| 1. |
The paper is due on or
before the last day of classes, Monday, December 14. The sooner you hand it in, the
quicker you will get it back. There will be no late papers. |
| 2. |
Papers will be
typed. Develop a topic that you can handle in about eight pages of text (not including any
notes and bibliography). You are expected to use a minimum of ten articles and books as
secondary sources. Internet sources are not counted in this minimum of ten unless your
topic is very contemporary. Be sure to keep a copy of your paper. |
| 3. |
When you hand in the paper you
will also include in a large envelope the following: |
|
a) |
note cards or printouts of notes |
|
b) |
all drafts (these should reflect your use of
the revision checklist on page 2079 and in-class editing responses from your peer
editors). |
|
No paper will be accepted without
these materials. The paper, note cards, documentation and bibliography should appear in a
standard, conventional format. You are responsible for the information included in Chapter
39 on "The Literary Research Paper" (2099-2117) in the anthology. Plagiarism is,
of course, the unpardonable sin. Be certain that the paper is adequately documented. |
| 4. |
A one-paragraph description of the
topic you propose to write on will be due Wednesday, November 11. This description will
include a tentative thesis for the paper. You will also include a working bibliography
along with the topic proposal. You are encouraged to discuss your topics with me before
then. No paper will be accepted without this preliminary proposal handed in on this date. |
| 5. |
The typed first draft of the paper
is due on Monday, November 30, for in-class editing. Papers not ready that day will be
lowered one full letter grade. |
| 6. |
The purpose of this assignment is
to learn something in the process of composing the paper and to present what you've
learned effectively. Please be certain that your topic has a focus and makes a point. It
should not be merely a compendium of scholarly gossip on a particular subject; instead it
should have a clearly defined point of view that sheds some light on the work you have
chosen to discuss. |
| 7. |
The topic you write on is mostly
up to you, but it must be related in some way to one or more of the contemporary
writers (born since 1930) included in the anthology. The focus may be exclusively on
fiction, poetry, drama, or some combination of them. You may focus on a single work;
author; idea (e.g.: literary values, religion, society, nature, reform, war, women, etc.);
style; influence; reputation; or related topics such as popular literature. You name it.
Though I will be happy to offer advice and leads, please remember that choosing, shaping
and focusing the topic so that it can be developed into a thesis is a part
of the assignment. Please keep in mind that your thesis must make clear your critical
approach to the topic (see Chapter 37 "Critical Strategies for Reading"). Choose
something that interests you. (You might try looking at the
"Considerations" and "Connections" that follow whatever works intrigue
you). And keep in mind that you can write on works that appear in the Collection sections
as well as the discussion chapters. |
| 8. |
If you have any questions or
problems concerning your paper--whether it's about sources, organization, or style--don't
hesitate to see me. I will not hand you a topic, but I'll be happy to discuss the topic
with you. |
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