Ind Rdg Nabokov Essay

AP Language
Independent Reading

We have talked extensively this quarter about Vladimir Nabokov's essay.  We will continue to do so as we use him as a standard with which to gauge our own critical reading skills.  Now, I would like you to assess yourself as a reader and assess the author of your fiction choice as a writer. This should be done only in the context of the Nabokov piece, "Good Readers and Good Writers." 

Objectives:

• demonstrate your understanding of the Nabokov essay
• analyze yourself as a critical reader, identifying your strengths and weaknesses when reading fiction on your own
• continue your work with argumentation and analysis
• demonstrate your ability as a writer: structure, organization, support, and standard English

The Assignment: This paper should have two distinct parts.
In Part One, assess yourself as a reader of your independent reading book using Nabokov's standards of major and minor readers. You must accomplish this in 500-600 words. Remember that you and the novel are the focus here: Do not simply summarize Nabokov's points.  Show how you stack up to his criteria and make sure you evidence to support your claims about yourself!
In Part Two, explain how the author of your book fits all three criteria for Nabokov's major writer.  You should also have evidence for this--quotes from the book that SHOW the author fulfilling Nabokov's roles for great writers. This section should also be 500-600 words.

Things to Consider:  
Part One

• Remember that your audience is me. I have read the Nabokov essay and do not need it explained.  Keep the focus on you and how you read the novel.
• Consider what textual evidence will best support your points. Make sure you choose the best evidence to prove your point.
• Be careful that you aren't relying on one part of the text for all of your paper's support. If your paper refers only to pages 1-100--even if you do a great job with those pages-- I will have to question whether or not you are even familiar with the rest of the book.
• Be specific. Avoid the obvious. Use this question to guide you here: Does this paper explain how I read this novel in relation to Nabokov or could this have been written by a generic student?  Because this section is about how YOU read the book, it should be written in first person.

Part Two

• When you talk about the author as a storyteller, be careful that you don't simply summarize the novel. You need to show HOW the author is good at storytelling--not tell the story he writes.
• Be careful with the enchanter section.  Remember, enchanter doesn't mean magical in a abracadabra kind of way.  It is the artistic brilliance of the author--the way all of the details come together in the end.  Again, don't use plot summary here.  You must prove that the writer is, indeed, an enchanter.
• Because the focus of this section is on the AUTHOR, it should be written in third person--no "I" or "you."

Overall

• Work for good transitions.
• Pay attention to your word choice.
• Audience and purpose should always influence your tone and level of language.
• No one except you should ever see a first (and probably a second) draft of any major writing assignment.  This paper will NOT go through process.  Make sure the paper you turn in is your best work.