Choose an aphorism from the list below (scroll down; the list is there) and write an essay in which you explain its meaning and relevance.

Paper 4: Interpreting an Aphorism

Task: Choose an aphorism from the list below (scroll down; the list is there) and write an essay in which you explain its meaning and relevance.

What is an aphorism? An aphorism is a clever and pointed statement of a serious maxim, opinion, or general truth. Unlike a proverb or folk saying, whose authorship is usually unknown, an aphorism has a specific author.

What kind of reader should you write for? Suppose that you are writing for the college community, educated readers who are interested in ideas.

Thesis and development: Your first paragraph should introduce the aphorism and quote it completely with an attribution tag. The first paragraph should end with a statement of your thesis. The thesis statement should be specific and substantive. It should say something about the value or meaning of the aphorism that you interpret. (Note: The aphorism is not your thesis.) Your thesis is a claim about the value or relevance of the aphorism (its meaning). When you develop your thesis in the body of your essay, use specific examples to illustrate your ideas about what the aphorism means or why it is useful or insightful.

Format: Use the same required format that you have used for your previous graded essays. The requirements of this format are in the course syllabus. Click on “Overview.”

Length of Paper: At least 600 words – NOT COUNTING any Works Cited list, which you will probably not need, anyway (see below). Use the word-count in your computer and make sure you meet this minimum. I will check your word count. Do not turn in an essay less than 600 words long. Most papers that earn a grade of A or B will be LONGER than 600 words. Maximum is 900 words.

Note the following:

· There will be no peer review or rough draft posting for this paper.

Your essay should exhibit unity of purpose, support for your key points, effective organization of ideas, and coherence among sentences and paragraphs.

· Your essay must comprise at least five paragraphs.

Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization should be correct.

· THIS IS NOT A RESEARCH PAPER. WRITE YOUR OWN WORDS. THINK YOUR OWN THOUGHTS. Aside from the aphorism, you should not need quotations. But if you must quote, paraphrase, or summarize anyone (other than the aphorism itself), you must use MLA citation and documentation with a Works Cited list. And any quotation must be shorter than four complete typed lines.