Final essay: building on the midterm essay, and taking into account the professor’s comments, write a 3000-word essay that continues the thesis and adds additional evidence and argument from the second half of the course. Again, the essay not only summarizes the main points in each work, it also explains the significance of the ideas presented and offers critical notes about the arguments given. The final paper is due at midnight on the last day of finals week and is worth 30% of the course grade. It is graded on the same scale as the midterm essay.
Professors notes from midterm paper:This is an excellent essay concerning the triumph of good over evil in the LOTR. The examples are clearly drawn and show the general direction of the struggle, the complications along the way, but the certainty of the outcome. The question arises, however, that of the victory of good over evil is so clear, does this affect the drama of the story overall? How might this central conclusion be repeatedly throated along the way, even off the end is clear? How might the end still be imperfect, since the loss and pain incurred along the way still linger even after evil has been vanquished? In other words, even though the direction is clear, as you show, how might Tolkien problematize this, by showing how the victory is never complete and that evil leaves its marks behind even in defeat? I think if you think through thus problem for the final essay, it will result in an even stronger effort. Accuracy and Completeness: 4 Clarity and Preciseness: 4 Logic and Rationale: 4 Grade: A
