A Western book and its African answer: a reading essay
The capstone project for A Comprehensive Look at Western Literature — a free Civic & Life Skills course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 7 steps
- Pass mark 70%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
One Google Doc link, shared so anyone with the link can view, containing the 1,200 to 1,800-word reading essay with thesis, context, at least six referenced quotations with analysis, conclusion, works cited and the authorship declaration.
What to do, step by step
- Part 1. Choose your pair: one Western work covered in the course (for example Oedipus the King, Antigone, The Bacchae, the Odyssey, the Aeneid, The Canterbury Tales, Othello, The Tempest, Robinson Crusoe, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Heart of Darkness, 'The Second Coming', 'Journey of the Magi', Animal Farm or The Stranger) and one Nigerian or African work that answers, echoes or argues with it (for example The Gods Are Not to Blame, The Bacchae of Euripides, Tegonni, Women of Owu, Telling Tales, Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Season of Migration to the North, Foe or The Meursault Investigation). Another pair is fine if you explain the link. State the editions and translations you used.
- Part 2. Write a one-paragraph introduction with a clear thesis: an arguable claim about how the two works are in conversation and what the second one changes, not just that they share a theme.
- Part 3. Give brief context for each work (author, date, form, original audience) in no more than 150 words each, and say whether the link between them is direct (a rewrite, a title, a reply) or a comparison you are making.
- Part 4. Close reading: quote at least six short passages, at least three from each work, each no longer than about four lines, with page, act and scene, book or line references. For each quotation, analyse the words, images, form or voice and say what it shows; do not just retell the plot.
- Part 5. Write a conclusion that answers your thesis and says what reading the two works together reveals that reading either alone would miss.
- Part 6. Add a works-cited list, and a one-line declaration that the essay is your own work, with any AI assistance disclosed and described.
- Put the essay in one Google Doc of 1,200 to 1,800 words (not counting quotations and works cited), set sharing to 'anyone with the link can view', and submit the link.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| A clear, arguable thesis about how the two works are in conversation, sustained through the essay, rather than a list of similarities | 20% |
| Close reading: at least six short, accurately referenced quotations from both works, each analysed for language, imagery, form or voice rather than summarised | 30% |
| The comparison is genuine and balanced: both works get real attention, and the essay explains what the African work changes, answers or reveals | 20% |
| Accuracy of context: authors, dates, forms, translations and the nature of the link (direct reply or reader's comparison) are correct and honestly stated | 15% |
| Clear, well-organised, proofread writing with a complete works-cited list and the authorship and AI-use declaration | 15% |
You need 70% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish A Comprehensive Look at Western Literature before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in A Comprehensive Look at Western Literature is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 70% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 7 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
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Ready to earn this certificate?
A Comprehensive Look at Western Literature is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
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