English Literature Cultural Conflict Quotations Discussion

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Choose 3 of the 5 readings from the below:

Also choose 1 of the ideas below.

  • The presence or absence of empathy
  • The harms of colonialism
  • Social class conflict
  • Cultural conflict
  • Civic violence
  • Unintended consequences
  • Modernist and/or Postmodern fiction
  • The influence of media
  • The nature of reality
  • Other? Propose your topic to me in the Inbox

    What do the three works show us about this idea? How are the works related?

The best way to start this paper is to re-read or at least look over the works you want to write about and copy/paste quotations that you think pertain to the idea you choose. Remember that you are not summarizing the works: you are explaining one of their major themes and showing how the 3 works relate to each other.
Not all ideas will work equally well with all stories. It is advisable to do some background research: If you’re discussing post modernism, for instance, you must define it and cite sources of your definition.

Below are grading criteria: note that there is a slight difference from the previous week:

  • Quality: A good paper will have a purpose that will interest the reader and will not be totally obvious. It will go beyond class discussion and show evidence of your own thought.
  • Organization: Your paper must have a discernible beginning, middle, and end as well as paragraphs. There must be a reason for the ordering of the information in your paper. Your introduction must give an overview of your paper, mentioning both stories that you will write about.
  • Accuracy and Clarity:You should not distort the story or conveniently leave out evidence that doesn’t fit your purpose. While varying interpretations are possible, you must be correct about the factual details of the story. Additionally, I must be able to understand what you’re saying.
  • Format and Editing: Put your name/English 2/Assignment 2 in the top left. Give your paper a title, centered, correctly capitalized. The paper must be double spaced, 12 pt type, spell-checked and carefully proofread. You must have a reasonable command of the conventions of formal academic writing. Name your file Lastname,Assn 2
  • Handling of Evidence: You must refer to the text by direct quotation and paraphrase in order to back up your assertions.
    If you are unsure about how to do this, see

—LEO Using Quotations or the OWL at Purdue University (a more detailed discussion)

You must incorporate quotations gracefully into the paper, introducing them and commenting on their significance. Remember that the quotation doesn’t speak for itself – you are the interpreter.

Here is a copy/paste from “Using Quotations Effectively.” Be sure that follow these instructions:

  1. Introduce your quotations.A quotation should never suddenly appear out of nowhere. Some kind of information about the quotation is needed. Name the author, give his or her credentials, name the source, give a summary. You won’t do all of these each time, but you should usually name the author. For example:
    a. But John Jones disagrees with this point, saying, “Such a product would not sell.”
    b. In an article in Time Fred Jackson writes that frogs vary in the degree of shyness they exhibit: “The arboreal tree frogs seem to be especially. . . .”
  2. Discuss your quotations. Do not quote someone and then leave the words hanging as if they were self explanatory. What does the quotation mean and how does it help establish the point you are making? What is your interpretation or opinion of it? Quotations are like examples: discuss them to show how they fit in with your thesis and with the ideas you are presenting. Remember: quotations support or illustrate your own points. They are not substitutes for your ideas and they do not stand by themselves.

It is often useful to apply some interpretive phrasing after a quotation, to show the reader that the you are explaining the quotation and that it supports your argument:

  • Here we see that
  • This statement shows
  • Clearly, then,
  • We can conclude from this that
  • This tells us that
  • From this we can understand that

Use of Sources Other Than the Texts: You are not required to use additional sources other than the stories, and necessary background readings, but if you do, you must acknowledge them in the text and attach a works consulted list. Even paraphrases of other ideas must be acknowledged. See links available in Week 1, Paper 1, for more information on how to do this.

Minimal Length: 750 words (3 double spaced 12 point pages) minimum, though longer is better.

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