Connections: Seminars: Assignments: Shorter Paper

Your shorter paper will allow you to work through a microcosmic version of the research and writing process that will be involved in your seminar paper. I will give you a way of researching an English paper that involves finding touchstone critical or theoretical texts and then building genealogies of criticism that respond to those touchstones. For this 1500-2100 word paper (roughly 5-7 pages), develop a thesis that engages a touchstone text--a foundational, widely cited piece published before 1990--and at least one critical work that engages the touchstone. Write and document your paper in formal style (use MLA or Chicago documentation), and consider your audience as continuous with that of your blog posts: informed readers of our primary texts who can still benefit from your well-developed critical thoughts.

For general guidance about what I look for in papers, see the following links. They contain a lot of information; I assume that each of you will find some parts more relevant and useful than others.

Connections: Developing a Thesis
Connections: Researching a Paper
Connections: Quotation and Citation
Connections: Argument
Connections: Polishing an Essay
Grading Standards for Papers

Textbook Poetry Fiction Film Theory Contexts Research and Writing Research Writing Courses Tutorial 120 121 224 226 Seminars Ulysses Syllabus Assignments Conferences Blog posts Shorter Paper Bibliography Presentation Final Paper Policies Old Syllabi Site Information Site Updates Navigation Site Map	Shorter Paper Your shorter paper will allow you to work through a microcosmic version of the research and writing process that will be involved in your seminar paper. I will give you a way of researching an English paper that involves finding touchstone critical or theoretical texts and then building genealogies of criticism that respond to those touchstones. For this 1500-2100 word paper (roughly 5-7 pages), develop a thesis that engages a touchstone text--a foundational, widely cited piece published before 1990--and at least one critical work that engages the touchstone. Write and document your paper in formal style (use MLA or Chicago documentation), and consider your audience as continuous with that of your blog posts: informed readers of our primary texts who can still benefit from your well-developed critical thoughts. For general guidance about what I look for in papers, see the following links. They contain a lot of information; I assume that each of you will find some parts more relevant and useful than others. Connections: Developing a Thesis Connections: Researching a Paper Connections: Quotation and Citation Connections: Argument Connections: Polishing an Essay Grading Standards for Papers
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Erik Simpson \| simpsone@grinnell.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.