Compare/Contrast 1500

Instructor: Professor Belz Name:

CRN#:

Semester:

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Your research paper is a comparison/contrast paper and you will be comparing two characters from two different stories utilizing the “outsider” theme we have discussed at length in class. The stories you may choose from are the following:

· Story Choices:

Sherwood Anderson’s “Hands”

Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral

William Faulkner’s "A Rose for Emily"

Langston Hughes’s “Salvation”

Flannery O'Connor’s "A Good Man is Hard to Find"

Eudora Welty’s "A Worn Path"

One of your goals is to define how these characters are outsiders. You may focus on the similarities and/or differences between the characters, but the organizing feature of the paper will be connected to the outsider theme. The above stories have many characters to choose from, so give some thought to the angle you would like to take in your analysis. In

other words, you may wish to choose two characters who are outsiders based on the same reasons or characteristics. Therefore, your definition of “outsider” might apply to both characters. Or, you may wish to focus on characters who are outsiders based on different criteria. In this case then, you would have to define the two different approaches (i.e. you would include two different definitions of outsider in your work).

Some of the above characters have chosen to extricate themselves from society by their own free will while others have literally been cast out of society for various reasons. Some of the characters have been shunned by society based on their behavior. Your “outsider” definition needs to outline the specific reasons these characters are not able to function within the boundaries of society. You may wish to ask yourself the following questions to brainstorm for this topic: Why is the character so different from the other people in society? What has the character done, if anything, which makes him/her so unacceptable? What rule(s) has the character broken? What are the expected norms of society this character has violated? Does the character look different from other people? Does this character think differently from other people? Is this character’s gender a contributing factor to his/her becoming an outsider? Has the character broken the law? Does this character speak differently than other people? Is the character mentally unstable? Is the character a victim of discrimination? What cultural influences are at work in this character’s ostracism? Is the character torn between two cultures? Does the character have identity conflicts based on cultural background(s)? Does the character’s social class contribute to marginalization? What role does poverty play in the character’s position of isolation in society? Does the character have conflicts with authority figures and/or parents? Is the character an outsider in his or her own family? Is the character a misfit in his or her cultural group? *Be sure to narrow your definition of “outsider” as it applies to your chosen characters. Again, you may end up having two separate definitions of “outsider” depending on your character choices.

Another goal of the research paper is to incorporate outside sources into your paper to lend support/validity to your assumptions. Be sure to choose your topic first and then find sources to support your topic. In the event you need to switch stories based on the availability of research material this is okay. Indeed, it is normal for students to change their topics at least one time during the project.

Conclusion Suggestion -- Once you complete your analysis of the characters and you have utilized outside materials to support your assertions, you may wish to end your paper by discussing why an understanding of the “outsider” theme is so essential in our

present day society. In other words, how does understanding the complexity of this topic lead us to a greater understanding of society? ourselves? other people? In other words, connect the outsider theme to

a potential solution or suggestion which might help to decrease this increasingly common problem of isolation in society.

Research paper based on an outsider theme; compare two outsider characters in two short stories; define how these characters are outsiders and use four secondary sources to support this topic; mla style; focus on using clearly focused topic sentences in body paragraphs, well developed body paragraphs, proper mla citation of electronic sources (i.e. the primary sources are electronic readings on the Internet; the four secondary sources consist of one online dictionary definition and three journal articles obtained from the HCC online library databases); length: 1500-2000 typed words;; focus on analysis of topic and use direct quotes from all six sources for support of topic; you are required to use a minimum of one direct quote in each body paragraph.

Watch for literary analysis content, mla style, organization, and grammar concerns.

This paper must include all six required sources to receive full credit for the assignment (minimum length of your rough draft - 1,500 typed words).

Compose your research paper rough draft in Microsoft Word and use a proper heading, header, and centered title per MLA style. You also need to use courier new 12 point font and double-space your document from start to finish.