Junior Project Paper
Junior Project: The paper is due May 23rd, Thursday (bibliography is due May 16th). No late papers will be accepted. Submit the paper in hard copy directly to me. Keep a copy for your ORAL presentation. Oral presentations will be scheduled in groups of 4 to 6 between Tuesday, May 28 and Tuesday, June 4, inclusive. The Orals will be recorded and videotaped. Some days two groups may present.
Please consult the example paper The Anti-hero in the student paper section for a good form to follow. Use the bibliography format at the MLA (Modern Language Association) page for the kind of publication you are using. Note that "in-text citation form" (formerly known as footnote form) is also given. Please use this when you cite the texts in your paper. Note that the bibliography is due one week before the paper in final form.
The objective is to reveal to the reader what you have found to be the PATTERN of change in American literature over the years from 1800 to 2000 as documented in the portrayal of THREADS of a THEME you have been pursuing in your reading. If, for instance, you have followed the THEME of "Women in Literature," the THREADS of that THEME might be 1) the treatment of women by men, 2) the social and economic status of women shown in the books read or 3) the self-assesment and self-awarenss of women. It goes without saying that these TREADS will change in time, but it is also possible that a THREAD changes little or remains static. That in itself says something about the culture and about how authors conceive of their role in the culture.
The paper can be of any length as long as the subject is covered thoroughly. Show the reader what you mean by quoting the texts you have read frequently.
The structure of the paper is up to you. You might form a five part sturcture in which you trace each thread separately (writing an introduction and concluding section as well). The three main parts, then might have six or eight sub-parts each illustrating how one of the books exemplifies the thread. OR you might adopt an eight part format in which each book is discussed separately in turn. Each part might then be subdivded into three sub-parts detailing the three threads in each book. Other sturctures are certainly possible. Please avoid an overly repetitious handling of the subject.
Please submit your bibliography by May 16th. This will include the eight books you have, or will have, read and eight articles reflecting, one each, on the books. You should, of course, read the articles. If the secondary literature (articles) are found on the web, be sure to provide the URL as well as the original citation showing first publication. A URL alone is not really enough.
