LoOK IN THE BOX english paper on the comic book Watchmen

ENGLISH 1102 Fall, 2016

Kennesaw State University

Dr. Stephanie Kartalopoulos

Assignment 1: Multiple Sources Analytical Essay

Grade: 200 Points

Important Dates:In-class workshop: Thursday October 13 for Section 16, and

Tuesday October 18 for Section 15.

Paper due on D2L: Sunday October 23

Length & Format:3-4 pages, saved as an MS Word document only that is double-

spaced, 12 point standard font (ie Times New Roman,Garamond,

etc.), MLA format (1” margins all around, workscited page AND

in-text citations for information taken from anyand every outside

source, etc.)

We have been talking about synthesis and lens papers as approaches to writing analytical essays that use multiple sources. We have also discussed the ways in which these can be understood as writing strategies within a greater context (for example: perhaps, in a greater research paper, just two pages that focus on two particular sources will take a ‘synthesis’ approach to discussing information from those sources and interpreting them towards your research paper’s greater topic and greater point on that topic).As a refresher, synthesis and lens basically boil down to:

Synthesis: Here’s Source A, and here’s Source B. They both seem similar in concept, but they have differences between them. There’s a natural way of relating these two sources in my endeavor to discuss A BIG AND VERY IMPORTANT POINT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY MY THESIS STATEMENT.

Lens: I have Source A, and I have Source B. I have A BIG IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE (ahem: thesis), and I know I can support this very easily by including these two sources. However, understanding the way Source A works helps us understand the way Source B works. So I will discuss key elements of Source A first and use those elements to help me discuss Source B. In the process, I will relate these to my thesis…bit by bit, systematically, throughout my writing.

These ways of associating related sources and discussing them in your writing can seem tricky in concept, but when it’s time to sit down and write,

For this assignment, we will practice synthesis and lens!!! And you have options for how you practice synthesis and lens as strategies within a multiple sources essay. They are as follows:

Take a main character from Watchmen (and focus on the characters who, together, are The Watchmen; do not focus on any of their Minutemen predecessors) and write an essay with your chosen character discussed alongside/in conjunction with his or her mainstream superhero counterpart. This will require you to come up with your own FAR GREATER POINT and use it not only as your thesis but as your main analytical tool in relating the two characters (and the sources related to them) to each other.

Reflect on what statement Watchmen seems to be making about the role of superheroes in 20th Century American culture as well as how one or two other sources treats the prominence of (completely fictional!!!) superheroes in 20th Century American culture.

A topic of your choosing that relates some key, critical aspect of Watchmen to one other source. If you take this route, you must speak to me about it—not only what general idea you wish to work with, but what source you will use in addition to our class’s book and how you will use it.