ENG3U
Summative Assignment – Cultural Studies
What is cultural studies?
All books are written in a specific cultural, social and historical context. The time and place
during which the books were written can be just as important as the time and place in which the
books are set. Also, the author’s own life, experience and identity can greatly impact how he or
she created the book. Writers often comment on large-scale political or social conflicts through
their work.
The assignment:
Choose one of the following books. You are responsible for finding your own copy. Check at
Earl of March’s library, the public library, or look to buy new or used books or buy a copy of online. If you have difficulty locating a book to study, please see me before any due dates.
Each book represents a specific subculture or significant historical period.
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Neuromancer by William Gibson (cyberfiction novel)
Maus, A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History (Vol. 1) by Art Spiegelman
(Holocaust memoir graphic novel)
Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden (Aboriginal snipers during WW1)
On the Road by Jack Kerouac (Beat generation novel)
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (South African apartheid novel)
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (memoir about an adventurer who dedicates his
life to building schools for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan)
Jarhead: A Marine’s Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles by Anthony Swofford
(battlefield memoir)
Obasan by Joy Kogawa (Japanese-Canadian internment during WWII)
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (African post-colonialism)
Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat (Iranian memoir)
JPod by Douglas Coupland (tech-geek culture)
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Pakistani memoir)
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese (Indian residential schools)
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (American slave trade)
If you are interested in studying another book and social/historical period, you are welcome to
propose it to me. I must approve it before you begin.
Part A: Approval
You have until _____________________ to choose your book. Use the time before to research
the topics of interest. I must approve your choice of books before you continue.
Part B: Personal Response
Write a 1-2 page response about whether you like the book, including some reasons why or why
not. Include your understanding of the meaning of the text and your opinion about its relevance
to your own life and today’s society.
Due: ________________________
Weight: 2%
Part C: Conferencing
You will meet with me individually on ___________________ to discuss your progress to date.
You must bring your conference checklist to show me where you’re at. You will use the rest of
the time to work on your summative or other course related tasks.
Due: __________________________
Weight: 1%
Part D: Cultural Context Essay
Write a 3-4 page research essay on the social, historical, and political context of your book and
the influence this period has on the book itself. This should be more than a chronological
summary of the time period.
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You must argue how and why the cultural context impacted your book
You must have a minimum of 6 sources, with multiple types of media
You must include a Works Consulted page and MLA references which include both your
secondary and primary sources. (The primary source is the book in this case.)
Include your research notes (Be aware, I am NOT looking for form in these, but I do need
to see which information comes from which source so don’t lump it all together)
Due: ____________________________
Weight: 7%
 You are welcome to hand in the assignment BEFORE the due date. It is expected that in
a university level course, ALL assignments will be handed in by the due date except if
there has been an individual extension provided by me for extreme situations.