Paper Topics and Proposal Assignment, Eng2800
At the end of the semester, you will be writing a 4-5 page paper on one of the below
topics. Further instructions / guidelines for that paper will be distributed later in the
semester. This is a “scaffolded assignment” – meaning you have preliminary
assignments (a paper proposal, and a draft) due before you turn in the final paper.
Below you will find the paper topics and details for the proposal.
Proposal, Due Wednesday April 2
Write a 1-page double-spaced paper proposal explaining which question you will answer,
your thesis statement (in other words, argument) as it stands now, and some details about
the evidence you will use to support this thesis statement. You also need to explain a
counter-argument. In other words, a thesis statement needs to be argumentative and
therefore you need to be able to imagine and lay out a potential counter-argument. For
example, if I were arguing for the need for universal healthcare in the US, I would easily
be able to imagine the counter-argument (i.e. we should not have universal healthcare).
The same is true when arguing about literature—there is an argument and a counterargument. As we move toward the paper I’ll be explaining in more detail how you can
use a counter-argument to your advantage. You don’t need to explain ALL the evidence
you’ll be using, but be specific in your proposal and point out plot points, images, quotes,
character traits, etc that will serve to support your thesis. As well, you don’t have to have
everything “figured out” by this point—so feel free to pose questions as well. Ultimately,
you will need to include one secondary source in your paper—you do not need to have
that source now, but if you do have that source, please mention it in the proposal.
Even though this is a proposal, this should still be grammatically correct and should not
be informally written. As well, it should be in 12-point Times New Roman font
(following MLA guidelines). As well, plagiarism policies still apply. While this isn’t a
“contract” (i.e. your argument might change), you are committing to your topic.
Topics:
1. A topic of your choosing in consultation with me. If you choose your own topic,
please note that in your proposal. I may ask you to meet with me.
2. Explore the role of gender in Aeschylus’ The Oresteia. Consider how Aeschylus’
plays represent women in positions of power. Are the plays’ powerful women
truly powerful or not? This is a BIG and complicated topic so here are some
suggestions on how to approach it – you should not consider all of these
questions because your paper will be too scattered. Rather these are suggested
considerations: Consider, for instance, how the representation of women such as
Clytemnestra or the Furies compares to the representation of male characters?
How does the chorus function in the representation of gender? How does justice
relate to the representation of women, and how does The Eumenides’ ending
render the female characters more powerful or less powerful? Choose a position
and, using textual evidence, present a coherent and detailed argument. You can
use examples from all three plays OR you can look closely at only one or two of
the plays. Either is fine as long as your argument is specific and avoids plot
summary.
3. Explore the role of the gods versus the role of human choice in Aeschylus’ The
Oresteia. How much do the gods control and determine the characters’ actions
and the outcome of the plays? On the other hand, how much does personal choice
and human emotion affect the outcome of the plays? Choose a position and argue
coherently and specifically for the position you choose. Again, you can use
examples from all three plays OR you can look closely at only one or two of the
plays.
4. Bringing together The Bhagavad Gita and The Oresteia here, how are they
different and/or similar in the ethical/philosophical worldview they put forward?
Remember that The Oresteia does end up with a philosophical stance at the end of
the three plays.
5. Following Confucius’s terms as laid out in The Analects, is Oedipus a good ruler?
6. In Antigone, we see a clash in worldviews between Creon and Antigone.
Antigone believes in the possibility of a higher morality that transcends “manmade” law, while Creon believes that one must always hold strong to the law of
the land (otherwise chaos/anarchy will ensue). This ends up as a very
complicated conflict to resolve. Using The Analects, what do you think Confucius
would say about this conflict?
7. Creation myths function to structure a society’s understanding of the world and
the individual—they create a structuring narrative that makes sense of what
otherwise seems nonsensical. Bring together 2 or more of the creation myth
excerpts we studied, and make an argument about their common and/or differing
elements. Questions you MAY want to consider: how do the two texts imagine
chaos? What role does the creation of humans play in the text? What role do
divine beings play?