text by Anita Mannur
When you are trying to decide what to write about ...
Formulate
a CLEAR argument; the entire paper should support and develop this idea.
An argument or a thesis statement is your particular "take" on a specific
topic. For example, a topic might be "the child narrator in The
Bluest Eye and When I Was Puerto Rican" and an argument
might be "the point of view of the child protagonist serves as an incisive
way to point out the inconsistencies of the societal logic of the world
they live in." Once you have developed an interesting, coherent,
and original argument, carefully decide which elements of the text(s)
will serve as evidence for your paper. Remember that you should be incorporating
ideas from this course, but the paper should not reiterate class material
in a mundane, pedestrian manner. Try
to organize your paper thematically and use each text as a way to elaborate
on your argument looking at differences and similarities between
the texts. Do not discuss the texts sequentially so that your paper reads
like a list in which the first part of your paper addresses Book One and
the second part discusses Book Two. E.G., if you discuss the place of minorities
in the World War Two era in the United States as presented in No No
Boy and The Bluest Eye, ensure that you weave your discussion
of both texts into your analysis.
When
quoting from text, follow these guidelines. Quotations of five lines or
more should be kept to a minimum. This tends to be an easy way to "fill"
space but it is also the oldest trick in the book! In such cases, set
your quotation off in an indented block. For quoted text that is less
than five lines, integrate your quotation into your paper in the following
way, "your quotation goes here" (author text page number). NOTE:
You do not have to include the name of the author or the text unless
it is not clear in the context of your paper. PLEASE NOTE THAT
YOU SHOULD NEVER QUOTE TEXT WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT: QUOTATIONS DO NOT STAND
ALONE; OR IN PLACE OF ANALYSIS; THEY SERVE TO ILLUSTRATE A POINT EFFECTIVELY,
AND INTELLIGENTLY.
An introductory paragraph in which you present your argument clearly
and concisely. Do not include supporting argument here: simply state what
you will show and how you will do this and what text you are including.
Remember: this is your opportunity to ensure that your reader will be interested
by your ideas.
Several
paragraphs in which you present and expand upon the ideas in your introduction.
Create smooth transitions between paragraphs and always make sure that
it links to your initial argument.
A conclusion
in which you attempt to draw your ideas together. DO NOT merely
reiterate your argument. Rather think of ways that your argument opens
up other questions or ideas.
Give
your paper a title. Be creative! Not only is a title such as "A Comparison
Between The Bluest Eye and Fire boring, but given that I
am not endowed with telepathic powers and am not psychically connected
with you, I will not know what you are writing about when I read your paper
if you don't include a title.
Keep
plot summation to an absolute minimum. I have read the books, and I know
you have. Use your space to analyze the texts.
Italicize or underline titles of novels and films. Titles of short
stories such as "Eye Contact" are placed between quotation marks.
Put
your name and my name on your paper.
Include
a bibliography. For novels, use the following format: Rushdie, Salman.
Shame. London: Picador, 1983.
For
more specific information, consult Diana Hacker's A Writer's Reference
or the MLA Handbook For Writers of Research Papers. (Available at
the reference desk of the WEB DuBois Library). You may also consult my
copy, available in my office during my office hours.
You
must save a copy of your paper either as a photocopy or on disk to safeguard
against potential loss, damage, theft or destruction of your paper.
Use
the following font. Times 12 point is required unless you are using a typewriter.
Douuble space your papers, with 1 inch margins.
Thoroughly
proofread your paper for content, spelling mistakes, grammatical and syntactical
error.
Understanding instructions is an integral part of any assignment. Failure on your part to have read and understood the guidelines will not be considered a valid excuse for not following them.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.