Luminous Links: Emerson’s School

Dr. Sean Meehan

Morningside College

There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book we read becomes luminous with manifold allusion.

            --Emerson, “The American Scholar”

Luminous Links

Luminous links are specific writing assignments that each of you will experience in the course as well as a model for the kind of creative reading that I expect students to develop (and experiment with in class) and which I will use in organizing class discussions and some presentations of my own. This model emphasizes student participation in class and an understanding of good, critical reading as a dynamic and creative process, developed much like good writing.

Below are the guidelines for each of the assignments as well as a rubric that I will use in evaluating your work in each case.

Link #1: Close Reading

1-2 pages, typed.

            Develop a close reading of an Emersonian passage (anywhere from one sentence to one page in one of his works). The objective is to follow out a line of his thought (recognizing that his sentences are slippery), pay attention to his language, to any key words, images, syntax, punctuation you notice. Your thesis should focus on something you read as significant in this passage and the larger insight it might offer about the essay or Emerson’s writing/thinking overall. Primary reading only—no citations of secondary resources expected. [For example: focusing on the metaphor of photography in a passage in “Shakspeare; or, the Poet” and how those play a role in that essay and his idea of originality]

Link #2: Drawing another Circle.

2-3 pages, typed.

            Around every circle, Emerson tells us, another circle can be drawn. For this assignment, go back to the passage from Link #1 and do more work with it: expand your focus on that passage (and its surrounding essay) and perhaps revise your thesis by providing further links: link this passage to another passage/location in Emerson’s work, another idea in his thinking that it relates to; in addition, link this passage (or the new passage) to a resource (critical essay, historical/cultural context) that can provide further insight into this expanding circle of Emerson’s thought and your interpretation of it. Citations of at least one secondary resource is expected. [For example: taking my focus on photography in “Shakspeare” and linking that to his discussion of “The Poet” and to a critical essay of Emerson and Representative Men.]

Note: in effect you are creating with this link the beginnings of a hypertext essay, something you are not required to do, but I encourage you to think about.

Link #3: Working Bibliography

1-2 pages, typed.

            This link reflects your work in progress for your seminar paper. It must include the following: [1] a proposal for your essay, which should be a paragraph description of your focus and how you plan to develop it, where in Emerson’s work you will concentrate, what your likely thesis will be; [2] a bibliography of at least 5 secondary resources (print and electronic) that you have begun to research and are likely to use; each citation (MLA format) should be briefly annotated (1-2 sentence description of what the resource offers); [3] a 1-2 paragraph summary of one of the key critical essays you have at this point informing your research; your summary should include a paraphrase of the argument and its thesis and a brief discussion of how you might link this to your own work.

Link #4: Capstone Essay

5-10 page essay, typed: researched, revised and refined. Must include at least 5 critical resources (print and/or electronic) and works cited in MLA format.

            Building on the creative reading and critical thinking/writing you have already explored and experimented with in the course, you will develop a substantial essay that will reflect not only a culmination of your intensive study of Emerson but of your studies as an English major. This is your chance to be the American scholar that Emerson wants you to be. The focus and thesis for this essay is entirely up to you. The only guidelines are the following: the essay must have something to do with Emerson and his writing, must reflect the readings and discussions we have had, and must reflect your efforts to make this your strongest achievement as a scholar. The length of your essay will depend on how well you focus your thesis, your support, as well as the effectiveness of your use of critical sources. These are things we can work on in class and in conferences.

Your audience for this essay is American literary scholarship. My intention is for this essay to become part of the Emerson hypertext that I am building for use in future classes and for Emerson readers around the world. It is also my expectation that this essay might serve you for future use: as an example in your portfolio of substantial critical writing your have achieved, as a strong writing sample (for those thinking about graduate school applications), as the foundation for an essay you might further expand and revise for publication.

 Evaluation

With the shorter links, we will not have workshops in class: I suggest that you do at least one draft for revision and editing purposes before turning it in. With your capstone essay, I will expect thorough revision and editing, and give more attention to that in my evaluation. It should be the most thorough and the cleanest work you have ever turned in.

I will use the rubric to evaluate your links. This provides a general guideline; as a writer, you should also seek feedback from me (and others) when you feel you need more specific guidelines and support for developing your ideas for an essay.

Overall, one of the central points I will emphasize in evaluation your links is the effectiveness and thoughtfulness with which your writing reflects ideas we have encountered in the course, in the readings as well as discussions. I am encouraging you through these assignments not only to participate in real literary scholarship that scholars and teachers use, but to develop your creative reading ability—something you can take with you into future courses and into your learning beyond Morningside.

F/failing: Assignment not completed.

D/insufficient: The essay addresses the assignment generally, without providing the kind of focus that is necessary for coherence and development; the essay makes no use of a connection to reading; the essay shows little thought and creativity in exploring the topic; the mechanics of the essay suggest that little to no editing was done. In general, this essay reflects a weak and insufficient achievement, suggesting the need for improvement in multiple areas. Significant revision required in order to post this link. Emerson is disappointed.

C/sufficient: The essay addresses the assignment sufficiently and provides a necessary focus, though with a need for further development; the essay makes a sufficient connection to reading but not in a way that is effective for the essay; the essay demonstrates sufficient thought and creativity, with a need to do more during the revision process; the mechanics of the essay indicate the need to address some issues during editing. In general, this essay reflects sufficient achievement with the assignment, suggesting room to improve in one or more of the areas mentioned. Continue to work on before posting the link. Emerson is somewhat interested but thinks you can do more.

B/strong: The essay addresses the assignment fully and develops its focus coherently and effectively; the essay makes effective and thoughtful use of connections to reading, demonstrating the writer’s understanding of the reading; the essay demonstrates the kind of thought and creativity that is necessary for an effective and compelling piece of critical writing; the mechanics of the essay indicate no significant problems. In general, this essay reflects strong work and achievement; there is room to refine and push a bit further in one of the areas mentioned as the writer prepares to post this link. Emerson is excited about the potential and wants you to stay with this.

A/exceptional: The essay responds to the assignment in an exceptional manner, developing its focus with impressive coherence and thoroughness; the essay’s use of connections to reading  are highly effective, perceptive, and thoughtful, demonstrating great insight; the essay’s thoughtfulness and creativity are demonstrated throughout the piece, making it highly engaging and compelling; the essay is clean, well edited. In general, this essay reflects excellence in all aspects; the link is ready to be posted and the writer should consider expanding upon this work for future scholarship. Emerson wants to publish this in “The Dial.”