English History and Literature students:

The essay question this week asks you to analyze one of Chaucer's Tales. You should pick three of the qualities listed at the end of the questions (keep in mind that we added a couple and took a couple away). In each paragraph of the body of the paper you will analyze one of these qualities in its relationship to Chaucer's work. How effectively, for example, does Chaucer employ diction? Does the plot of the story move along at a nice pace or does it stumble? Are his characters fully developed? Do they come alive for you? On all these questions, you should bear in mind that we are examing a work hundreds of years old. Each paragraph of the body should contain a topic sentence followed by evidence from the text. Don't pad you essay with lengthy quotations here; but do feel free to use quotations. Some other goals to strive for include strong, vibrant sentences; support for whatever statements you make; an introduction that makes the reader want to pick up your essay and a conclusion that leaves that reader feeling both satisfied and provoked to thought by your words.
One practical point: don't start your paragraphs with "One reason that Chaucer makes "The Pardoner's Tale" so interesting is the way he uses words. Instead write something like this: "Chaucer's diction in "The Pardoner's Tale" also delights his readers. In other words, cut out excessive words. Bring in some interesting verbs. Try not to make the essay formulaic.