EN12: INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

Fall Semester 2005

Research Paper Assignment

The final research paper will be due at the beginning of class on Thursday, December 22.

Drafts of the research paper will be due on Monday, December 13. On that day, in lieu of the last class meeting, students will meet with me individually in my office at assigned times to go over their drafts.

The essay should be approximately 7-9 pages long. In it, you should choose a fairy tale that we have not studied in class. You should locate two versions of this fairy tale; ideally, at least one of them should be a classic or folk version. You should analyze the tale for its meaning, with attention to the significance of the differences between the version you have chosen. And you should locate and apply to your argument at least two secondary, critical sources. One of these critical sources may be one of those included in Maria Tatar's Classic Fairy Tales.

For some sources of fairy tales as well as criticism, refer to the books on reserve for this class at the circulation desk of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library.

Beginning on Monday, December 1, we will have class presentations on fairy tales. Each student will make a 5-10 minute presentation on the fairy tale he or she has selected, briefly describing its plot, its various versions, and its most prominent themes. We will also devote class time during the last weeks of class to discussion of problems and strategies in research and writing.