Assignment: Paper Zero
Comparative Literature
This is an ungraded assignment designed to establish a baseline for where your writing is now and get an idea of where your strengths and weaknesses lie and what needs the most work. We're both eager to help you improve your writing, so take advantage of this limited-time two-for-one offer.
Assignment
Please write a 1.5- to 2-page paper (double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point font) that speaks to the question of what in the study of literary texts is worth comparing and why. As has emerged from class discussions and readings, there are many possible answers to such a question. Do not feel obliged to address all the possibilities. Your argument should be intensive rather than extensive. In other words, focus on one approach that you believe to be particularly interesting.
Your paper should include:
- An introduction with a compelling motive and thesis;
- A brief treatment of one comparative literary example. This need not be an in-depth analysis, but it should be sufficient to suggest the fruitfulness of the approach: what can we learn by such a comparison?; we haven't read that many literary works at this point, so feel free to go beyond the assigned readings in choosing your example; and
- A conclusion that suggests the payoff of the approach you have selected.
Possible starting points:
- A particular literary example of a kind of comparison you find compelling; or
- A statement from one of the theoretical readings about what is to be gained by employing a comparative perspective.
Please email your paper in Word (.doc) or RTF (.rtf) format to both Ryan Wepler and David Powelstock by assigned deadline.
Please note that we will meet that day in the Shiffman Computer Classroom, which is in the basement of the building. You need to use the stairway toward the Lown end of the building (the end farther from our regular classroom).
Lauren Holm will be walking us through Digication, the online e-portfolio system we'll be employing in the course. Please be sure to have with you:
- Your assigned Digication username and password (you will have received this by February 9); and
- A digital copy of your paper (on, say, a USB thumb drive) or online access to your paper (you might email it to yourself, for example).
David Powelstock and Ryan Wepler
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