The main objective of this assignment is to encourage critical thinking, research skills, and analytical writing. Possibly drawing from the writing read during the semester, this research paper aims to deepen your understanding of the text(s) of your choice by creating a sound argument. Thus, you will gain insights into the evolving nature of literature and the enduring relevance of certain themes, motifs, and ideas. To complete this assignment, students will will create a literary argument of their choice, and conduct research to support their analysis. The essay must be at least 750 words.
Guidelines:
a. Select one of the works we read in class and interpret (or reinterpret) its themes, characters, or plotlines in such a way that demonstrates your position on the literary piece selected. Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston
b. Select two peer-reviewed articles (find them in our databases; JSTOR should be your go-to, but, based on the argument you are going to formulate, you can explore other databases).
1. Alienation and Domestic Abuse: How Abused Women Cope with Loneliness by Ami Arokach.
2. Women, Class and Sexual Differences in the 1830s and 1840s: Some Reflections on the Writing of a Feminist History by Sally Alexander
c. Familiarize yourself with the historical and cultural context of the work(s) selected.
d. Identify critical interpretations, relevant literary theories, and existing scholarly discussions related to the intertextual relationship between the chosen works.
e. Provide ample evidence from the primary texts to support your analysis and interpretation. Quote directly from the text and use the MLA to handle your references.
THANK YOU!
