Research Paper Guidelines – Project Overview
You have a historically provocative play (on YouTube) to be at the center of your research paper. This class has not had ample time for the viewing of theater productions, and this is an opportunity to write from that perspective. Although many students view this production on film and also read the play, it is hard to argue the value of simply watching and listening to theater as would a member of the audience. Especially when you have the >PAUSEREWIND< button is also extremely useful. I recommend reading first, then viewing. This has been the most effective method for me. The play script for Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth” can also be found online or in any library.
“The Skin of Our Teeth” by Thornton Wilder (1942) This theater production has been captured on film at The Old Globe Theatre, 1983
The Skin of Our Teeth – — Video Link:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-trp-001&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=trp&p=The+SKin+of+Our+Teeth+-+Old+Globe+theater+with+Blaire+Brown&type=Y143_F163_201897_102620#id=1&vid=cb01d0f8a4d0e6bb1eec7b4c7d500b0e&action=click
Instead of a paper responding to one specific question, I would like you to go further, and to create a formal, well-focused thesis on one vital aspect of this play in production. Your paper should support your inquiry into this subject matter.
This paper allows you to explore a play by watching it from the perspective of the audience. Every aspect of theater we’ve discussed this semester–whether a classical dramatic plot, Schechner’s “bio-aesthetic web,” Grosz’s “chaos in a frame,” empathy, aesthetic frames, theatrical design, stage direction, stage acting, gender roles, Paleolithic cave art/performance/theater, the ancient Greek “seeing place,” Shakespeare’s “Globe,” Shakespeare’s Verona, Baz Luhrmann’s Verona Beach… each and every topic or scene or moment or concept we’ve discussed this semester has been the tip of one iceberg or another. You can do the same with “The Skin of Our Teeth” which earned Thornton Wilder the Pulitzer Prize for literature. It is a far-reaching work.
Go deeper than the introductory level and explore something that you wouldn’t have examined otherwise. Then, through a purposeful, persuasive, and enthusiastically researched academic essay, discuss what new things your efforts have enabled you to see and to think about in relation to a vital aspect of this play. Examples: the plays themes, Wilder’s use language, the direction of this production, the plays place in history, the artistic intentions of the playwright, the production design and use of symbolism, the plays comedy, its angle on modern philosophy, the trajectory of the human condition, etc. Each of these are a possible “lens” through which one can view this play. A “vital aspect” of a play could be seen as a “lens” through which you have researched this play from a particular angle or perspective. Otherwise, you’d be writing about the entire play, and that is too a long process for this research paper.
Guidelines, Requirements
When you select your thesis statement for exploring this play, you’re creating a particular lens for your readers to look through – a way for the reader to see deeper into this play, and your chosen perspective. Looking back at the work we’ve covered from January – April, I feel that you should be prepared with an understanding of many perspectives that could serve to illuminate your persuasive writing.
Thesis-driven, persuasive essays
The paper must be a persuasive, thesis-driven essay focused on this work of art through a specific aspect of this play. Your paper must take an obvious position. Your thesis will articulate that position, your research and textual analysis will support it, and your conclusion will summarize (persuasively) all the supporting evidence you’ve provided in this short essay, better known as a “paper”. Your thesis should be strong enough that it demands to be supported with argumentation, critical or textual analysis, and research, but narrow enough in focus that you can fully support it within the span of an essay as short as this one. I my opinion, you will need to create a strong outline to plan-out your argument step-by-step, paragraph by paragraph. Most people feel that it takes 2 to 4 drafts for your writing points to crystalize.
Length
The paper must be a minimum of 6 written pages, not including the required Works Cited page. There’s no maximum length. If you're truly getting into some interesting territory, don't hit the brakes. If you reach 12 pages, it might be a good idea to look for an end to your work.
Research
There needs to be scholarly research. There is a wealth of material available online when you access it through Rutgers Libraries, including guides on how to use the library for scholarly research. If you’re new to all this and aren't already familiar with the wealth of resources available to you, a brief chat with a librarian can be pretty mind blowing. Also remember that you're paying for access to all this amazing stuff with your tuition money, so consider the many reasons not to limit yourself to google searches.
Writing
The essays will be graded (though to a lesser extent) for all writing errors (grammar, syntax, logic/argument structure, essay structure, paragraph structure, easily avoidable citation mistakes, etc.). There should not be a single typo on a short, formal piece of writing like this. I want to underline that the minimum page limit on this essay is low specifically to allow for revision, thorough proofreading, etc. The papers are short, but you should take them very seriously. They should be tight, clean, and purposeful academic essays. Also, be careful not to rehash the plot in your writing. In this case, it is proper to assume that your reader already knows the play.
Citation method
MLA style, including a Works Cited page. MLA style is not just a format for parenthetical citations. MLA style, as with any academic style sheet, is a writing template for conducting intellectual discourse at the highest level. It provides a common ground amongst those participating in a discourse (some styles are best suited for the humanities, others for the sciences) that ensures that the origins of existing ideas and the exact contribution of new ideas to a particular discourse are clearly established. If you’re not familiar with the many distinct ways that MLA gives guidance for the actual content of the paper, and not just the citation apparatus, spend some time looking it up. It will give you a much better sense of why you’re being asked to write in this format. It will also certainly lead to a higher grade, since you are being required to follow MLA style, which includes its guidance for almost every aspect of academic writing, from composing a thesis statement to the use of the third-person voice, to the familiar formatting for parenthetical citations.
I encourage you to be as specific and as descriptive as possible. It can also be important to amuse yourself, and this can make for better writing too. Remember, your research can also include your own writing voice and opinions. Many people feel that you should leave your likes and dislikes out of it, but I don’t agree when it comes to writing about the arts. What you find to be ineffective or effective can matter a great deal, when supported by examples or even the perspectives of others who have reviewed this play/production.
