Any topic (writer’s choice)

These are short papers ( MLA format): hence, no introductory paragraph, no lengthy quotations, no cover page, etc. Cut to the chase. Most of the questions ask you to look carefully at one or more passages; beware, however, of simply going through the passage line by line, making observations as you go. Also beware of stringing together a series of unrelated paragraphs (e.g., one on meter, one on imagery, one on characterization, one on plot). A paper should be an argument rather than a list. So try to reach some conclusions, and then structure your paper to demonstrate them. however, you may wish to look at the specified passage(s) from a different angle. If you use outside sources, be sure to cite them.