Writer’s choice

ENG 351 Sec. 101
The Term Paper

For your semester project, I would like you to choose a work of American literature from the time period covered (1865-Present) and compose a paper based on a critical reading of that work. You may choose anything from the Norton Anthology or any work not included in the anthology that fits into this category. I recommend you choose a work that will be of interest to you rather than something you think will be impressive to me. If there is a particular author or type of literature we have studied that has captured your interest, choose a work from the anthology or find other writings by that author or texts similar to those that interest you and go from there. Try to make it easy on yourself. If you have a problem deciding what to read, let me know and I’ll attempt to offer some suggestions.

Your paper should include a bit of history behind the work and its author, a note on the historical context in which the work appears, a brief summary of the work, and discussion of an aspect or aspects of the literature that you feel are important to understanding the work and its meaning. You may look at plot, theme, characters, setting, style, structure, symbols—anything that you feel is necessary to provide a more complete understanding of the text. Do not, however, let it get out of hand. Typically, you will find a specific element or idea in the reading that piques your interest and, subsequently, works as a starting point for your research. When this occurs, follow that thread through the work and continually ask yourself what it means, how it is relevant to the work or the greater good, and what you can do with it. There are many other questions you should ask of your text, but these are the most basic. I encourage you to look at scholarship from scholars and critics that will serve to enhance and support your own findings. There are many scholarly journals and reference materials available that will serve to assist you in your quest. I would, however, like you to do your best to offer something new to the discussion, so don’t simply rehash what other scholars have done before you.

Your choice of topics is unlimited. Whatever you feel is important or relevant in the work that makes a good topic is fine with me. You might even consider comparing and contrasting two works. I’m open. But, again, do not let it get out of hand; just make sure your topic is neither too narrow nor too broad. If you are unsure whether your topic is too large or too small, let me know and I’ll help if I can.

Your paper will be 10-12 pages (2500-3000 words) in length plus a works cited page—not a bibliography or reference list—at the end. You are required to follow MLA guidelines for format and documentation, using parenthetical citations rather than foot- or endnotes. If you have questions about MLA, let me know and I’ll give you a brief rundown. You can also find the appropriate guidelines on the Supplemental Documents page, linked on our course Canvas Homepage.

More than anything, I want you to learn from this and have fun with it. Give yourself plenty of time to do the work necessary to write a solid essay, including revising, editing, and proofreading. Please turn in only your final draft, but feel free to bring in any stage of your writing for my perusal if you wish. I won’t rewrite or fix your paper, but I will let you know if you’re on the right track.

Good luck.