Throughout this class, we have discussed many different themes within our major works, Persepolis and Exit West. As we have read these works, I have provided you with essays, articles, poems, short stories, and videos that go along with our readings. These supplemental works often relate to the themes we’re discussing and contribute to the conversations we have about the works. Some of these themes include education, religion, violence, revolution, class inequality, identity, family, migration, borders, and discrimination (racism, sexism, homophobia, etc).
Now, it’s your turn! Pick one of the two major works we’ve focused on (Persepolis or Exit West) and find your own supplemental work to discuss it through. This should not be one of the works I’ve already provided for the class.
When choosing a supplemental work, think about how you can connect it to a theme in Exit West or Persepolis. The supplemental work you choose to discuss can be in any form, as long as it is relevant and is approved by me. This can include, but is not limited to, relevant articles, books, poems, songs, films, and TV shows. You can use the LIM databases to find an article to discuss, but you are not limited to using articles as the center of your project.
In your essay, write with a clear thesis and discuss your points with examples and citations from the texts that you choose.
As this project is required to have a research component, you must also incorporate some research from the LIM databases. The first part of this project includes your submission of a thesis statement and annotated bibliography with 5 sources. Your Thesis and Bibliography assignment will count as 20% of your final project grade.
You must use at least two of these peer reviewed sources (from the databases) in your final project.
Once you have your idea, you have choices in terms of what kind of project you will do. You can either write down your idea and hand it in as a paper, or you can perform your idea and teach it to the class.
If you are doing the paper, it should be 4-5 pages (and by 4 pages, I mean all the way to the bottom of the fourth page). Note- page count does not include title page, abstract, or works cited pages. Be careful with citations if you are doing the paper, and make sure that it is more carefully organized than a short response paper.
If you are teaching the class, you can teach it in class with a PowerPoint, or you can record a video of yourself at home teaching it, and show it in class. (The video option is mostly aimed at those who might be uncomfortable or anxious in front of the class.) If you are teaching the class, your presentation should be organized and clear. Feel free to make your lesson interactive! Presentations should be about 5 minutes (and no longer than 10)!
EXAMPLE
I’m interested in PTSD. I already read The Things They Carried, which discusses some PTSD, and I want to compare the soldiers in the novel to Marjane in Persepolis. In my essay, I will use examples to show that Marjane has signs of PTSD by giving examples of the disorder in The Things They Carried and examples of how Marjane acts similarly. I will additionally use research from the LIM databases to discuss the symptoms of PTSD and its appearances in literature.
Make sure that you have a good reason and something to say about the works you choose for your project. While I hope that you have fun with the assignment, it is your final project, and I’m looking for it to be well thought out. My overall goal in this assignment is to let you take what we’ve discussed in class and allow you to connect it to your own interests.
