Critical Thinking Log 3 – The Iliad

Instructions:

Topic: Does the Iliad have any contemporary relevance? What does Homer have to say that might be
relevant to 20th century society? Is the Iliad timeless?

*We have read the Iliad by Homer. It is now time to reflect on your reading and notes to write a short
critical response paper.

*This is designed to be a well-written and well-argued paper. It does not have to be a full essay (No
introduction and conclusion paragraphs are needed) . You should write as many body paragraphs as it
takes to fully answer the question and give a detailed analysis of your prompt. However, you need a
minimum of 3 paragraphs! You can have many more than that. In other words, you need to write and
turn in a paper worthy of your time and effort.

Explore your own ideas. Assume that your reader has read the text and avoid unnecessary plot summary.
Though one or two credible secondary source may be used, I am most interested in what YOU think.

(i) You need NOT write an introductory paragraph. Start with your
thesis, and dive in to supporting it, using 3 or more body paragraphs. End with a concluding sentence (or more, if needed) instead of a full
conclusion paragraph.

(ii) Don’t forget to use
short quotes (not long ones) from the texts to illustrate your point, and remember to introduce the quotes correctly and to offer analysis of those quotes, making clear to your readers the point you are making in using that particular quote. Make yummy quote sandwiches; don’t use dropped quotes. In short this means:
1. Introduce the context for each quote (who said/wrote, to whom, when, why, where, etc.)
2. Quotes cannot stand alone/by themselves (just like babies). They need to be attached to your words: make quotes as part of your own sentence (ex. by adding a subject and a verb—The author observes, “quote.”) (See Canvas Resources)

(iii) These logs are designed to let you explore your own ideas. Assume that your reader has read the
text and avoid unnecessary plot summary. Since this is short paper, I am most interested in YOUR
analysis.

(iv) Remember: Whenever you do choose to use ideas from other sources, make sure that you give them
credit; remember that plagiarism can be mechanical (copying someone else’s words) or intellectual
(using someone else’s ideas). Please see syllabus for details on plagiarism.

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(v) Please use MLA guidelines, including Times New Roman, size 12 fonts, double space. (Please see
Canvas for general formatting.)
(vi) No need to include your information (name, class, professor, date, etc.) on the top left.
(vii) Begin paper with a creative, informative, centered
title
(in normal font; not underlined)
(viii) Use in-text citations for your quotes. (See Canvas.)
(ix) Works Cited page is only needed if you are using credible outside sources.
(x) Your selected question should be included at the top of your paper. However, it won’t be part
of the word count.
(xi) Write the total word count (excluding the question) at the end of the paper—500 minimum.
Grading Criteria for Critical Thinking Log:

1. Strong critical thinking that reflects your close reading of the text and your engaged commitment to
your topic
2. A clear argument/thesis statement (No introduction paragraph is needed.)
3. Focused, topic-centered paragraphs that support your argument (main points presented in your thesis).
Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that announces the topic of that paragraph (Follow main
ideas in the same order as in your thesis)
4. Use of (short) quotesNthat are introduced (explain textual context for the quote: who said it, to
whom, why, when, where, etc.), smoothly integrated into your text in support of the points you are
making, and analyzed. (See Canvas Resources on Quote Sandwich)
5. One or more satisfying wrap-up sentences at the end to conclude your thoughts.
6. College-level proofreading for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
7. Attention to MLA guidelines, citations for quotes, and Works Cited page (for research only)

Please Remember to:
**formulate a specific and concise
argumentative thesis statement
(one sentence) based on any one of
the questions. This means that 1) not everyone may agree with your stance 2) you will support your
position with textual/credible evidence