Dr. ObermeierÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ

Eng 200  

Assignment #4öSynthesis or Comparison/Contrast Paper

 Format:Ê 5 typed pages plus works cited. Follow the format for student papers and the parenthetical documentation outlined in the Guide to Style and attach a Works Cited page. Papers that are substantially too short will be marked down.

Use quotations to support your ideas but do not produce a paper of lengthy quotes strung together. If you quote three lines or fewer of a poem, they should not be set off or indented but integrated into the text of your paper. Use a slash to indicate the break between the lines (not before or after); give line numbers and author for each quotation, unless otherwise obvious. Four or more lines of poetry follow the block quotation format. See the Guide to Style #49-50. For fiction, see #48, 52.

Content: Pick a topic from the following list and write a synthesis paper. A synthesis paper assimilates elements of various pieces of literature to make it follow a certain thesis. Comparison and contrast elements are inherent in a synthesis (see Assignment 1 handout). Unlike for an explication, you do not have to cite every element inherent in the poem/short story but only those that support your particular thesis. There are various options open to you, and I urge you to reread the sections on poetry in the Norton and parts of Fussell, if you need, before you begin this paper.

 1.ÊÊ Pick several poems and/or short stories from the syllabus and write a synthesis paper. You may also use poems we have not read from the Norton Anthology. Ambitious papers might attempt the synthesis by applying a critical approach of your choice from Peter Barryâs Beginning Theory.

2.ÊÊ Discuss the voices of women in two or three poems and/or short stories on the syllabus. You might also consider the poems on the following pages in the Norton Anthology: 795, 800, 814-15, 818, 821, 832, 855, 944, 947 (ForchŽ), 1155, 1176, 1181, 1183, 1186-90 as well as chapter 6 on feminist theory in Peter Barryâs Beginning Theory.

3.ÊÊ Examine the sonnet form as employed by three authors in the Norton Anthology. Review Fussell chapter 7.

If desired and possible, you might want to bring an approach from Peter Barryâs Beginning Theory to bear on topics 4-6.

4.ÊÊ Compare and contrast Millayâs [I, being born a woman and distressed] with her [What lips my lips have kissed, and where and why] (817) and maybe ãWomen have loved before as I love nowä (1181). If you use the last poem, make sure to know what medieval literature is alluded to in the poem.

5.ÊÊ Discuss the uses and functions of mythology in two or three poems and/or short stories. What is its significance? You may choose poems and short stories from the syllabus as well as other poems from the Norton Anthology (1193 and 1319).

6.ÊÊ Examine the intertextual aspects of response poems. Consider one of the following pairings: ãDover Beachä (881) and ãDover Bitchä (1133); ãThe Passionate Shepherdä (1133) and ãThe Nymphâs Replyä (1128) and maybe ãRaleigh Was Rightä (1129); ãTo His Coy Mistressä (884) and ãTo His Importunate Mistressä (1131); ãNot marbleä (1112) and ãNot only marbleä (1134). If you find your own pairing have it approved by me first. Consider especially the tone of these poems.

Procedure: With this paper, we will try peer editing; therefore, you need to bring a draft of your paper to class by 4.9.2001 and exchange it with a fellow student who will critique it for you and bring it back to class on 4.11.2001 for you to see the studentâs suggestions. I will give you a grading sheet to follow. This added requirement should benefit you by taking the writing process out of the vacuum of the individual student. The peeredited draft should be appended to the final draft.

Remember: I would also like to reiterate that you are writing a formalÊ paper, both in content and in style. Thus, your paper needs an introduction providing both context and a coherent thesis at the end, especially in a synthesis paper. The paragraphs in the body of your paper need to be analytical and developed (topic sentences and supporting evidence/ideas). You might achieve those tasks better when you edit your material, making it more concise and tightly developed. First drafts rarely hold up to critical scrutiny. Proofread! I encourage you to discuss ideas, outlines, and drafts of your paper with me before it is due. For any further details on how to write this assignment, see #2-3 in the Guide to Style.

Due Dates: ÊÊÊ Rough Draft to be peeredited out of class:ÊÊÊÊ Monday, 4.9.2001

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Peeredited Rough Draft return date: ÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊWednesday, 4.11.2001

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Final Draft: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Friday, 4.13.2001