a research essay

Assignment: At least 1500 words. A compare and contrast paper; you will compare and contrast how three works from the three genres (papers must examine at least one short story, one poem, one drama) treat similar topics. If none of the topics works for you, please see me to discuss possible alterations or alternatives. You may engage the same story, poem, and/or play you used in Essay 2, 3, and 4 if you like and the sources from Essays 3 and 4.

1. Compare and contrast the depiction of race or gender issues in any three substantial works in Backpack Literature (the play must be either Trifles, Othello, or Fences however—any paper that fails to follow this requirement will fail the assignment). Obviously, ‘issues’ is fairly broad, so you will want your thesis to be fairly narrow in scope.

2. Compare and contrast the depiction the maturation of young people into adulthood or adults into a better understanding of themselves in any three substantial works in in Backpack Literature (the play must be either Trifles, Othello, or Fences however—any paper that fails to follow this requirement will fail the assignment). Again, ‘maturation’ is fairly broad, so you will want your thesis to be fairly narrow in scope.

3. Compare and contrast any three substantial works in Backpack Literature (the play must be either Trifles, Othello, or Fences however—any paper that fails to follow this requirement will fail the assignment) through a theme of your own invention with consultation with the instructor (i.e., no papers accepted without prior acceptance from me) such as the use of technology, the depiction of work/labor, or images of children, e.g. which might work.