprecise diction.

Writing is

mechanical in tone;

writer’s voice is not discernible; writing

demonstrates no awareness of the

purpose to persuade;

vocabulary is

simplistic and/or inappropriate.

Fails to fulfill the

requirements of the assignment.

Grammar &

Mechanics

Paper includes sentence variety;

effective syntax and grammar;

demonstrates a

mastery of writing conventions and

serves the author’s

purpose;

consistent adherence to MLA

Paper’s sentences generally effective

but may lack appropriate

variety (some

repeated opening words and

structure); syntax

and grammar may

be awkward in places (but not

Essay sentences lack variety (frequently

repeated opening words and sentence

structure); awkward

syntax and grammar confuse writer’s

point and distract

reader; misspellings,

contractions, fragments, referring

Frequent syntax, grammar, and

misspelling errors that distract the

reader; lack of

adherence to MLA guidelines which

undermines the

integrity of paper;

inaccurate Works Cited page

No adherence to MLA guidelines

(missing citations, lack of proper

format); missing

Works Cited page; paper is

incomprehensible.

 

 

guidelines;

accurate Works Cited page;

absence of

grammar, syntax,

and punctuation errors.

distracting); a few

grammar and mechanical errors

(but not

distracting);

consistent adherence to MLA

guidelines; accurate Works Cited page.

to “you” which

diminishes the academic nature of

the writing;

inconsistent

adherence to MLA guidelines (but does

not compromise integrity of essay);

Works Cited page may contain

inaccuracies (but

does not

compromise the integrity of essay).

compromises

integrity of essay.

 

TOTAL POINTS