english question othello

I need an explanation for this English question to help me study.

OBJECTIVES

• Acquaint yourself with a range of valid critical inquiries into different aspects of the text
• Expand and deepen your understanding of the play through research/ reading critical literary essays
• Use these critical essays as models for your own academic essay; apply appropriate insights from these examples about structure, argument, and academic tone
• Integrate ideas, insights and evidence from one or both of your chosen two texts as sources for your Othello essay.

  • Using one of these readings is required; using both is optional.

  • Other acceptable sources to use for your paper, in addition to the critical database readings are the assigned videos from the Drama Unit and other assigned readings, etc. See Essay Instructions for details.

OVERVIEW

You will be reading two selections from the database and writing a two-paragraph summary/analysis for each one — a total of FOUR paragraphs. (Obviously, you are encouraged to read as many of these critical essays as you like to enlarge your understanding and stimulate your thinking about the play, and you’re welcome to use additional sources in your essay.) Remember that for your essay, you must also cite the play itself among your sources. See the formal essay instructions for details about sources, source types, and the Works Cited.

INSTRUCTIONS: (scroll to the bottom for the resources you’ll need for this journal)

STEP 1: READING from the Critical Database

• TIP: Before choosing from the Othello Database of Critical Articles and Essays, first click some of them open and scan the first few paragraphs before deciding on the one(s) you want to read more closely – note that the subject matter and focus is not always clear just from the titles, so do not base your choices exclusively on titles.
  • The database readings vary widely in focus, tone, subject matter and approach to the play. Click open enough of them to get a sense of the variety.

• Choose the first text related to YOUR TOPIC that you will summarize and analyze for this Journal. It might be one you plan to use as important background, or as direct support of your thesis, or as a counterargument to your thesis.
• It’s important that you read attentively, as it will help you arrive at your own interpretation and ideas about the play, and that will be demonstrated in your essay.

STEP 2: WRITING a 2-paragraph response to Text #1

LAYOUT, FORMATTING & CITING:

• Prepare the document in MLA format. Formatting counts

• At the top, above your first paragraph, include an MLA citation (Links to an external site.)of the text you chose to write about – format it the way you would an entry on a Works Cited page. (Visit the Purdue OWL MLA Format Guide (Links to an external site.) for instructions and examples).
• Label each paragraph with the appropriate boldface heading
  • Part 1: Summary
  • Part 2: Analysis

STEP 3: Repeat the process above for your SECOND chosen reading.

When you’re done, your completed Journal assignment will consist of:

A) A two-paragraph summary and analysis of your chosen critical reading # 1 from the Database

B) A two-paragraph summary and analysis of your chosen critical reading #2 from the Database