Write a research paper in which you analyze ONE of the following themes or issues.
The focus of this paper will be on one of the issues below (or a variation that you create). As part of discussing
this issue, use at least one story, poem, TV show, or film as an example within your discussion of this theme/
issue. You may choose to compare and/or contrast two works in regards to their treatment of the same or related
themes. (Do not use more than 3 primary texts). Ultimately, your goal is to create a set of insights about this theme/
issue. You are using the literary (or other) texts to help illustrate/build these insights, but it doesn’t need to be the
primary focus of the paper. Rather, your primary focus is on insights about the issue itself.
Clearly, this assignment is intended to encourage each student to find an original path of research in which one can
suit her/his interests and through which one can demonstrate unique analysis & insights. As part of this, you will use
at least one literary or film/tv text as an example. You also must use at least 3 secondary sources that meet the
standards of “legitimate academic texts.” This will require you to do library research (and/or use the academic
databases) as this requirement will negate much of what you might find on the general internet. It is expected that you
will incorporate quotes and ideas from these sources fluidly within the context of your own analysis.
-This paper must be typed, double spaced, font= times new roman 12 or arial 10. Do not add spaces between paragraphs.
-Use 1 inch margins.
-This paper will be at least 1200 words (approximately 4 complete pages) in length. Do not exceed 8 pages. (This count does NOT
include the Works Cited Page).
-This paper should be in proper MLA format and should include a Works Cited Page. If this is not written as a properly formatted
MLA paper, you cannot receive a passing grade in this course.
• How does society’s views on gender influence individual identity? What are the psychological effects of
this influence?
• In what ways do people’s perceptions of/experience of sex influence their sense of identity?
• In what ways do people’s perceptions of sex influence their views of/approaches to relationships (and
vice versa)?
• How does one’s understanding of/experience of love influence the way one views oneself? How does
love impact one’s self-image?
• How do family relationships shape one’s sense of self?
• How do family relationships shape one’s approach to other relationships?
• How is love learned? How do people define love’s function in life?
• How do the relationships among siblings influence a person’s adult personality, approaches to love, and/
or perceptions of family?
• What are the psychological effects of the parent/child relationship on one’s adult identity or one’s adult
approach to family?
• How does society’s views of race, ethnicity, economic class, religion, or sexuality influence individual
identity and social stratification?
• How do the roles of the “outsider” or “minority” groups impact the way the “insider” or “majority
groups see themselves?
• How do labels/stereotypes about “outsider” or “minority” groups impact the way people within those
groups see themselves?
• How can one move beyond the psychological limits imposed by social stereotyping?
• What are the psychological effects of war and how do the impact a person beyond their time in war?
What impact do these effects have on those around the effected and on the broader society?
• What are the psychological effects of confronting death and/or the recognition of mortality?
