上海交通大学：《英语文学导论 An Introduction to English Literature》课程教学资源（阅读资料）How to Write a Critical Essay

How to Write a Critical Essay? (illustrated by Suo Yuhuan) Title:Topic Source Example:Heroism in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Oueene Introduction:Significance Vacancy Contribution Example: 1.Spenser was"poet of the poets".The Faerie Oueene was the greatest English epic 2.Scholars have explored into“chivary”,“ethic'”,and "love'.Heroism”has been neglected. 3.Both the plot and characterization of The Faerie Queene is guided by the poet's concept of heroism. Body:Argumentation(Argument 1 Argument 2+Argument 3) Argument 1:Topic sentence Supporting details Example: Topic sentence:An armed knight going to fight for "worship"is a typical characteristic of heroism. Supporting details:His father had been a hero.He inherited his father's arms and shield.He had never been in battles,but he was fearless,although he was going to confront a horrible dragon. Argument 2:Topic sentence Supporting details Example: Topic sentence:A man going to fight for the woman's sake is another typical characteristic of heroism. Supporting details:The knight was not personally offended or threatened by any enemy.A white,beautiful lady asked him to take revenge upon an infernal fiend.The glorious queene of faerie land assigned him the glorious task of killing that fiend. Argument 3:Topic sentence +Supporting details

How to Write a Critical Essay? (illustrated by Suo Yuhuan) Title: Topic + Source Example: Heroism in Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene Introduction: Significance + Vacancy + Contribution Example: 1. Spenser was “poet of the poets”. The Faerie Queene was the greatest English epic. 2. Scholars have explored into “chivary”, “ethic”, and “love”. “Heroism” has been neglected. 3. Both the plot and characterization of The Faerie Queene is guided by the poet’s concept of heroism. Body: Argumentation (Argument 1 + Argument 2 + Argument 3) Argument 1: Topic sentence + Supporting details Example: Topic sentence: An armed knight going to fight for “worship” is a typical characteristic of heroism. Supporting details: His father had been a hero. He inherited his father’s arms and shield. He had never been in battles, but he was fearless, although he was going to confront a horrible dragon. Argument 2: Topic sentence + Supporting details Example: Topic sentence: A man going to fight for the woman’s sake is another typical characteristic of heroism. Supporting details: The knight was not personally offended or threatened by any enemy. A white, beautiful lady asked him to take revenge upon an infernal fiend. The glorious queene of faerie land assigned him the glorious task of killing that fiend. Argument 3: Topic sentence + Supporting details

Topic sentence:A strong man matched with a pretty woman is still another typical characteristic of heroism. Supporting details:The young knight was pricking on the plaine.He was equipped with mightie arms and silver shield.He rode a strong steede.And he dreaded nothing. The young lady was whiter than snow.She was virtuous and from royal lineage. Conclusion:Summary Conclusion Example: Summary:The Faerie Oueene is a story of a heroic mighty man helping a pretty virtuous woman.The characters are perfect.The fighting is bloody. Conclusion:By modelling his story after Caesar's legend,Spenser awakened the British people's worship for the hero.By arranging a young knight to fight a horrible dragon,Spenser revealed his ambition to produce another English epic after Beowulf

Topic sentence: A strong man matched with a pretty woman is still another typical characteristic of heroism. Supporting details: The young knight was pricking on the plaine. He was equipped with mightie arms and silver shield. He rode a strong steede. And he dreaded nothing. The young lady was whiter than snow. She was virtuous and from royal lineage. Conclusion: Summary + Conclusion Example: Summary: The Faerie Queene is a story of a heroic mighty man helping a pretty virtuous woman. The characters are perfect. The fighting is bloody. Conclusion: By modelling his story after Caesar’s legend, Spenser awakened the British people’s worship for the hero. By arranging a young knight to fight a horrible dragon, Spenser revealed his ambition to produce another English epic after Beowulf