ENGL 1170.103: Linked Stories (Spring 2009)  Tags: linguistics_language_literature  

Paper 5 - Drown

DRAFT DUE: W, April 1

Final Due: M, April 13

Locate at least three reviews of Diaz’s Drown.  Now create an annotated bibliography for the paper you will be writing (see prompt below), using the sample annotated bibliography handout as a guide. 

I. First draft – Due April 1

In your essay, briefly summarize each reviewer’s stance and then argue for your own interpretation. You may agree with some aspects of the reviewers’ positions, which is fine and in fact understandable. In the end, however, you must formulate your own conclusions about the novel and use textual evidence to back up your claims.

The paper should be 5-6 pages, not including the bibliography.  Use MLA format—double spaced, 12-point font.

III. Final draft – Due April 13

Rationale: This assignment requires you to begin researching and integrating outside sources into your arguments and your papers.  You will have to consider other points of view and concur with or refute them, while developing your own opinion on the text.  While this topic provides the most leeway for personal opinion of any paper this semester, you must remember that any and all opinions on the work must be backed up with textual evidence – you must be more than declarative, you must be persuasive. 

Paper 6 – Interpreter of Maladies

DRAFT DUE: M, April 20

Final Due: W, April 29

I. Draft due April 20

Choose one of the following topics:

A.        What is the significance of the title of Lahiri’s collection to the contents of the book as a whole?  Consider at least three stories in addition to the story titled “Interpreter of Maladies.”  What does it mean to be an interpreter in Lahiri’s work?  What “maladies” are present in the book?

B.         In the story “A Real Durwan,” it could be argued that the characters primarily perceive one another as signifiers of social status rather than as human beings.  In what ways do the other stories in Lahiri’s collection explore the causes and consequences of perceiving others this way?  Consider three stories in addition to “Durwan” in your essay.  

C.         Many of Lahiri’s stories deal with relationships, especially marriages. What do you think Lahiri is saying about relationships in the stories that feature couples? There is no need to see these relationships as particularly “Indian”; rather, I think you can explore various relationships in the book simply on the basis of their “human” characteristics.  Consider at least three stories in your essay. 

D.        You may submit your own topic.  Your essay must consider at least three stories from the book.  Feel free to run your proposed topic by me before you write. 

Write an essay of 6-7 pages in length, drawing on at least two outside sources.   They may be critical articles on Lahiri’s book, interviews with Lahiri, book reviews, or other relevant material.  Provide an annotated bibliography along with your paper.  The bibliography does not count towards the 6-7 pages.  Wikipedia does NOT count as an outside source.  Use MLA format—double spaced, 12-point font.

II. Final Paper due April 29

Rationale:  This paper combines elements of previous assignments for this course, and I expect to see you demonstrate writing skills and techniques that you have learned at the word, sentence, paragraph, thesis, and essay levels.  The goal here is to integrate outside research, close reading analysis, comparisons of stories, and the stylistic and rhetorical devices and lessons of the semester into one final paper on a book you have not yet written about.