Order 799611: Choose ANY slave narrative other than those written by Equiano and Douglass

ENGL 2131  -- Spring 2018

Research Paper—Early American Literature

 

Topics (Choose ONE):

 

1. Choose ANY slave narrative other than those written by Equiano and Douglass, read it, and analyze it as best you can.  (NOTE: Analysis is NOT the same thing as plot summary; do not merely tell what happens in the narrative.)  For a list of slave narratives, check this wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_narrative

2. Choose a captivity narrative we did NOT cover on the syllabus (Rowlandson, John Smith, and Cabeza De Vaca are off limits), read it, and analyze it as best you can. (NOTE:  See #1 above.)  For a list of captivity narratives, scroll to the bottom of this wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captivity_narrative

3. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme in many literary works. Choose a literary work from our textbook that embodies this concept and analyze the conflict, specifically the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society.  NOTE:  The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is off limits. 

4. Discuss the role of violence in one or two works of American Literature written before 1865.

 

 

Essays will be approximately 1200-1500 words (excluding the Bibliography) and will include at least 4 background sources (the literary work itself is not considered a background source; it is considered the “primary source”). Try to use respectable, credible background sources such as journal articles, books, or articles from Galileo.  (Cliff’s Notes, Bookrags, Sparknotes,  Wikipedia entries, and similar popular sites may help you get started but should not be cited in your paper.)  Papers must be written according to MLA (Modern Language Association) format.  Completed essays must be submitted to the “Research Paper" assignment on turnitin.com.

 

Additional information:

· Somewhere in the first paragraph, state in precise and detailed fashion what your argument is going to be.   Consider using this template as a way to condense your ideas into a clear, concise thesis statement:  “By looking at _____, we can see _____, which most readers don't see; this is important because _____. “  Note: The thesis of your essay does not have to fit this template; in fact, I’d prefer that your wording be your own.  But using the template can help you get started.  For more information on strong literary thesis statements, please visit this site: http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Teaching/fiveways.html

· A good literary essay contains quotations and parenthetical citations.  However, you should only quote passages that you can analyze for their connotations or symbolic significance.  Don’t quote something that you aren’t going to “read meaning into,” and only quote what you need.  Avoid quoting long passages that are only marginally relevant.

· Use MLA style for all in-text citations and bibliography.  The Research Paper Materials Folder contains a link to an online MLA style guide.  

· Avoid over-summarizing the plot.  When writing a literary essay, you should assume that your reader has some familiarity with the literature.  You should briefly identify characters, but you should not supply a play-by-play recap of the action.  Discuss only those details of the plot that specifically support your argument.  In addition, while you may choose to offer a VERY brief biography of a writer, historical facts, dates, and random biographical details should not be the focus of your paper.  Instead, devote most of your energy to ANALYZING your primary sources and buttressing your argument with information from background sources.

· Plagiarism from online sources, from other students’ papers, or from any other type of source will not be tolerated.  Make sure you adequately document any information you take from a background source. 

· Organize the essay according to specific points that comprise your argument.

· PROOFREAD!  Grammar counts, and research papers should be free of major grammar/usage/mechanics errors.