ENGL 2110 ~ World Literature: Globalization, Immigration, and Culture
2nd Essay Assignment ~ Summer 2009
Magoulick
Similar to the 1st essay, you should analyze to make a point about the text according to your insights about message, characterizations, themes, symbols, allusions, etc. So you should choose a few key quotes from the reading that will help you answer one of the questions/topics below, and work with those quotes IN DEPTH (interpreting what the words of the quote say, mean, and or imply – though all interpretations must be clearly PROVED in your analysis). Remember that ANALYSIS means taking something apart and studying it in order to better understand both the parts and the whole. For each SENTENCE in your quotation, in general you want to give 2 sentences of your writing explaining what that quotes means and how it is helping to make your point.
Reference all quotations from the texts used in class with the authors' name and page number. Compose your answers yourself and be sure to include what you think. Feel free to use the word “I.” But make sure your reading does not stray from the text or make huge leaps that are hard to prove. Go back to the actual words of your quote to show how they mean what you say those words mean. This is not about intuitive leaps so much of clear persuasive work at interpretation.
Be sure to number your pages and reference all quotations (with proper citations). I encourage the use of gender inclusive language. Proven cases of plagiarism will result in an F in the course.
You may work on these essays in advance to departure for Italy (assuming you have done the reading), though you may want to revise your essay based on feedback from the first assignment and our class discussion in Italy. The due date for the 2nd paper is 15 July, 2009.
Essays should be about 1000-1500 words. Please include a word count.
Compose your essay as a response to one of the following topics:
1. Both Nervous Conditions and Jasmine focus on women in the developing world who must overcome great odds as they work to change their lives for the better. Compare and contrast how the characters of Jasmine and Tambudzai respond to harsh circumstances and change as a result of their journey. Both immigrate to new cultures, sometimes more than once. How is immigration key to their stories?
or
2. Both Jasmine and Tambudzai experience culture shock, demonstrating to readers how cultural change may affect us very deeply and in unexpected ways. Choose several passages from both books to demonstrate the impact of culture shock and its results.
or
3. Consider the role of gender in the stories of Jasmine and Tambudzai. How does being a girl/woman affect each of these characters? How do they cope with the strain their gender places on their circumstances. What do their stories suggest about situations and hopes of women globally? You may also consider whether you find their stories realistic or exceptional and what this suggests about women globally.