10 Nov 2005
Paper 2 Draft (6p minimum)
Write a paper that uses peer-reviewed academic sources to defend an intellectually complex, non-obvious claim about one or more of the works on the syllabus.
Your paper should demonstrate your developing ability to apply a consistent critical approach (economic determinism, gender theory, historical-topical, etc.), to integrate quotations from quality sources (at least 4, in addition to your literary work or works), and to acknowledge a variety of interpretations (including evidence that challenges your thesis).
Integrating Quotations
Please avoid wordy, high-schoolish constructions like the following:
In the following passage from the book My Big Boring Academic Study by Professor H. Gluteus Windbag III, it talks on page 34 about how Huck and Jim become friends despite a few rough spots in their relationship. [Insert long quotation here.] This quote shows how Huck and Jim are indeed friends.Prefer instead a graceful inegration of key words and phrases from outside sources, in a manner that does not interrupt your own flow of thoughts.
While Jim is understandably worried about what Windbag calls Huck's "occasional lapses in fidelity" (34), Jim's faith in Huck is "ultimately justified."(See my handout on integrating sources.)
Note that this is a draft, so I don't expect perfection, but I will be able offer you more directly useful help if you give me a well-thought-out draft, rather than six flabby pages of plot summary and personal reflection.
As I emphasized when discussing Exercise 2-2 in class, my intention is that you find good academic articles first, and that you choose a thesis that you can defend based on the research you've already found. If you write the paper first, and then go online to "find quotes to support your argument," then you are not really doing research at all.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/mt/mt-tb.cgi/3763
Is there anything in particular that you are looking for in this paper?
Posted by: Jason Pugh at November 3, 2005 06:21 PMJay, I've fleshed out this page considerably in the time since you posted your question. Does this help?
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at November 4, 2005 10:29 AMYes, it does. Thank you.
Posted by: Jason Pugh at November 7, 2005 09:48 AMA few clarifications.
The syllabus doesn't actualy include a slot for a revision of Paper 1. I'm not asking you to revise it.
In your draft of Paper 2, you don't need to include the three sources that you provided for Ex 2-2. You are welcome to change your thesis or topic. You are welcome to include academic books in addition to academic articles. The articles may be in print or in electronic form -- the format makes no difference to me, though if you can access a PDF (with page numbers) please use that instead of an HTML version (in part because the HTML conversion may introduce errors).
In class Tuesday, I said "at least three" sources in addition to your literary sources, but I did note that three sources for the final, revised version would be a bit skimpy. If you can only find three good sources, please don't slap in a fourth citation at random, just to fulfill the requirement.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at November 8, 2005 02:46 PMDr. Jerz,
I can't seem to find an email that works for you. Its probably mine... anyway... I have a question for you.
Dr. Jerz,
I would like to do my paper on the critiques Mark Twain recieved during
his own day... I found a website with a number of these texts but I'm not
sure if I can use it or not,
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/railton/index2.html
if this is not a reputable site... how can I possibly go about finding
these texts?
Thanks for your time,
Leah Davis
Leah, Prof. Railton's UVa site is a useful resource, and you are welcome to use the historical resources that you find scanned or transcribed there, but you should still also find three (or four) sources that have gone through scholarly peer review.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at November 8, 2005 09:59 PM
