Shorter Paper

Your Shorter Paper will be a 1000-word essay on a topic of your choice growing out of our readings for the first two weeks of the seminar. You should craft a detailed, appropriately focused thesis statement and then present a carefully delineated argument in support of this thesis. You should advance your argument primarily through the thorough presentation and analysis of textual evidence. All papers should be adhere to MLA guidelines where documentation is concerned; it is your responsibility to ensure all source material (both primary and secondary) is cited properly.

It will be due on Monday, 20 June. Papers must be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date to be considered on time; I do not accept papers by email. A late paper will have its grade knocked down one full level (that is, from A to B) for each class meeting that passes without your turning it in (beginning with the due date meeting) unless I grant you an extension ahead of time.

All papers should be typed and double spaced, with one-inch margins, in Times New Roman 12 (or equivalent font/point size). Turning in work falling outside the parameters of the word count requirements also will negatively impact your grade. Please include your word count somewhere on the essay.

I will grade your Shorter Paper on the accuracy of its content, as well as on all the basic qualities of a successful essay—including but not limited to clear thesis statement, strong organization, logical paragraphing, coherent and appropriately developed presentation, successful integration of quoted material (if applicable), grammatically correct writing, and a mature sense of style. This essay will be worth 15% of your final grade.