This essay will involve research into a topic of your choosing relating to any topic or text we have covered this semester. The topic is open to your choosing, but you might consider from the following kinds of topics:
Historical Background (What were the attitudes toward suicide in ancient Greece? What is the Hindu belief about reincarnation? What was slavery like in ancient Greece?)
Interpretive (How have readers and critics interpreted Penelope in The Odyssey? Have Jews and Christians interpreted the Psalms differently?)
Conceptual/Thematic (What is Joseph Campbell's concept of the hero? What other theories about heroes are there?)
Other Arts (How did the Sumerians portray their gods in visual art?)
You may think of other types of research topics. I'll ask you to write a proposal describing your research topic and your research question.
In your essay, you will report on what you have learned in answer to your research question, synthesizing information from several sources. You will also connect your research to a particular text we have read in class, explaining how your research helps you to understand the text. Your essay will be evaluated on your ability to
Clearly present relevant information synthesized from multiple sources
Insightfully apply information or a concept to an interpretation of a text
Your essay may take the following form:
A beginning that establishes the issue, perhaps explaining how the issue or question arose for you
A section that presents your research
A section that applies your research
An ending that explains the significance of what you have written
A bibliography of your sources (in MLA or APA format)
The number of sources you will need to cite depends on the question you are trying to answer and the type of sources you choose. Three to five sources are the minimum required, but you may use more.
The completed essay should be at least 1500 words, excluding the bibliography.
Critical Essay Assignment
Due Dec. 2This essay will involve research into a topic of your choosing relating to any topic or text we have covered this semester. The topic is open to your choosing, but you might consider from the following kinds of topics:
You may think of other types of research topics. I'll ask you to write a proposal describing your research topic and your research question.
In your essay, you will report on what you have learned in answer to your research question, synthesizing information from several sources. You will also connect your research to a particular text we have read in class, explaining how your research helps you to understand the text. Your essay will be evaluated on your ability to
Your essay may take the following form:
The number of sources you will need to cite depends on the question you are trying to answer and the type of sources you choose. Three to five sources are the minimum required, but you may use more.
The completed essay should be at least 1500 words, excluding the bibliography.