Final Paper - Social Concerns (Modern Era)

Begin to prepare for your final paper now.  By this Friday, you should have selected (and be reading) the homework novels that will help you complete this project.  You may have already read one of these novels this year.  Other novels with modern concerns may be appropriate for this paper.  See me if you have questions or an argument for the inclusion of a particular novel.

Your final unit - on your syllabus:

Modern Era:  Social Concerns

Students choose two novels to read and study from the following list of possible titles (other books with social concerns may be acceptable - like North and South by  Elizabeth Gaskell (industrialization)):

 Alias Grace, All the King’s Men, All the Pretty Horses, Angle of Repose, Animal Dreams, Atonement, Awakening, Beloved, Brave New World, Catch 22, Einstein’s Dreams, Ethan Frome, Frankenstein, The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Gatsby, Grendel, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Kite Runner, Lord of the Flies, Montana 1948/Justice, 1984, Obasan, Player Piano, The Poisonwood Bible, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Snow Falling on Cedars, Stones from the River, Their Eyes Were Watching God

 You may have already read one of these novels earlier this year for homework, which is acceptable.  You can use your reading logs in lieu of a separate dialectical journal to assist you with locating references for your paper.  At least one of the novels should be new to you, so keep a dialectical journal as you read it (or read it for homework with reading logs if time allows). 

If you have not read any books from this list (or similarly themed AP novels), you will need to read two novels that focus on social concerns for the final paper.  You cannot write the paper on two books that you already read.  Even if they both focused on social concerns, it does not expand your literary repertoire to just 'review' two novels.  Focus your reading to find evidence for this paper's theme. 

 Prompt: Write a formal literary paper in MLA format.  Students will take the two novels they read, and using their reading logs on that novel and/or the material generated in their journals, write an analytical, argumentative essay that attempts to persuade its reader that each novel is making a specific socio-historical commentary on an issue of social concern.

• The theme should be the same in each novel though it may be addressed differently.

 The essay will be developed through multiple drafts.  In the opening paragraph of the essay, students will state a clear thesis and argue for specific ways that each novel reflects the social concern detected and articulated in its writing.

Clearly define the social concern after the intro.

In the body, use clear evidence from the texts to support your arguments, transition between the texts, and make sure the essay is cohesive. 

It should not be two pages about the first novel, followed by two pages about the second novel, and then a page of concluding thoughts and summation.

In this 5-7 page paper, the social issues, historical context, and the evidence of both novels should be interwoven.  It is okay to focus paragraphs one certain novels, but make sure to transition between paragraphs to lead from one to the other.

See your Clean College Writing print out if you are unsure about transitions.

As noted below, bring in some other research about the social concern(s) you are analyzing that either clarify and define the importance of the concern(s) or integrate sources that lend themselves to more fully explaining the historical context of the novels.

 Use additional print and electronic resources to assist you in the formation of this paper.  These resources should help you clarify the social concern(s) in your paper.  If you are unsure about the validity of an electronic resource, you may review R28 in our textbook or check with me if you are still unsure.  Make sure all sources appear on your Works Cited page.

Do NOT wait until the last minute to do this.

Due today does not mean 'do today'.

The final draft will be part of your final in my class.  The test period itself will have an academic vocabulary test as a refresher for your college-level literary terms. 

• MLA – Citing Sources see: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

CCRA.R.10
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently

CCRA.W.8  Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.