Research Paper Assignment

Assignment Sequence for Othello Paper

  1. Discuss “elements of drama.”  Read general summary of play Othello. (1 class)
  2. Divide class into 6 groups for 6 scenes. (2 classes)
    Have each group
    1.  Summarize scene
    2.  Do a modern interpretation of scene or section of scene
    3.  Lead a discussion of theme(s) for each scene.
    4.  Lead a discussion of theme(s) for each scene.
    This Presentation is their midterm.  (2 classes)
  3. View scenes from 2 different versions of Othello.  What is different in these scenes in terms of setting, clothes, lighting, props, angles, characters interactions, expressions, etc.  How, according to these differences, did the directors interpret the scene differently?  (2 classes).
  4. Library Research Orientation.  Look for criticism on Othello, and for both films.  Look for criticism to support your thesis and/or that challenge your thesis and you can argue.
  5. Works Cited/in text citation exercise.
  6. Journals throughout for HW:

Journal #4 for Othello

Write a one page, single-spaced analysis of a particular idea or theme/element/aspect of the story.  DO NOT digress from idea to idea, character to character; choose one idea and go with it.  I would prefer that you develop your own idea for a journal entry.  What interested you?  However, if you’re looking for a topic, here are some you might consider for an entry:

*Do a character analysis of one of the characters in the play: Othello, Iago, or Desdemona.  What function does this character serve in the play (in terms of both driving the plot and theme)?  What is this character’s motivation?  How is this character developed/changed by society’s perception of him/her?

*Explicate.  Select a scene, or a portion of a scene, from the play.  Analyze.  Relate it (its meaning) to the play as a whole.

Journal #5 for Othello

Write a one page, single-spaced analysis answering one or more of the following questions.  Remember to include quotes from the text.

*What are Othello’s internal conflicts?  What are his external conflicts?
*What are Roderigo’s internal and external conflicts?    Do they change as the play progresses?
*Do the minor characters have both internal and external conflicts?  If they do, identify some of them.

Journal #6 for Othello

Develop a thesis statement for your research paper on the play (according to Paper #2 assignment).

Journal #7 for Othello

Compare/contrast the director’s interpretations of the film for 1 scene.  How are their interpretations different from yours?  How are their interpretations different from your thesis statement/idea?

Paper Assignment for “Identity:  Self and Society” Essay #2:  Research Essay 

For this essay, you will analyze how social “rules” or expectations construct/change an individual’s identity.  You may analyze these “rules” in terms of one of the following:  gender: male or female, social status or socio-economic status, culture.  Here are some questions you may wish to ponder before beginning this assignment:  Are there differences in the way an individual perceives oneself and the way society perceives an individual?  Does society’s perception of an individual influence his/her self-perception? If so, is there truth in “the ocular proof?” How does one’s relationship with society influence identity? Can social expectations change/construct a person’s identity?  If so, how? 

This is a research paper.  You will be writing on Othello and two different film versions of that play (to be watched in class).  Therefore, you will not only be analyzing how social rules construct/change a person’s identity through the text, but also how this self vs. society conflict is presented differently in the films.  In other words, you will be compare/contrasting the films (in terms of your thesis).  You may wish to focus on the different presentation of particular scenes, or how a character (or characters) act differently in different scenes, or how a character progresses differently.

In addition, you are required to incorporate at least three critical sources:  one about the play, one about one version of the film, and one about the other version of the film.  You may include no more than five critical sources.  These sources may come from only a scholarly database.  I suggest you use the Library Orientation on 1/31 to ask questions about finding sources for this paper. 

* Remember to make an appt. with the writing center.  Make it now!  It is mandatory that you go to the writing center two times in this class; going for this research paper is MANDATORY.  If you do not go to the writing center for this paper, one letter grade will be subtracted from your final paper grade.  Attending the writing center is worth 5% of your final grade for this course. 

Before writing this paper, look under Course Documents on Blackboard where I have posted a format, called TREE, that I expect each paper to follow. When handing in your Final Paper, due April 6th, I expect (in this order) the Final Copy, Peer Review, Rough Draft, Outline, and any additional Prewriting exercises.

The day you hand in your Rough Draft, March 30th, with an outline (following the model on Blackboard), you are to bring in two copies of both the Rough Draft and Outline; one for me, and one for a peer.  For homework, you are to complete a Peer Review on a classmate’s paper and give the Peer Review back to him/her the next class.

Paper guidelines:

-6-7 pages, double spaced. 1″ margins. 12pt. font (not 12.5). Times New Roman.
-Follow the MLA format as shown in Bedford.
-Follow the MLA “in-text citations” Format.
-Follow the MLA Works Cited Format.
-Develop a thesis:  a statement comprised of an argument and how you plan to “telegraph” that argument.
-Develop affective body paragraphs: TREE!
-Develop an original conclusion that not only restates the thesis, but also expands the thesis into an idea that is universal.
-No cover page is necessary.
-All papers MUST be STAPLED or PAPERCLIPPED when handed in.  If they are not, I won’t accept them.

*Any rough draft that is handed in one day late will subtract a letter grade from your final grade.  Any rough draft that is handed in two days late, or not handed in at all, will detract 1 letter grade from your final grade.  Any final paper handed to me after class or through email will be counted as late; for every day your paper is late 1 grade will be detracted from your final grade.  Hand in papers on time!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to talk to me after class, to contact me through email, langjaim@shu.edu, or to stop by my office, Fahy 358, during my office hours.

Good luck!
Jaime Lang