Write a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 750 words according to MLA guidelines for literary studies papers. Include a Work Cited page, but do not include a cover page. No secondary sources are required or expected. Only one entry (your primary source) shall be listed on your Work Cited page.  

topic

 Topics Choose one of the following topics for your thesis:

 In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck, Dorax seems quite different than the other sheep dogs on the ranch. What makes him different and how does this difference define his character? Does this symbolize anything?

 In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” Olive Huck uses many tropes such as symbols, similes, metaphors, and irony. Choose one of these tropes and evaluate her use of this trope. Does this trope work well or does her trope need improvement? For example, Dorax is blamed for killing sheep, but he is protecting sheep and the ranchers. What does this situational irony mean?

 In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” how does Olive Huck capture the local color of Texas in the early twentieth century? What does this mean for the story? 

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” Olive Huck captures the ranching life of Texas. How can this story help urban readers understand nature, Texas ranching, or ranching life?

 In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck, Dorax meets a tragic end. How does his death represent the conflict between industry, symbolized by the rancher’s firearm, and nature, symbolized by Dorax himself?

 In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck presents a domesticated dog who “consorts” with a wolf pack and seemingly leads them to the sheep but turns to defend the sheep once the pack begins the hunt. What does this mean? 

This short story was published in March 1901 by The Century Magazine. This is a copy of the original magazine.

Olive Huck was a Texas woman and author of several short stories about Texas.

LiteraryStudies Writing Assignment

English 1302

Using research skills, interpretive modes, and writing styles appropriate for literary studies, you

can evaluate textual evidence and interpret ideas relative to a topic in order to educate the

reader, urge the reader to consider your perspectives, participate in dialogue about literature,

and ultimately contribute to the body of knowledge.

Objectives

• Identify literary elements

• Analyze and interpret literature

• Communicate literary interpretations through writing

Directions
1. Complete lessons 10–13 in eCampus

2. Complete a rough draft

3. Complete the Peer Review Assignment

4. Complete revisions with the help of the Writing Center, tutors, and editors

5. Submit your final digital copy to eCampus

Format
Write a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 750 words according to MLA guidelines for
literary studies papers. Include a Work Cited page, but do not include a cover page. No

secondary sources are required or expected. Only one entry (your primary source) shall be

listed on your Work Cited page.

Final Submission and Extra-credit
1. If you worked with the Writing Center and wish to receive extra-credit, attach a

photograph of your Writing Center stamp or OWL report at the end of your digital copy.

2. Click the Submit Compositions button, click the submission link, and upload your digital

copy before the deadline.

Penalties or Rejection
• Plagiarized text

• Does not address the topic and/or objectives of the assignment

• Provides no textual evidence or documentation

• Late or missing submission

• Incorrectly formatted

Topics

Choose one of the following topics for your thesis:

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck, Dorax seems quite different than the
other sheep dogs on the ranch. What makes him different and how does this difference define

his character? Does this symbolize anything?

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” Olive Huck uses many tropes such as symbols,
similes, metaphors, and irony. Choose one of these tropes and evaluate her use of this trope.

Does this trope work well or does her trope need improvement? For example, Dorax is blamed

for killing sheep, but he is protecting sheep and the ranchers. What does this situational irony

mean?

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” how does Olive Huck capture the local color of

Texas in the early twentieth century? What does this mean for the story?

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax,” Olive Huck captures the ranching life of Texas. How

can this story help urban readers understand nature, Texas ranching, or ranching life?

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck, Dorax meets a tragic end. How does

his death represent the conflict between industry, symbolized by the rancher’s firearm, and

nature, symbolized by Dorax himself?

In the short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” by Olive Huck presents a domesticated dog who

“consorts” with a wolf pack and seemingly leads them to the sheep but turns to defend the

sheep once the pack begins the hunt. What does this mean?

NLC English Department Literary Studies Paper Rubric

CRITERIA

Excellent

(18-20 points)

Proficient

(16-17 points)

Satisfactory

(14-15 points)

Unsatisfactory

( 12-13 points)

Deficient

(0-12 points)

Thesis

Engaging opening

that introduces
the paper’s topic,

a problem,
research question,

purpose, and

method for
writing; the thesis

is an easily
identifiable, well-

phrased argument
that assesses

literature and
addresses a

specific idea to be
explored and

argued; the thesis
reflects sound

critical,
interpretive, and

analytical thinking;
title and author of

work are
appropriately
identified.

Generally engaging

opening; areas to
be strengthened

may include
presentation of

general topic,

development of
transition between

general opening
and specific thesis

statement; thesis
statement is

phrased as an
argument but may

be strengthened
through

clarification of the
main idea being

offered and
purpose.

Opening is

functional but too
brief and/or

simplistic; topic is
apparent but needs

to be developed to

engage the reader;
weak sense of

purpose and claim;
paragraph topics are

vague or
disconnected from

the thesis; thesis
may be too general,

vague, or
imprecisely

presented; thesis
may not directly
address the prompt.

Opening is

ineffective, poorly
organized, and

underdeveloped;
thesis statement

may summarize plot

points rather than
present argument

about text or may
be missing; thesis

may not address the
prompt or a viable

topic; author and/or
title of text may not

be referenced
properly.

Fails to fulfill the

requirements of the
assignment.

Development

Each paragraph
clearly connects to

the thesis and

offers identifiable,

well-phrased ideas

to be fully argued
in each paragraph;

concrete details
are well-chosen

and incorporated
in the body

paragraphs;

paragraphs are

well-organized to
create a coherent,

carefully
developed and

supported
argument;

transitions

between ideas are
logical and each

idea builds on the
preceding.

Each paragraph
generally connects

to the thesis but

one or more main

ideas may need to

be clarified;
concrete details

are generally well-
chosen though

some may be
irrelevant or

insufficient as

evidence to

effectively support
the thesis and/or

paragraph;
paragraphs are

generally well-
organized,

although some

transitions may be
awkward; focus

and control of
argument may

need
improvement

because the point
of a paragraph

may not always be

clear.

Supporting ideas
within body

paragraphs are

present but weak in

one or more

following areas:
main idea not

discernible, a fact
about the text is

summarized, and/or
unclear connections

to thesis

exist. Concrete

details are present
but weak because

they provide
insufficient evidence

to support the body
paragraph and/or

lack insightful

inference. Lack of
coherent

organization of ideas
within paragraphs;

abrupt transitions
that impede flow.

Topic sentences
absent or

consistently lack

focused ideas,

either offering

general, irrelevant
comments or

stating facts about
the text; there is no

discernible
argument or point

guiding the paper;

concrete details are

absent or
ineffective/

insufficient;
consistent lack of

coherent
organization of

ideas within

paragraphs and
from one paragraph

to the next; points
of paragraphs are
unclear.

Fails to fulfill the
requirements of the
assignment.

Literary

Interpretation

Writing

demonstrates
analysis, critique,

and

interpretative

functions;

inferences are well
developed so that

all claims and
points made are

well-supported
and persuasive;

focuses on both

thematic and

stylistic elements
of examined

literature;
demonstrates

writer’s ability to
interpret the

function of literary

devices in the
service of thematic

meaning;
appropriate

balance of quotes
to writer’s

commentary;
writer is clearly

engaged with and
moved by his/her

thinking process
and philosophy.

Writing

generally

reflects a critical,
analytical, and

interpretative

understanding of

the text but is
uneven or vague;

inferences
demonstrate

interpretive ability
but could be

developed further

to better explain

significance of
detail and support

thesis; some
claims may be

vague,
generalized, or

lacking in support;

analysis could be
stronger through

focus on stylistic
elements that

create thematic
meaning; some

imbalance of
quotes and

writer’s analysis.

Writing

demonstrates basic
comprehension, but

not a critical,

analytical, or

interpretive
understanding, as

reflected by the
following:

interpretive analysis
inconsistent or

unsubstantiated;

frequent summary

of plot; writer
restates the content

of cited sources
rather than draws

significant
inferences about

sub-textual

meaning; little or no
analysis of how

stylistic elements of
the text create

meaning. Writing
weakened by

frequent
generalizations,

unsupported claims,
assumptions, vague
statements.

Writing

demonstrates some
awareness of

literary details but

not a critical or

analytical
understanding of

the text; points
made are vague and

unsubstantiated;
plot summary is

present; no literary

interpretation

present.

Fails to fulfill the
requirements of the
assignment.

Language &

Style

Paper reflects an

argumentative

mode of writing
appropriate for

the topic; it is
academic in tone;

writer’s voice is
evident, confident,

and sophisticated;

vocabulary and

phrasing are
academically

appropriate,
persuasive, and

sophisticated
without being

pretentious.

Writing is

generally

academic in tone;
writer’s voice may

not be consistently
persuasive but is

discernible;
writing

demonstrates an

awareness of the

purpose to

persuade;

vocabulary in
some places may

be simplistic or
ineffective.

Writing tends to be

mechanical in tone;

writer’s voice is not
discernible in the

paper; writing
demonstrates

inconsistent

awareness of the

purpose to
persuade;

vocabulary tends to
be simplistic,

marked by instances
of informal or

imprecise diction.

Writing is
mechanical in tone;

writer’s voice is not
discernible; writing

demonstrates no
awareness of the

purpose to
persuade;

vocabulary is

simplistic and/or
inappropriate.

Fails to fulfill the
requirements of the
assignment.

Grammar &

Mechanics

Paper includes
sentence variety;

effective syntax
and grammar;

demonstrates a

mastery of writing
conventions and

serves the author’s

purpose;

consistent
adherence to MLA

Paper’s sentences
generally effective

but may lack
appropriate

variety (some

repeated opening
words and

structure); syntax

and grammar may

be awkward in
places

(but not

Essay sentences lack
variety (frequently

repeated opening
words and sentence

structure); awkward

syntax and grammar
confuse writer’s

point and distract

reader; misspellings,

contractions,
fragments, referring

Frequent syntax,
grammar, and

misspelling errors
that distract the

reader; lack of

adherence to MLA
guidelines which

undermines the

integrity of paper;

inaccurate Works
Cited page

No adherence to
MLA guidelines

(missing citations,
lack of proper

format); missing

Works Cited page;
paper is

incomprehensible.

guidelines;

accurate Works
Cited page;

absence of

grammar, syntax,

and punctuation
errors.

distracting); a few

grammar and
mechanical errors

(but not

distracting);

consistent
adherence to MLA

guidelines;
accurate Works
Cited page.

to “you” which

diminishes the
academic nature of

the writing;

inconsistent

adherence to MLA
guidelines (but does

not compromise
integrity of essay);

Works Cited page
may contain

inaccuracies (but

does not

compromise the
integrity of essay).

compromises

integrity of essay.

TOTAL POINTS

• Literary Studies Writing Assignment

Objectives
Directions
Format
Final Submission and Extra-credit
Penalties or Rejection