Your Research Project will involve three specific assignments due during the semester:
1. Prospectus and Working Bibliography
2. Thesis and Sentence Outline
3. Research paper of five-seven pages with internal documentation and bibliography/works cited section of at least five sources in MLA format
Research Project = 20% of your final grade
Failure to submit these assignments will have a serious negative impact on your successful completion of the course.
Your paper must be at least five pages in length, contain internal documentation, follow MLA guidelines, and include a bibliography in MLA style of at least five sources at the end of the paper (not counted as part of your five pages of content). Your topic must be directly related to the study of humanities.
“The humanities can be described as the study of how people process and document the human experience” according to Stanford University (2015). As a result of the broad spectrum of analysis, it can be stated that by its very nature the humanities are an interdisciplinary approach to examining phenomena. Within this spectrum, the study of humanities includes but is not limited to English, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theater, Languages and Culture. Rather than a singular lens, however, the scope of analysis would be from two or more of these various perspectives. Knowledge of the humanities gives humans better insight into those who have come before them and how this relates to the present human experience.
Part of the balance in selecting humanities research paper topics is having a clear research aim and selecting the proper interdisciplinary perspectives from which to examine it. For example, a humanities-exploration of Japan could include examination of history, writings, language, philosophy, religion, art and outside perspectives of the culture. Elements like geography and biology, though important to human development in the region, would not be a focal point in a humanities-based analysis.
According to your syllabus HUMN 1101 explores the philosophic and artistic heritage of humanity expressed through a historical perspective on visual arts, music, and literature. The humanities provide insight into people and society. Topics include historical and cultural developments; contributions of the humanities; and research project.”
These Competency Areas outlined in your course syllabus could be a starting point for topic selection:
Historical and Cultural Developments
Ancient period
Identify and discuss selected works of visual art, music, philosophy, and literature.
Classical period
Identify and discuss selected works of visual art, music, philosophy, and literature.
Medieval period
Identify and discuss selected works of visual art, music, philosophy, and literature.
Renaissance period
Identify and discuss selected works of visual art, music, philosophy, and literature.
Baroque period
Identify and discuss selected works of visual art, music, philosophy, and literature.
Revolutionary period
Identify and discuss selected works of visual art, music, philosophy, and literature.
Modern period
Identify and discuss selected works of visual art, music, philosophy, and literature.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HUMANITIES
Significance
Recognize the significance of the humanities in the thought and technology of the historical-cultural periods.
Influence
Identify the influence of the humanities on contemporary and future thought and technology.
Also below is a list of some topics that would fall within the spectrum of general humanities paper topics. This list can be employed as a literal selection tool for a topic, or it can just as effectively be used as a tool to facilitate ideas in a direction that is interesting to the respective student. The nature of humanities is so diverse that it would not be an understatement to conclude that there would have to be some element of it that would be of interest to the student.
Topic Possibilities:
Artists in Times of War (Pick one war to focus on.)
Contemporary Music and Political Commentary (Pick no more than three musicians to focus on.)
The Application of Socrates to 21st Century Western Democracy
Appalachian Language or any other language and Regional/National Identity
The Beat Generation: Kerouac, Miller and Burrows
Music and Political Propaganda (Choose a specific time period.)
The Bible and the Development of US Justice System
The Koran and Middle Eastern Politics
The Religions of Abraham: Modern Political Implications
Cults and Modern Religious Movements
Mayan Art or any other civilization’s art and Its Society
A Most Influential Writer Then and Now
Dystopian Exploration: Brave New World, A Clockwork Orange and Fahrenheit 451
Utopian Exploration: Writers of Utopian Literature Past and Present
The Importance of Studying Humanities
Humanities Versus the Sciences
The Role of Liberal Arts Education in the 21st Century
One Aspect of the Age of Enlightenment and Its Relevance Today
The Reformation in Art (Choose three artists)
Any Earlier Period Artist Compared to a Contemporary Artist
Views on Gender through the Ages as Depicted in Literature
The Industrial Revolution as Depicted in Literature or Art
Photography in Shaping Public Opinion (Choose no more than three photographers to focus on.)
The Printing Press and Dissemination of Ideas
The Odyssey as a Master Narrative
Books to Films (Limit your focus to no more than three.)
The History of Dance and its Impact on a Specific Culture
Architectural Wonders Past and Present
Drama: A Comparison of Then and Now
Poets of Lasting Influence (Limit the focus to three poets)
31. Or any other topic that interests you and that is directly related to the study of humanities. Contact me for approval.
32. The only topics NOT ALLOWED include the following:
33. Any Topic used for your ENGL 1101 or PSYC 1101 Papers
34. The Harlem Renaissance
35. Gun Control
36. Social Media
37. Immigration
38. Police Brutality
39. Abortion
40. Current Politics
(Sorry, I have read too many badly written papers on these topics and can’t bear to read more.)
