Homework
You will choose a minimum of one or two readings from this course to generate a literary argument. You will present your interpretation of the reading(s) and defend that interpretation with textual evidence from the class readings and outside sources.
You may remember from earlier in the semester (and from the original homework sheet) that you were required to use two sources from the databases. That requirement has been deleted--you do not need to use the databases. If you would like to, you are more than welcome to, but again, you do not need to do so.
The majority of the paper should discuss your interpretations. If you choose to use sources from the Madonna databases, the sources will support or add to your analysis. Your sources should support what you are saying in your paper but not be the focus. You should cite these sources with in-text citation in the body of your essay. You can use direct quotations, paraphrases, or summaries as textual evidence.
Make sure to correctly cite your sources. If an idea did not come from your own mind, even if you put it in your own words, you need to provide an in-text citation. If you take anything word-for-word from a source, make sure to have it in quotation marks with an in-text citation. Papers with plagiarized material will earn zero points.
Finally, your essay should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion with some sort of thesis/purpose provided in the introduction. All of your body paragraphs should support the ideas of your thesis/purpose.
The following are your topic options.
1. Identify a woman-focused theme you have observed across the texts we have read this semester. Show how two of the readings deliver this common theme. You might also consider the significance of the theme, as well as what it tells us about women and their place in society.
2. Select two texts and examine what they say about the social, cultural, political, historical, and/or economic forces that influenced the status of women in society. Discuss how those forces affected women's lives and how the readings show that influence.
3. Apply feminist literary theory to two of the texts we have read this semester. The PowerPoint provides some basic ideas about feminist theory you can apply to our readings, but your research sources may provide you with other concepts.
4. Consider the female characters in two texts. You might write about how these characters portray the experience of women and the struggles women have experienced. You might also think about how these female characters defy some of the stereotypes and expectations associated with women.
5. Present an original argument to me. Think about something that really stood out to you or stuck with you after reading these texts. Maybe one or two of the texts really resonated with you. You might even think about something that challenged your viewpoints or offended/upset you. Those can all be good starting points for essays. If you have an idea, or even the beginnings of an idea, talk to me about it.
Journal Problem: DePriest, Maria. "Once Upon a Time, Today: Hearing Fleur's Voice in Tracks." JNT: Journal of Narrative Theory, vol. 38, no. 2, 2008, pp. 249-68.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
1. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.