Research paper—The Kite Runner and other themes of justice:
For the research paper, I would like you to integrate your comparison/contrast and/or analysis essay, or part of one or both of the two, into it. The research paper needs to add a minimum of six pages to your comparison/contrast (CC) essay or analysis (A) paper, for a total of eight (minimum) to twelve (maximum) pages. You may use a maximum of six pages, if you use passages from both original essays. Therefore, this research paper is a way of deepening your understanding of one or more of the themes we’ve been exploring through the semester by tying it to some relatively modern history. No essays can be completed without prior approval.
Questions:
- Considering CC question number 1 (involving MLK and Machiavelli), look at any institutionalized racism that exists at some place in current (last 30 years) history. You must cite one or two laws, or one or two judicial cases that echo the history of Jim Crow Laws or events of miscarriages of justice in the United States. How do they impact the United States, or a particular region or state thereof? How do these laws impact modern culture, either in the South or for any US inhabitant, citizen, patriot? How do these modern vestiges of injustice relate to the ideas of MLK or Machiavelli?
- Integrating ideas from CC prompt involving Marx and Hitler, explore the extent to which modern society is influenced by Marxist socialism and or dictatorships. Look at a country whose economy was at one time defined as communistic or socialist or that has at some point in the past 30 years been ruled under a dictatorship (examples include Cambodia, Vietnam, North Korea, El Salvador, Russia). What does this example show about the practical interpretation of this form of economy or government (respectively) by societies? Are they viable or noble pursuits? Why or why not?
- Considering Wollstonecraft’s “The Playthings of Tyrants,” look at the extent to which protection of women as equal to men has occurred or failed under the US government or elsewhere. Consider researching the modern sex trade/human trafficking, the pornography industry, etc. Note: this paper assignment has to be approved by me on a case-by-case basis. This is a delicate topic which should be treated with great care. What advances have been made and which ones have still far to go? How can such injustices be remedied?
If there is a topic related to one of the class readings about which you wish to research, you may also submit that as a proposal, but it is subject to approval by the instructor.
- Length: 8-10 pages—excluding the Works Cited page—or 1,750-2,000 words. Or 1-12, depending on how it’s approached.
- Typed, double-spaced with 1” margins on all sides.
- Font: Times New Roman size 12.
- MLA guidelines for (1) first page, (2) page numbering, (3) quotes and paraphrases, and (4)Works Cited page.
- Use at least seven and no more than ten documented library sources. Scholarly sources (book, encyclopedia, or scholarly journal are the most credible. No more than one can be an internet source). Exceptions will be made only with instructor’s approval. The World of Ideas can count as no more than three sources.
- Organize essay (introduction, at least five body paragraphs, and a conclusion)
- Support your clearly stated thesis with relevant, ample evidence. All evidence must be analyzed thoroughly and cited faithfully!
- Paper must be free of grammatical and spelling errors.
- Save work to flash drive for your protection.
- Note: This is not an opinion piece. You are collecting, researching, and including data insofar as it supports points that can be clearly related to your thesis.
- Please use the Little, Brown book to further assist you.
Nov 19: Proposals due. What question are you exploring, and how do you plan to approach it? Bring in four sources (besides in class texts) that you’ve summarized and explained what they mean to you. Basically you need to dialectical journal these sources.
Dec. 3: Draft due. Four pages of original material. Bring in three drafts
Dec. 10: Instructor returns all drafts to students. Discuss parenthetical citations.
Dec 17 : Final drafts are due. Attach prior drafts by stapling them. No folders, please
