English Literature

Explain the setting of the play, placing Nora within cultural context, particularly domestic life for women at the end of the nineteenth century. If you wish, you may research the cultural/historical context for A Doll House, particularly social standards about marriage, roles of women, divorce, and child custody. Format: MLA, 12-point font, Times New Roman or Arial font. Choose an original title that represents your work. (Think of book titles – draw in your reader, grab their attention!) Directions: Write a well-organized and developed paper on one of the options below. Develop and focus the paper on an overall, central, narrow thesis so that you are making a clear argument, not presenting a list of general ideas. In other words, avoid plot summary and have a clear point. This is very important!

Write an essay about Tales from the Thousand One Nights: “Invocation” and “Prologue” (pp. 13-23); “The Fisherman and the Jinnee” (pp. 79-105); “The Young Woman and Her Five Lovers” (pp. 106-112) I WOULD ATTACH THE INSTRUCTIONS ON ‘FILES’ Identify themes which establish connections between different stories in Tales from the Thousand and One Nights.?Discuss the significance of gender roles in Tales from the Thousand and One Nights.?Make a reasoned argument that explains and analyzes a central theme in the text—e.g. gender roles, storytelling, moral lessons, social critique.

Second Day, Seventh Story: Told by Panfilo, who many commentators see as a representative of Boccaccio. Summarize the story in a paragraph. In another paragraph, analyze the narrative function of Alatiel. How does Boccaccio’s portrayal of Alatiel reflect medieval views of female sexuality? (You will want to go to The Decameron Web, click on Society, and then Sexual Desire to learn about medieval views of female sexuality). How does Boccaccio use the story of Alatiel to expose the lies of a patriarchal medieval society? You might also want to make a thematic connections with the First Story of the First Day. https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/society/sex/sexual-desire.php https://www.limpidsoft.com/a5/decameron.pdf

This assignment is the basis of your term paper and is your opportunity to propose the general idea of your project. This works two-fold: it allows for you to already start sketching out what American culture means to you both personally and academically while also getting you on the journey to conceptualize a broader project that can address these ideas. These projects should be of interest to you so that it’s something you enjoy completing. There are minimal limits on this project, the only being that it needs to fit within the conceptual scope of the course (and must be social scientific in nature). To that end, you’re welcome to think of American culture in many ways though you should consider the Week 1 and 2 readings as guidance on how to articulate what qualifies as culture, though you can also look ahead a bit and see if those weeks offer you some inspiration as well. For example, we have a week where we are discussing issues of TV in America and maybe you want to talk about music or food; that’s great! Maybe you want to discuss something like the changes in religiosity in America, that also works but don’t just think of it as changing demographics about American religious participation, you need to make sure that you will subsequently connect into cultural shifts in the US (i.e. keep you mind on the interpretative aspect or why/why it matters). (cue Ron Popeil voice) “and so much more!” Basically, your term paper is about an aspect of American culture that you want to know more about including some aspects of how it came to be and a clear articulation of how/why it matters. Make sure it is Times New Roman, size 12, with 1-inch margins, double-spaced. I’m not entirely concerned about specific length (aim for about a page, but you can go longer) but you should take as much space as necessary to address each required element in a sufficient manner (i.e. I should understand fully your thinking and reasoning behind each). Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .pdf (I have set Canvas to only accept these types so if you can’t upload, make sure that you’ve saved it as a correct file type). Your proposal must contain the following elements Topic: The broad topic in which you’re interested. Also, why are you interested in this topic/area of study? Research Question: Make this the actual question you want to answer, such as “In what ways is American popular culture still influenced by minstrels?,” “How have changes in American culture influenced religious participation?,” or “How has American cuisine been influenced by changes in immigration patterns? Discuss your thoughts behind this question, why this research question exactly? Give some pre-emptive insight into your thoughts: what do you think the answer to this question is (and why)? Population: It’s always good to make sure your particular population of interest is discussed. So, while we are discussing American culture writ large, there are various groups/populations you may want to focus on. In my own research on the cultural bases of pricing, I focus specifically on self-employed craftspeople. This section is to make sure you’re articulating your topic proposal in a manner that lets us know you’ve considered begun considering the important facets of your topic. Who does your topic and research question apply to? Why this population? Who does it not apply to? Does this create any difficulties in understanding it, or is it a strength? 3 academic, peer-reviewed sources that help to explain and address your paper’s topic with two to three sentences explaining how each connects to your topic. So, if I was writing about how fashions in computer brands is connected to issues of e-waste, I’d want to start looking for articles talking about changing dynamics of computer consumption as well as articles that address the topic of e-waste and its changing dynamics 1 non-academic (but trustworthy!) source that gives descriptive information to motivate the project with two to three sentences explaining how each connects to your topic. So, keeping with the prior topic, I’d want to get find a trustworthy source that tells me something like how many computers are produced each year, how many computers are recycled each year, how many computers are thrown away each year, or even (as a recent news report found) how certain companies contractually require all recycling centers to destroy everything so it’s melted down in its constituent parts for reuse rather than allow for parts to be salvaged and used while repairing peoples computers. Finally, a list of the search terms you used and which databases you used to find these articles.

English 202 Research Paper Assignment Text: The research paper is a documented prose work resulting from an organized analysis of a subject. Your paper will examine particular writers’ works. The stories you have chosen to read will be the focus of your research paper. It is not a biographical sketch of the writer; however, you may include biographical information if it relates to your thesis. It is not a plot summary; I can read the stories for that. Primarily, you are going to take a position about the works and use specific events or quotes from the work to support and explain that position. Your thesis statement will be based upon this position. In addition, you are going to examine what literary critics have to say concerning the work. You must read the work prior to beginning your research. Format: Research papers must be typed and formatted according to current MLA documentation style. This includes using Times New Roman, 12 point font. You will be expected to list each of your sources in proper MLA format on the Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. You will also use proper MLA parenthetical internal documentation throughout your paper. The MLA Handbook is an absolute necessity. You cannot pass the research paper if your format is wrong! Length: A minimum of five full pages of text (double-spaced). In addition, you will include a Works Cited page. You cannot pass the paper if you do not have the required length on the paper! Sources: A minimum of six (6) sources is required. You must have four (4) secondary sources quoted directly in the body paragraphs (there should be at least 1 secondary source per main point). You cannot pass the research paper without including four secondary sources. The literary works you have chosen (short stories) will count as a fifth and sixth source, the primary sourcse. There are many sources available for literary research, and I expect you to use a variety of sources. You should use at least one article as a source, and you can have only one Internet source. Masterplots, Cliffs Notes, Spark Notes, eNotes, Grade Saver, Wikipedia, and Classic Notes DO NOT count as a source. This is not a comprehensive list. There may be other websites that you will not be allowed to use. Please consult me if you have any doubts about whether or not you should use a website. Process: You will be expected to follow a guided process in your research and writing. I have designed the course to make it easier for you to write a research paper step by step. On the course syllabus, I have indicated dates when topics, thesis statements and outlines, and rough drafts are due. I will be maintaining a file which will indicate whether or not you have completed these steps. Any student who fails to follow these steps in a timely manner and does not indicate a work in progress will not be allowed to turn in a research paper. If the minimum requirements are not met (minimum length, minimum number of sources, etc.) for this paper, IT WILL NOT BE GRADED!! Other guidelines to consider: 1 DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE and expect to do well on the research paper without having read the book. 2 Your first two assignments (worksheets #1 and #2) will be completed as we start our library time and will entail your getting to know your author, what critics say the themes of your novel are, and setting up a tentative thesis and outline. 3 Ultimately, your paper will focus on the themes within the novel. It will not be a biographical study or a summary of the plot. 4 Your two biggest enemies will be disorganization and procrastination. Organization-Have the following materials with you at all times: research packet, handbook, primary source, photocopies of secondary sources Staying on Schedule-You have been given a calendar with all due dates clearly marked. As you are working on your own in the library, you must be responsible enough to work at a steady pace. No late work will be accepted or checked for any reason. Early checks are always possible. 5 Research papers (both the rough draft and the final draft) must be typed. Computer labs are located on the 2nd floor of the college library and on the 2nd floor of Building G. Because computer classes are taught in the computer labs, you will need to go by the location most convenient to you and find the posted available times for student use. Save your work on your disk. Computer problems and printer problems will not be accepted as an excuse for late work. 6 If you are concerned about your paper, I will be happy to check rough drafts. However, I will only check research papers if you make an appointment (face-to-face or phone) during my office hours. Any paper sent via email will not be checked

Summarize what “Last Seen: Voices from Slavery’s Past” is about. Describe what it is to someone who has never seen or heard of it. (2) Explain what you think the purpose of this performance is. What is it trying to accomplish? (3) Discuss your reaction to this performance. Did you like it? What did it make you think about?

This Documented Research Essay Assignment is designed to: apply research techniques and critical understanding of readings. A. You will write a rhetorical analysis of the essay you have chosen. In this analysis you will discuss the purpose and the rhetorical modes/strategies that the author has used to present his/her position. You will also discuss whether the strategies have been effective and if the author has successfully achieved his/her goal. When you critique a source, you are evaluating how far you feel you can trust or recommend the source’s main argument. Even if you disagree with the issue, you may find the author has made a strong case with strong support. Alternatively, you may agree with the issue but feel the argument has been constructed weakly. The purpose of this assignment is to strengthen your writing skills by critiquing a reading assigned by your instructor. In addition, researching various sources (democratic, newspaper-of-record, and academic) will contribute to providing a close analysis of the text using textual evidence closely. B. To satisfy the research component of this assignment and to develop your research skills, you are required to search the Centennial College Library database for secondary sources. These secondary sources can include another essay on the same topic that you wish to compare to the one you have chosen, or an essay that provides context to the primary essay you have selected. For example, if “Call It What it Is – Anti-Blackness” were one of the choices, you could research Black Lives Matter, or historical background to racism in the United States to provide context to the writer’s essay.

Research Assignment Overview Overview You will complete a five page research paper that focuses on literary analysis. The paper will give you a chance to apply many of the techniques we discuss in class. Selecting a Topic Your analysis will focus on the work of one of the author’s we study in class. In addition to covering the selection(s) we read in class, you are expected to read additional work by the author. The instructor will help you to make those decisions. Choose from one of the author’s listed below: Sandra Cisneros Ernest Hemingway Langston Hughes Nikki Giovanni Robert Frost Emily Dickinson Arthur Miller Edgar Allan Poe Thesis Your goal is to develop a paper that focuses on several themes that are found in the work of your chosen author. Purpose of the Assignment In English 102 students are expected to develop a claim through the application of literature resources and engage in academic conversations about one or more specific piece of literature in a way that demonstrates a thoughtful engagement with literature. Audience Keep in mind that this is an academic paper. You are writing for a sophisticated audience that understands and appreciates literature. Research Since this is a research paper, you will be required to use critical sources in addition to the work of the author you selected. You must have a minimum of three critical references (and you will probably use them multiple times.) Documentation You must use the MLA format as required by the WCC English Department. Specific guidelines for doing so are found on the WCC Library website Integration of Quotations In this literary research paper, you will want to support your ideas with direct quotes. Some of those quotes will come from the actual works you have read by the author. Others will come from some of the critical works you are citing. The Essay: Organization of parts/Development of Claim This five page research paper should focus on the themes developed by the author you selected. You may choose to introduce a limited amount of biographical information about the author you select, but you should focus on the themes found most often in the author’s work. How the Assignments Will be Graded Grading will be done according to the Standard Humanities Rubric. Students should also review the policy on plagiarism that has been developed by the College and the English Department.

Growing up: How does the protagonists and / or other characters form the text evolve (grow-up or change) during the course of the text? Use quotes from the text to support your analysis, that represent or describe how the character(s) have changed over the course of events from the text. MUST include quotes, parenthetical references, and a works cited page.

Virginia Woolf belongs to the group of early twentieth-century writers who were called “High Modernist” writers.  Among other experimental techniques this group was well-known for having introduced “stream of consciousness” technique in novel writing.  In your essay, discuss how and why Woolf tries to capture her characters’ thought processes, shifting the narrative from one perspective to another.  Does this help her convey some of the major themes of the novel more effectively? Why?