How does either The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle or Sir Gawain and the Carl of Carlisle comment on the realities of medieval forest law and the hunt? As you formulate your answer, keep in mind that your poem may contain more than one “hunt.”

Essay Question:
How does either The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle or Sir Gawain and
the Carl of Carlisle comment on the realities of medieval forest law and the hunt? As
you formulate your answer, keep in mind that your poem may contain more than
one “hunt.”
In addition to analyzing your chosen poem, you should draw from the excerpts we
have discussed in class from Select Pleas of the Forest and The Master of Game. You
should also find two additional, secondary sources on medieval forests or the
medieval hunt to inform your argument.
Your essay should be an argument, with a focused, arguable thesis statement,
coherent paragraphs, and lots of specific, convincing evidence from the texts.
Length:   4‐5 pages (@ 1500 words)
Format:   12‐point font with 1‐inch margins, double‐spaced, and MLA Style. For
a guide to MLA style, see
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Due Dates:   Rough Draft, Tuesday, October 3, please bring two copies to class
Final Essay, Friday, October 6, in my office by 5 pm
Grading Criteria:
Quality of the argument: Your essay makes an interesting, focused argument, the
argument is backed by the right evidence (lots of well-chosen details from the historical
readings and your literary text), and your evidence is connected clearly to your point by
thoughtful analysis and strong reasoning.
Use of sources: Your essay places the primary sources (that is, the historical records and
your poem) in dialogue with each other in illuminating ways. You have found two
substantial, scholarly secondary sources. Your secondary sources are appropriate to the
topic and give context for your argument, and you show that you have read and
understood them, but they do not take over. That is, you use the secondary sources to
show that you are familiar with the scholarly conversation about this topic, but most of
the essay is your own reading of the primary sources.
Organizational strength: Your essay has an introduction that captures the reader’s
interest in the idea and states the essay’s argument, tight paragraphs (one main point
each, topic sentences supported by a good balance of evidence and analysis), clear
transitions that connect paragraphs to each other and to the central argument, and a
conclusion that gives the reader food for thought.
Style and Grammar: Your essay has correct grammar and citations and clear, precise
style. It has also been proofread. For advice on grammar and style, consult any good style
manual or see http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/