FINAL PAPER - DATABAZE RESOURCES AND TEXTS IN ESSEX LIBRARY

Hi, class,

In anticipation of receiving your final research papers, I am again pasting below the instructions for you to access critical essays on whatever play you are focusing on.

As I have said several times, and also communicated to you via email and the course blog, you must use scholarly works for your papers—“scholarly” is defined as a journal article or academic book (critical/literary biography or collection of critical essays on the author or text under consideration).

  

This is not a sociology, education, anthropology, criminal justice, or psychology class, so you are not allowed to use texts from other disciplines. You are to stay focused on a literary interpretation. The works we have read and discussed in class are widely written about—but you must do the research, as per the requirements for this class—please read the guidelines regarding sources for literary papers:

You must use no less than four (4) secondary sources in the final version of your essay. At least two (2) of these secondary sources must consist of  literary journal articles on your primary text. The additional two (2) outside sources may be books--biographical, collected works, or bound essays. They must be literature-based works on your primary text or its author—not books from other disciplines (i.e., sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, etc.).

  

For this research paper, YOU MAY NOT USE the following as sources, as they are NOT considered scholarly works: SparkNotes, 123HelpMe, GoodReads, Wikipedia, CliffsNotes, ClassicNotes, Enotes, GradeSaver, or any other student guides. Any and all electronic sources must be approved by me at the time you submit your working bibliography.

PLEASE NOTE: Simply re-wording summaries or analysis from another source constitutes plagiarism--your work must consist of YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND WRITING--please don't fail this course because of plagiarism. Make sure that you use quotation marks when you are using someone else's words, and that you give proper credit to the source if you are paraphrasing. 

DATABASE RESOURCES
To access The Literature Resource Center, and Contemporary Authors/Literary Criticism Select/Dictionary of Literary Biography, go to:

 http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/essexcc

The password is: county

Click on Literature Resource Center - LRC

1) When you get to the search box, just type in your search terms:

EXAMPLES: 

hamlet AND ophelia
hamlet AND ghost
hamlet AND gertrude

2) under "publication century," click "21st century A.D. 

3) under "by content type," UNCHECK all the boxes EXCEPT "Literature Criticism"

4) Make sure "All electronic sources" is highlighted (it is the default)

5) then go back to "Basic Search" (with your search terms entered) and click "Search.

Several articles will likely come up--skim through to see if you find some suitable articles. Click on the ones you think might be suitable, and email them to yourself, or download them.
   
TEXTS AVAILABLE IN ESSEX LIBRARY

Also, below are titles of books (on Hamlet, as an example) that are accessible in the Essex County College Library. I have put the title of the book and the author/editor. I have put in bold type the call letters for you to find the texts in the stacks. If the book is not in the stacks, ask the reference librarian for access, as it may be on reserve. Please note that you also have access to the Rutgers-Newark Library.

  
Hamlet's Mother and Other Women/Carolyn G. Heilbrun. PR111 .H45 1990

Hamlet/edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom. PR2807 .H26237 1990

Shakespeare Reread: the Texts in New Contexts/ed. by Russ McDonald. PR2976 .S3383 1994
  
Critical essays on Shakespeare’s Hamlet/David Scott Kastan. PR2807. K33 1995 

Critical responses to Hamlet, 1600-1900/edited by David Farley-Hills. PR 2807.C75 1996
  
Readings on Hamlet/ Don Nardo, ed. PR2807 .R4 1999 

Shakespeare: The Basics/Sean McAvoy. PR2976 M.34 2000 

 

Macbeth - Starring Judi Dench and Ian McKellen

Hi, class,

As noted last week, I will not be in class this Wednesday--I have to go to a convention. However, you are still responsible for completing your reading of Macbeth, and also for watching the remainder of the film--it is available for free on YouTube--click on the link below to watch. We will be discussing this play on Wednesday, November 26, as well as discussing the final research paper and the group project. Attendance is imperative.

FINAL GROUP PROJECT GUIDELINES AND GROUPS

ENG 208 - Final Project: Group PowerPoint Presentation (15 points)

TO BE DELIVERED ON WEDNESDAY, 12/10

The members of each group (I have assigned you to groups in one of the five categories below) are expected to focus on at least three (3) of the plays we have read in class and to explore that theme. You may interweave some of the other relevant thematic discussions from the works into this group presentation. The major theme should be considered as the central, controlling idea of your piece—again, if you find that other themes of significance are surfacing and converging with your major theme as you develop your project, please note them.

FATE/FREE WILL 
Michele Burgos
Theodore Ezike 
Yarilis Montijo
Jose Tello
Angie Say
 
VIOLENCE/REVENGE 
Theodore Byers
Shanavia Davis-Mosley
Zakiyyah Duncan
Elisha Little
Shana Harris

Mirely Peralta

GUILT/CONSCIENCE
Tiffany Bunn
Godfred Opuku
Afzal Hussein

Joseph Nartey
Jiale Xu

LOVE/ROMANCE
Anjali Antala
Diana Despot
Darwin Paulinho
Quiyana Perry
Samantha Rivers

GOOD/EVIL
Chardei Carey
Ingrid Ortiz
Cristian Esguerra
Lara Worthington
Shamicka Riggs

Sample sub-themes: aesthetics (beauty), alienation, ambition, burdens of kingship, class distinctions, conscience, ethics, femininity, guilt, hypocrisy, innocence, love, hatred, masculinity, monstrousness, morality, nature vs. nurture, rebellion, religion, responsibility, revenge, sexuality, sleep/dreams, the supernatural, violence, witchcraft, magic. Some of these themes overlap—your thesis should reflect your theme in a clear, well-articulated manner.

You will use photographs and text (including quotes from the primary source and secondary source texts) to create a PowerPoint presentation of your work (maximum 15 minutes in length). 

You must include a slide listing the “Credits,” i.e., the specific contribution made by each group member. In addition, you must create a Works Cited Page as the final slide of your presentation, using MLA-style. Refer to the MLA Style Guide on the course blog for MLA-style compliance. At our final class meeting, the group members will present their projects. I encourage you to be as imaginative as possible with these presentations. Below is a list of the criteria for your PowerPoint, adapted from a rubric adapted from a former colleague.
  

The FINAL VERSION of the PowerPoint presentation must be emailed to me by Tuesday, 12/9 at midnight.

  
Final Project Rubric for PowerPoint Presentation

The following categories provide a clear list of the elements that are expected in each group’s project, regardless of its form and purpose.  Use these criteria as a tool to produce persuasive communication by means of innovation, creativity, and polished reflection. NOTE: Each category for your individual effort is worth points, for a total of 14, along with an addition of 1 point for the overall group effort, for a maximum of 15 percent of the final grade.

Thesis and Purpose: 3 Points

How clear is your thesis? Is the topic compelling and relevant not only to your own interests but to an issue of larger significance? How well do the images illustrate both the thesis and its related ideas in a cogent manner?

Composition: 3 Points

Does the project follow a logical flow of thought? Do the major themes transition well across the group? Is the project free of grammatical errors? Did you proofread your slides to ensure that they are MLA-compliant?

Technical Image and Quality: 3 Points

How well have you integrated quotations, titles, subtitles, captions, and high-quality digital files into your presentation? How does the overall final project look, including captions, titles, transitions, audio, and image?

Caption Information and Presentation:  3 Points

Is there a clear integration of the visual and written composition of the final project? How well have you complemented your images with written text--relevant quotes from the main text, along with quotes from secondary sources? How does the written text (approximately 350 – 400 words) act to amplify and enhance the quality of the project as a whole? Are original insights supported by relevant research in your written text or is it merely expository? 

Delivery: 2 Points

How well have you delivered your presentation? Did you speak clearly audibly? Was your confidence in your oral delivery transmitted to your audience?

Group Effort: 1 Point

How well have you worked with your group members to create a unified presentation? Have you rehearsed your delivery (individually as well as with the group) to ensure a smooth presentation? Can it be used as a model for other students in the future? 

Total (Individual) ____ Total (Group) ____ GRAND TOTAL___________

RESEARCH PAPER AND DUE DATES

GUIDELINES FOR ENGLISH 208 RESEARCH PAPER (35% of FINAL GRADE)

The documented research paper will show evidence of the extent to which students meet course objectives including, but not limited to, developing an analytical argument appropriate to the assignment, demonstrating the ability to manage essay structure and utilize MLA format. The paper will demonstrate originality, critical thinking and research skills, cite primary and secondary research sources, and include a Works Cited page.

You will write a fully documented and sourced research paper of between 7-9 pages based on one of the plays read in class this semester. This paper is worth 35% of your final course grade. This essay will be written utilizing Modern Language Association guidelines. We will have a brief “brainstorming” session on Wednesday, November 19 to assist you in developing a topic and focus for your final paper. 

For your research essay, you may want to focus on one of the major themes in one or more of the plays: Sample themes: ambition, betrayal, corruption, evil, fate, free will, love, friendship, vengeance, conscience, guilt, indecision, disguise, insanity, emotional conflict, nationalism, the burdens of kingship, greed, family, femininity, gender roles, hypocrisy, abuse of power, the supernatural, individuality, masculinity, morality, rebellion, religion, sin, indecision, procrastination, responsibility, and violence. Some of these themes overlap—your thesis should reflect your theme in a clear, well-articulated manner.

DUE DATE FOR ABSTRACT/BIBLIOGRAPHY: Tuesday, November 25.

Abstract: You must present a 1-paragraph abstract of approximately 75-100 words summarizing the paper topic and how you plan to proceed, detailing the following: why you chose it; what you intend to examine; what library resources you intend to use to complete the assignment. 

Bibliography: Please include a working bibliography of the primary/secondary sources you think you may be using. The working bibliography should consist of no fewer than six (6) and no more than eight (8) outside sources in total.

DUE DATE FOR THESIS/ROUGH OUTLINE: Tuesday, December 2. 

Thesis Statement: Please include your draft thesis statement with your outline.

Outline: An outline is required as part of the grade for the research paper. This outline must directly correspond to the research paper. 

Works Cited Page: You must present a Works Cited page of sources (books, journal articles) used in your research paper—make sure that it is properly formatted and attached to the paper. 

The paper will follow MLA guidelines in matters of form (for complete MLA style, click at left on course blog), and it will contain a Works Cited page, in-text citations to those sources, and a complete outline. YOUR PAPER WILL BE GRADED ON CONTENT AND MECHANICS.

You must use no less than four (4) secondary sources in the final version of your essay. At least two (2) of these secondary sources must consist of recent (no earlier than 2000) literary journal articles on your primary text. The additional two outside sources may be books--biographical, collected works, or bound essays. They must be literature-based works on your primary text or its author—not books from other disciplines (i.e., sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, etc.). 

I provided you with a list of resources on Hamlet available in the ECC library (click HERE for the Thursday, October 23 blog post)—please use the same methodology to find resources for the other plays.

For this final research paper, YOU MAY NOT USE the following as sources, as they are NOT considered scholarly works: SparkNotes, 123HelpMe, GoodReads, Wikipedia, CliffsNotes, ClassicNotes, Enotes, GradeSaver, No Fear Shakespeare, or any other student guides. Any and all electronic sources must be approved by me at the time you submit your working bibliography.

PLEASE NOTE: Simply re-wording summaries or analysis from another source constitutes plagiarism--your work must consist of YOUR OWN THOUGHTS--please don't fail this course because of plagiarism. Make sure that you use quotation marks when you are using someone else’s words, and that you give proper credit to the source if you are paraphrasing.

Any Instance Of Plagiarism In The Research Paper Will Result In An Automatic “F” On The Entire Paper With No Possibility Of Revision.

FINAL PAPER & WORKS CITED DUE: Sunday, December 14 by MIDNIGHT

Any paper submitted after this date and time will result in a loss of a ½ grade (5 pts) per day overdue (obviously, email will time-stamp any electronically sent submission):

Submitted by Monday, December 15 for a possible maximum of 30 pts;

Submitted by Tuesday, December 16 for a maximum of 25 pts;

PAPERS MAY BE SUBMITTED EARLY.

FINAL GRADES WILL BE POSTED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17

Literary Analysis Essay #2 - DUE Wednesday, 11/19 - Hamlet

Essay #2 (of 3-4 pages with additional Works Cited page attached) is DUE on Wednesday, November 19, via EMAIL by midnight. Late papers—those submitted with a Thursday, 11/20 OR LATER time stamp—will receive 2 permanent points off for lateness. Thus, do not wait until the last minute--that's when computer issues, Internet problems, etc., arise--it is your responsibility to have your work in on time. NOTE: Late assignments (with a reduced grade) will be accepted ONLY up until Saturday, 11/22.  


1) Make a case for Hamlet’s sanity or insanity, based on his behavior. Use direct quotes from the text of the play to support your argument. Cite specifically to the source, using standard MLA-style documentation. 

2) Why does Hamlet hesitate when he has an opportunity to avenge his father’s death? Is he indecisive, or is he simply making poor decisions? Write an essay in which you analyze Hamlet’s reasons for not acting, i.e., when he has the opportunity to do so. Use direct quotes from the text of the play to support your argument. Cite specifically to the source, using standard MLA-style documentation. 

3) In an essay, compare and contrast three (3) scenes from the text of the play with three (3) scenes from the film adaptation which we viewed in class (starring Ethan Hawke as the eponymous prince), and discuss why you think the presentation of these scenes is or is not successful. Cite specifically to the source, using standard MLA-style documentation. 

4) What can be discerned about the psychological movement of Hamlet’s character as the play progresses? Re-read and choose at least TWO of the following soliloquies delivered by Hamlet. Write an essay in which you discuss Hamlet’s psychological progression. Use quotes from the text of the play to support your argument. Cite specifically to the source, using standard MLA-style documentation.

1.2 “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt”

1.5 “O all you host of heaven!”

2.1 “O what a rogue and peasant slave am I!”

3.1 “To be or not to be”

3.2 “‘Tis now the very witching time of night”

3.3 “Now might I do it pat”

4.4 “How all occasions do inform against me”

Again, here is the proper breakdown of points:

• Clear thesis statement (be sure to introduce author and text!), well-organized supporting points and conclusion: 8 points
• Cited adequately and correctly from the texts (primary and secondary): 3 points
• Demonstrated writing strength (sentence structure, spelling, grammar): 4 points

  Criteria for Grading

In your essay, you must include support for your response from whichever primary text you have chosen. In the interest of time, I am NOT requiring you to use an outside source--however, you must cite adequately and properly from the text of the play. Please include a Works Cited page. The expectation is that you will write grammatically correct and coherent sentences, following standard composition form.

Again, your short essays are evaluated using the following criteria: you have answered the question asked—meaning, you have written a clear thesis statement with supporting points and you have answered the question completely); you have cited adequately from the source reading using MLA style; and, you have demonstrated strength in your writing that is appropriate to a 200-level literature course (well-structured sentences and paragraphs, proper spelling, grammar, no run-on sentences or sentence fragments, proper punctuation, use of transitions, logical conclusion). If you receive “NG”—meaning “Not Gradable”—due to numerous composition errors (ex: poor grammar, misspellings, lack of thesis, poor sentence structure, not MLA-compliant, etc.), you are strongly advised to take your paper to The Learning Center (2nd Floor) to work with a tutor for assistance in revising the essay for resubmission.
 

Plagiarism results in an "F" on the paper with NO POSSIBILITY of revision. 

 If you plagiarize a second time, you automatically fail the course.

I will be checking all papers electronically for plagiarism. 

PLEASE NOTE: Simply re-wording summaries or analysis from another source on Shakespeare constitutes plagiarism--your work must consist of YOUR OWN THOUGHTS--please don't fail this course because of plagiarism. 

You must write well if you are to receive a good grade in my course. I do not “curve” grades—also, I do not pass students whose writing does not show that they have properly met the standards of what I consider acceptable. The Learning Center is open every day and evening and is available to you. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your papers are proof-read before you hand them in.