Drama Argument/Persuasion

Topic Proposal needed by February 23rd.

Argument/Persuasion with Drama
Research Essay Assignment Sheet
Task:
You will write a research paper analyzing a literary element from ONE of the following plays:
Trifles by Susan Glaspell
POOF! by Lynn Nottage.
Read/listen to the plays first, review the course content, then begin your research and drafting.
Submit a research proposal before writing your essay.
Use the basic outline provided as the skeleton for your essay.
Criteria:

To address the task, choose only ONE prompt below dont mix and match. (You dont have to answer all the questions; they are just there to get you thinking.)

Identify and analyze symbolic objects in the play.
What larger meaning do they represent? What should the reader learn from these symbols? What do you think the author was trying to convey?

Explore and analyze the irony of the situation.
Argue how the plays title, circumstances, clues, etc. are ironic by citing specific actions/decisions that were carried out — perhaps youll focus on what might be found as evidence in an investigation.

Analyze the setting.
How does the setting contribute to the main character(s) situation? Why might the author have made these choices as the foundation for where the story takes place?

Analyze the theme of freedom (or lack thereof) in the play.
What happens to the characters to restrict freedom or to give it back? What choices do the characters make to ensure their personal freedom?

Research: find and integrate, using the library databases, four secondary sources of literary criticism to support your own arguments/analysis of the play.
Body paragraphs need to be about theme, characterization, plot, symbol, etc.
Body paragraphs should not be paragraph 1=source 1, paragraph 2=source 2
Paragraphs should not be controlled by the research material.
Notes on Research: As youre researching, you may find articles that simply summarize the play. These are not appropriate for use in an extended essay like this one. You need to find articles that analyze the play.

(Also, Susan Glaspell wrote a short story called A Jury of Her Peers that has nearly the same content. You may use source material based on the story, but understand that there may be differences in presentation between the play and the short story.)

You may obtain additional sources from the databases, books/ebooks, journals, or reliable websites (do not use general references like Wikipedia, encyclopedias, etc.). The Explicator is a journal that summarizes, not analyzes, so dont use that as a source.

Purpose:
Meeting several course objectives (from the syllabus)
Thinking critically
Forming a coherent analysis
Crafting a valid argument
Supporting stance/claims with credible evidence from primary and secondary sources
Conducting scholarly research
Utilizing resources, practicing search techniques
Drafting, revising, editing/proofreading, and refining ones writing
Managing time while executing tasks
Learning how literature and writing offer a larger message beyond the classroom

Checklist: Does your essay have
an introduction with the thesis as the last sentence?
body paragraphs that equally cite quotes from the play and quotes from your research?
body paragraphs with clear topic and concluding sentences that directly relate back to the thesis?
four secondary sources cited within the essay – at least two of which are from the librarys databases?
at least 70% of the writing that is your words and thoughts, not source material.
a formed and defended a clear message for your reader. Dont ride the fence. Take a clear stance.
a polished appearance?
Avoid first and second person pronouns.
Avoid contractions.
Avoid unanswered rhetorical questions.
a creative title
in-text citations: each quote (from the play and research) is appropriately introduced and cited afterward.
a conclusion that recaps your evidence, restates your thesis (not verbatim), etc.
an MLA header (your name, my name, the course title, and the papers due date), top right: your last name, insert page numbers
Double-spacing
12-point Times New Roman font
One-inch margins (Dont bother adjusting these, your computer should automatically be set here.)
a Works Cited page in MLA format
a minimum of 1000 words.
Remember, there is no upper limit, but make sure your paper is focused and concise.

Note: any plagiarized material will cause you to fail the course. If you are unsure of a source, how to cite a source, how to use a source, or how to set up with Works Cited page, ask me! There is no penalty for asking questions.

Reference the rubric to double check that you’re meeting the essay requirements!