English: ENG 111

Literacy Narrative Essays

The goal of the literacy narrative essay is to tell your readers a true story about your reading and writing experiences.  To help ensure success with this assignment, be sure to:

• Read your instructor's guidelines carefully.  Don't assume that you know the details of an assignment based on a brief overview in class or hearsay from your classmates.  If there are written guidelines for your assignment, read them completely--and ask your instructor about anything you do not understand--before you begin.
• Remember your audience.  Keep in mind that your essay should be written at a college-level for a professional audience (your instructor) using proper grammar and a formal tone.
• Use first-person narration.  Speaking from the first-person point of view (ex. using "I") is perfectly acceptable for this assignment, since you are relating your own first-hand account of events from your life.
• Make every word count.  Stay on topic when writing.  When reviewing your paper, ask yourself, does all of the information included help tell me story effectively?  Are events within your narrative told in a logical, chronological order?  If not, it may be wise to make some revisions.
• Cite your sources.  If you make a statement that is not your own original thought or common knowledge (ex. "The sky is blue"), or reference other works directly, be sure to cite your source both in-text and at the end of your paper.

Library Databases

Websites

Literary Analysis Essays

A literary analysis essay is designed to take a critical, detailed look at a literary work.  Some may look at how individual components of a work relate to one another, how parts of a work relate to larger social/political/cultural/religious/other themes, or how one work by an author relates to that author's other works.

Before you begin writing:

• Read your instructor's guidelines carefully.  Don't assume that you know the details of an assignment based on a brief overview in class or hearsay from your classmates.  If there are written guidelines for your assignment, read them completely--and ask your instructor about anything you do not understand--before you begin.
• Simply summarizing the original work is unacceptable.  Look deeper at the text, and work to make historical, cultural, literary, or other connections to broad themes, and/or search the work for patterns, analogies, or other important details.
• Don't let emotion or personal bias overshadow your logic and evidence.  Be sure to support your claims with evidence from your research or from the original text rather than with your opinions.
• Remember your audience.  Keep in mind that your essay should be written using college-level research for a professional audience (your instructor).  Be careful not to condescend to your reader by making assumptions about his/her stance on your topic.
• Cite your sources.  If you make a statement that is not your own original thought or common knowledge (ex. "The sky is blue"), or reference other works directly, be sure to cite your source both in-text and at the end of your paper.

Library Databases

Reference Works

Websites

Argumentative Essays

Know the ground rules before you begin your argumentative essay (or any assignment, for that matter).  Check out the information and resources below for help with topic selection, writing technique, and more.

Key points to remember:

• Read your instructor's guidelines carefully.  Don't assume that you know the details of an assignment based on a brief overview in class or hearsay from your classmates.  If there are written guidelines for your assignment, read them completely--and ask your instructor about anything you do not understand--before you begin.
• Organize your strategy according to the Toulmin Method, which includes:
  • Claim:  The overall thesis of the essay (argument for/against a topic)
  • Data:  The evidence gathered to support the claim
  • Warrant:  Explanations included for each piece of data relating how it connects to the claim (how data supports the thesis)
  • Counter argument & rebuttal:  States the opposing viewpoint and refutes it
  • Conclusion:  Summarizes and makes recommendations for action
• Don't let emotion or personal bias overshadow your logic and evidence.  When choosing a topic, avoid picking one that you feel very strongly about.  Instead, consider choosing something about which you would like to learn more.  Also, when writing the body of your paper, be sure to support your claims with evidence from your research rather than with your opinions.  Avoid fallacies, or arguments based on poor/incorrect reasoning.
• Remember your audience.  Keep in mind that your essay should be written using college-level research for a professional audience (your instructor).  Be careful not to condescend to your reader by making assumptions about his/her stance on your topic.
• Cite your sources.  If you make a statement that is not your own original thought or common knowledge (ex. "The sky is blue"), or reference other works directly, be sure to cite your source both in-text and at the end of your paper.

Library Databases

Websites

Interlibrary Loan Request

So you've looked all over the library and you can't find what you need--now what?

Mitchell Community College Library is able to borrow items from other institutions via Community College Libraries in North Carolina (CCLINC) using interlibrary loan.  This service is free to all library users*!

To request an item, fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request form.

Be sure to fill out as much of the form as you can, as this will help ensure the correct item is requested.  A librarian will work to fill your request and will let you know when your item is ready for pick-up.

*Must have a valid student ID or MCC library card.

ILL FAQs

Q:  When will I get my book/other item?  How long will it take?

A.  That depends on many factors, including how far the item is traveling from its home institution, how long it takes to get a response from the library lending the materials, etc.  However, the majority of requested items arrive in a week or less.

Q:  What do I do with my ILL book when I'm done with it?  Do I need to mail it back to the lending library?

A:  No. Simply drop the book off at any MCC library location, and your item(s) will be returned to the correct institution.

Q:  How long do I get to keep ILL items?

A:  Most ILL items are loaned for one month, which starts when the item is dropped into the mail by the lending institution.  Your library staff will stamp your item with its due date.  While all lending libraries do have the right to ask for their items back early, this rarely happens.

Q:  Can I renew ILL items?

A:  Yes.  Unless another student has requested that item, you can renew ILL materials.  Call or stop by any MCC library location, and our staff will be happy to assist you with renewals.  Just remember, all requests for renewals must be made before the item's original due date.

Q:  How many ILL items can I get at one time?

A:  Students can check out up to five items at once, including ILL items.

Q:  There's a book that I need, but it's "non-circulating."  Can you help me?

A:  Yes.  In many cases, a librarian can request scanned or photocopied pages of non-circulating books, which have been designated for library use only.  These may be sent in the form of a fax if only a few pages are needed, or may be scanned and emailed, or photocopied and sent via traditional mail if more than 10 pages are required.

Q:  What about journal articles?

A:  We can ask for digital or print copies of articles from other institutions, too!  If you find an article online that you cannot access, or that requires a paid subscription to view, ask you library staff to help you locate it for free.

Don't see what you're looking for?  Use the Need Help box on the left to contact your librarian, call the Huskins Library main desk at (704) 878-3271, contact the Mooresville campus library at (704) 978-1356, or email library@mitchellcc.edu.