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Humanities Discussion Paper

INSTRUCTIONS:

Paper Length: The paper should be around 5 (maybe 6) pages- roughly 1300 - 1450 words. This does not include a “works cited” section that you need to include. The “works cited” doesn’t have to be on a separate sheet of paper, you can just put it after the concluding paragraph of your paper. IMPORTANT: You cannot use sources such as CourseHero, UK Essays, GradeFixer, SparkNotes, etc. (there are many others that I could list here that are the same type of websites) as sources for your paper. These are NOT academic sites. Please use at least 3 academic sources- none of which are Wiki or the ones listed below. A list of ways to find academic sources should be in the Midterm module as Resources. Sites like JSTOR and EBSCO are perfectly fine to use. Remember to do your academic research on the short story or film- rather than subjects the work might be about. For example: if the story choice you could write on was "The Yellow Wallpaper" then you would research and include interpretations of the Gilman story, not research on how wallpapers have changed in the last 100 years. Here are you choice of Final Paper topics. These short stories deal with similar ideas that we have discussed in class already. Choose the main character of the story. Explain why the story illustrates the Hum themes used in our class- Please relate whatever you choose to 1 of the 3 main Hum themes: Man's relationship with self Man defining himself within society Man defining himself within relationship to nature Furthermore, approach your paper using one of these topics as a way to keep your paper focused using A, B, or C. Women in society Madness and Punishment Vampires and other monsters. Your grade will depend on how well you can explore 1 Hum theme and 1 topic in more depth. Even though I know that there is an overlap between these, this is an exercise in arguing your point of view. Don’t worry about trying to find the one and only “right” answer, try to approach your paper using 1 Hum theme and 1 topic. Below are the list of stories or films to write on from the following categories. Tie it into some of the stories and readings we have already discussed in our class if you feel it is appropriate. Keep the comparisons to one paragraph for each one, and try to keep it to two comparisons at most. Make sure to use quotes in order to support your ideas. Citations can be done using (author, page #) and listing in a “Works cited” at the end of your paper. A similar formula applies to this paper as the one I gave you for the Midterm prompt Thesis = Short Story (Option A) or Film (Option B) + Hum theme (1, 2, or 3) + Topic (A, B or C) Choose either Option A or Option B- you cannot do both for extra credit. Option A Choose just 1 from these short stories: The Lady of the House of Love- Angela Carter The Swimmer.pdf - John Cheever A Rose for Emily - William Faulkner The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas- Ursula K. Le Guin Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?- Joyce Carol Oates - OR - Option B Choose from just 1 of the following films. You can only write on one of these choices- please only pick one that is on this list, do not substitute one of your own choosing. Films: The Thing (1982) Dir: John Carpenter The Mist (2007) Dir: Frank Darabont Poltergeist (1982) Dir: Tobe Hooper The Shining (1980) Dir: Stanley Kubrick I have posted a sample paper to help guide you in what I'm looking for in a film paper please don't write on it. I will not accept a paper based on this film. The Sixth Sense (1999) Dir: M. Night Shyamalan On the next page, I have also included a sample paper that I wrote on "The Sixth Sense" that you can use as a guide. Reminders: Do. Not. Plagiarize. I’m not expecting groundbreaking work in this paper. I’m just trying to find out what your opinion is. It’s okay if your opinions are based on someone else’s ideas, just tell me that they are. So, cite every idea or sentence that is not your own. Otherwise, you will get an “F”. Quick checklist: □ Are you keeping your focus on the 1 Hum theme and 1 category from A, B, or C that you are using to discuss your topic? □ Do you have 3 sources- none of which are Wiki? □ Consider asking someone to proof your paper for spelling / grammar. Make sure you are breaking your paragraphs into clear subjects of discussion. □ Remember to talk about the work as it relates to understanding culture, not just giving a plot summary, or what happens in the story, without explaining why it's relevant to understanding the work as a whole. Feel free to email me at any time if you have any questions.
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