exploring world literature
Imagine that Voltaire has been transported by time machine to contemporary America and is at work on a new philosophical tale. Summarize the plot of his new book in three-four pages. Then write one-two pages in which you explain or analyze the significance of the tale you’ve just summarized.
OR
You should be familiar with these poems from class discussion. Your task now is to do some historical research—e.g., into Wordsworth’s life, Romantic-era ideas about nature, the “charters” that seem to matter in “London,” or the social conditions in Pushkin’s Russia, etc. Once you’ve done this research, you should write a brief essay in which you discuss your findings and how they’ve changed your understanding of the poem. Imagine you’re explaining the poem to a friend: what historical information would he (or she) need to really get what the poem is about?
English2327: Writing Assignment One
Assignment: Imagine that Voltaire has been transported by time machine to contemporary
America and is at work on a new philosophical tale. Summarize the plot of his new book in
three-four pages. Then write one-two pages in which you explain or analyze the significance of
the tale you’ve just summarized.
You have a lot of latitude in how you approach this topic, but keep in mind that part of what
you’re trying to do is show—at least indirectly—your understanding of Candide. Thus, it would
probably be a good idea to assume that Voltaire is still a satirist and a free-thinker…. What
people and/or institutions might he think worthy of attack? Why?
If you are an international student, you may have Voltaire transported to and writing about
your country. Just keep in mind that you may need to provide a little more explanatory
information. I have some sense, for example, of how Washington, D.C. works, but I won’t know
as much about the capital of your country.
Research/Documentation Requirements: You are not required to do research for this paper. If
you choose to do research, you should use quality sources and document scrupulously (using
MLA format).
Length and Format:
➢ Your essay should be about 4-5 pages (1,000-1300 words).
➢ Use a readable font such as 12 pt. Times Roman and leave 1-inch margins.
➢ Once you’re done single-space the plot summary section, and double-
space the analysis section in the file you’re going to upload.
➢ Note: It is important that you submit an attached Word document; do not type (or
paste) your response into the Text Submission box.
Grading: The grading rubric is available from the assignment link and reproduced on p. 2
below. I will also provide written comments.
Weight: This assignment will count 25% of your term grade.
Due Date: See the syllabus or calendar or click on the assignment link in Blackboard.
———
If you’re feeling stuck, think about how SparkNotes work… There is a plot summary of a
literary work (e.g., Candide) and then some analysis. What you’re doing is something like this—
except that you have to come up with the plot for a new work and know what significance that
plot might have. ☺
English2327: Writing Project Two
Important—Be sure to read this assignment sheet in its entirety.
There is information
on page 2 that applies to both options.
Assignment: In your first paper, I asked you to focus on fiction and think about how plot is essential to
the creation of meaning. For your second paper, I would like you to focus on poetry and the complex
relationship between cultural context and literary language.
You may complete this assignment by doing ONE of the following two options:
A) Option One—more or less traditional historical research. Specifically, I would like you to focus on
one of the following:
Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” or
Blake’s “London” or
Pushkin’s “The Bronze Horseman”
You should be familiar with these poems from class discussion. Your task now is to do some historical
research—e.g., into Wordsworth’s life, Romantic-era ideas about nature, the “charters” that seem to
matter in “London,” or the social conditions in Pushkin’s Russia, etc. Once you’ve done this research,
you should write a brief essay in which you discuss your findings and how they’ve changed your
understanding of the poem. Imagine you’re explaining the poem to a friend: what historical information
would he (or she) need to really get what the poem is about?
Very important: I would like you to set your paper up as what teachers sometimes call an I-search
paper. That is, instead of trying for an impersonal thesis statement and making dogmatic research or
interpretive claims, cast your paper as a first-person narrative. The idea is to learn and talk about
learning honestly, not impersonate a professor. Your paper should probably have three parts:
a first section in which you discuss your reactions to the poem and issues or problems that
caught your attention;
a second section recounting your research (i.e., what you looked up, what sources you used, your
judgment about the quality of the material you found, etc.);
a third section in which you discuss how your research changed (or didn’t) your understanding of
the poem.
Note: You should not try to do each section in one paragraph.
If you’re not familiar with the I-search paper, click on this link to learn more:
http://subjectguides.grcc.edu/c.php?g=257596&p=1721219
http://subjectguides.grcc.edu/c.php?g=257596&p=1721219
B) Option Two—the Jurassic Park option. Imagine that a wealthy but eccentric English professor is
soliciting proposals for a Wordsworth (or Blake or Pushkin) Theme Park. Then write a prospectus
describing what such a park would include or look like. The aim of the assignment of course is to
show that you know something about the poet you choose—and you’ll need to do some research to
deepen your understanding of the poet you select and the Romantic era—but you may include
pretty much whatever you want in your park.
By way of perhaps piquing your interest, I’m including two links here. They’re designed to get you
thinking…
The first is to a site about the Rural Cemetery Movement. In case you didn’t know it, the modern
notion of what a cemetery should be has its origins in the Romantic era:
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/03/our-first-public-parks-the-forgotten-history-
of-cemeteries/71818/
The second link is to an article that lists some of the strangest theme parks in the world:
http://www.businessinsider.com/weird-amusement-park-attractions-2013-8?op=1
While your prospectus should focus mainly on what will be in your theme park (and why), the end of the
document would provide a good opportunity to reflect on what sort of cultural work theme parks do.
(As a general matter, your prospectus will probably be a bit more essayistic than a real prospectus.
Here’s the first prospectus for Disney: http://boingboing.net/2014/05/20/disneylandprospectus.html)
_________________
Length and format: Regardless of which option you choose, you should plan on writing at least 1,200
words (about 4 pages). You may set your document up as you wish, but do make sure that it’s readable.
With option two, you may want to include images, cost projections, etc.
Research and Documentation: You need to use at least three (3) academic sources to develop your
paper. Use MLA format for documentation. If you’re not sure about when or how to cite sources, you
may want to visit the Purdue University OWL (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ ) or the Wesleyan
Academic Success Center on the first floor of the library.
Weight: This assignment will count 25% of your term grade.
Grading: I will use one of the two rubrics associated with this assignment—there is one for each
option—to evaluate your submission. The rubrics are available from the assignment link and
reproduced below. I will also provide written comments
Due Date: See the syllabus or calendar or click on the assignment link in Blackboard.
Note: It is important that you submit an attached Word document; do not type (or paste) your response
into the Text Submission box.
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/03/our-first-public-parks-the-forgotten-history-of-cemeteries/71818/
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/03/our-first-public-parks-the-forgotten-history-of-cemeteries/71818/
http://www.businessinsider.com/weird-amusement-park-attractions-2013-8?op=1
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
Below you will find the grading rubrics associated with this assignment.
Rubric for I-Search paper:
Rubric for Theme Park Plan