Objective: Write a research essay of at least 1,000 words on one of the topics below. The essay must incorporate research from credible academic sources as well as textual evidence from the primary source.
Approved Topics:
Both Edwin Arlington Robinson’s “Richard Cory” and Marge Piercy’s “Barbie Doll” explore the deceptive nature of appearances. Compare and contrast the two poets’ portrayal of this theme. Be sure to discuss specific literary elements in your analysis of the poems.
Compare and contrast the attitudes toward death presented in Emily Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and Dylan Thomas’ “Do not Go Gentle into that Good Night.” Be sure to discuss specific literary elements in your analysis of the poems.
Compare and contrast the attitudes toward love displayed I Shakespeare’s “My Mistress’ Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun” and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?”
Throughout A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry explores changing gender roles. Consider the treatment of gender as it relates to the major characters of Walter, Beneath, Ruth, and Mama. How does Hansberry’s portrayal of these characters call these roles into question? Does Hansberry seem to support or reject traditional gender roles in the play?
General Requirements:
Your essay must be at least 1,000 words in length.
Must be formatted in standard MLA style (see the MLA Resources folder for instructions and examples).
Your essay must include a clear thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph.
Your essay must be organized into separate introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Your essay should contain at least five paragraphs: one introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and one conclusion paragraph.
You must include information from at least two sources obtained from the GALILEO and/or Literary Reference Center databases available through the SCTC Library. No other secondary sources will be allowed. Any evidence that you have used secondary sources not obtained from these databases will automatically result in a failing grade on the assignment.
You must document all information from both the primary sources (the play or poems you are writing about) and your secondary sources in MLA style with parenthetical citations within your essay, a citation on a separate Works Cited page, and quotation marks around any exact language from these sources. Failure to do so will be considered plagiarism and will result in grade of zero on the assignment. See the MLA Resources folder and Chapters 23-25 of your textbook for instructions and examples of how to cite sources in MLA style.
