Due date: December 5, 2016
Your task is to write a literary research paper on Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Incorporate at least five secondary sources.
You may choose from one of the following two topics:
I. Although female do not play a large role in the plot of Things Fall Apart, the novel is largely about the notion of femininity and the importance ot women. Your essay should examine how this “book about a man” is also a study in what it means to be “manly” or “womanly.”
II. Things Fall Apart was written during a period of decolonization and depicts the very beginnings of British colonization of the Igbo. Your argument should examine one aspect of colonization as it is depicted in the novel. How does the historical context of the text in question shed light on the text (or vice versa)?
As part of both questions, the following questions may also be addressed: How are religious concepts represented? How are religious ideas used to manipulate people? What cultural codes does Things Fall Apart put in question? What literary techniques are at work?
You should include a Works Cited page, a complete sentence outline and at least one rough copy with your final project and. I also strongly recommend using Smart Thinking.
Length: 1400 words, double-spaced, font size 12, one inch margins
Follow the MLA format for all citations and your bibliography!
In addition to the text you have chosen, you must use at least five secondary sources. These must consist of scholarly articles (from JSTOR or journals) or books from the library. Essays from the back of the Norton Critical Edition of Things Fall Apartmay be used. Other internet sources, unless they have been approved by me beforehand, are not acceptable. You may also cite other related literary texts or historical documents.
Some possible issues to explore:
Remember that you need to formulate a thesis with which a reader can disagree.
* Avoid plagiarism by being honest with yourself and by following the proper procedures for note taking and giving the author credit for using his works.
* Be cautious with long quotations. Each citation must be incorporated into your argument, and not simply pasted in. Lengthy citations require lengthy analysis! When in doubt, employ textual analysis (close reading).
* Do not use Cliff notes, Spark notes, or other sources of this type. These should only be used as an overview to help you gain an understanding of your primary source. Students are tempted to plagiarize using these sources, so be very careful not to fall into this trap. Do not use online research papers written by other students or by other professionals. This is blatant plagiarism without a doubt. * Remember that your essay should be a scholarly interpretation supported by research and not simply a summary. Also keep in mind that this is an academic research paper and not an editorial. This requires a certain amount of scholarly and analytical distance.
Pay close attention to the language and details in the text itself. Observe how the critics you use respond to the same details, and integrate these findings into your paper.
Due date: December 5, 2016
Your task is to write a literary research paper on Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Incorporate at least five secondary sources.
You may choose from one of the following two topics:
I. Although female do not play a large role in the plot of Things Fall Apart, the novel is largely about the notion of femininity and the importance ot women. Your essay should examine how this “book about a man” is also a study in what it means to be “manly” or “womanly.”
II. Things Fall Apart was written during a period of decolonization and depicts the very beginnings of British colonization of the Igbo. Your argument should examine one aspect of colonization as it is depicted in the novel. How does the historical context of the text in question shed light on the text (or vice versa)?
As part of both questions, the following questions may also be addressed: How are religious concepts represented? How are religious ideas used to manipulate people? What cultural codes does Things Fall Apart put in question? What literary techniques are at work?
You should include a Works Cited page, a complete sentence outline and at least one rough copy with your final project and. I also strongly recommend using Smart Thinking.
Length: 1400 words, double-spaced, font size 12, one inch margins
Follow the MLA format for all citations and your bibliography!
In addition to the text you have chosen, you must use at least five secondary sources. These must consist of scholarly articles (from JSTOR or journals) or books from the library. Essays from the back of the Norton Critical Edition of Things Fall Apartmay be used. Other internet sources, unless they have been approved by me beforehand, are not acceptable. You may also cite other related literary texts or historical documents.
Some possible issues to explore:
Remember that you need to formulate a thesis with which a reader can disagree.
* Avoid plagiarism by being honest with yourself and by following the proper procedures for note taking and giving the author credit for using his works.
* Be cautious with long quotations. Each citation must be incorporated into your argument, and not simply pasted in. Lengthy citations require lengthy analysis! When in doubt, employ textual analysis (close reading).
* Do not use Cliff notes, Spark notes, or other sources of this type. These should only be used as an overview to help you gain an understanding of your primary source. Students are tempted to plagiarize using these sources, so be very careful not to fall into this trap. Do not use online research papers written by other students or by other professionals. This is blatant plagiarism without a doubt. * Remember that your essay should be a scholarly interpretation supported by research and not simply a summary. Also keep in mind that this is an academic research paper and not an editorial. This requires a certain amount of scholarly and analytical distance.
Pay close attention to the language and details in the text itself. Observe how the critics you use respond to the same details, and integrate these findings into your paper.