Final Paper Topic Proposal and Annotated Bibliography due March 24, 2016
In order to go a good job on your final paper topic proposal you will need to do the following:
1) Identify a research question you are interested in investigating.
Articulate this question as a question:
For example—“I’m interested in the relationship between Modan’s and Libicki’s representations of sexuality as it relates to images of the Israel/Palestine conflict? To what extent do the sexual interludes help us to better understand the characters’ intimacies and abilities to connect to others and Others in the two texts?
I’m interested in the relationship between Sacco’s and Delisle’s very different visual strategies in their comix. To what extent do these visual strategies impact the way we understand the narrators, Sacco and Delisle, respectively, and the very different experiences they represent? How do their strategies impact the “truthiness” we associate with the texts, and why?
I’m interested in the types of panels that McCloud’s theory fails to account for and I want to develop a theoretical concept that can account for the things happening in the use of panels in some of the texts we’ve read–Sacco, Libicki, others? To what extent does McCloud’s vocabulary apply to these new strategies, and how might I stretch it to accommodate these very unusual use of panels?
2) Brainstorm how you might begin to answer the question—what types of evidence will you need to make the case (historical context, theoretical frameworks, specific case examples/passages from the texts we’ve read) and which resources will you consult)? Note: This is not a general question; this is a specific question). Do the research. First, identify some texts that you will read to help you answer the question, both primary and secondary. Identify the passages in the primary texts you’ve already read that you will interpret and use as evidence (i.e. from the class texts). You will want to include page numbers, and focus on specific frames/panels. While you may begin with Wikipedia to give you basic historical context, you will not be able to cite it in your paper. You will need to cite scholarly sources instead. Some Wikipedia articles are better than others, follow the footnotes. If there aren’t any, you might try the Sloan Encyclopedia of Rhetoric or a couple of other reference texts I have in my office. Come on by and check’em out.
3) As part of the proposal you will need to identify 7-10 sources you will read to answer the question. I expect you to have read at least 5 by the time you turn in your proposal, and you will write a detailed annotation of each—what is the scholar’s argument? How does it influence your thinking? (This should be the paragraph version of the critical precis assignment.)
I don’t expect you to have read all of them, but the more you list, the better, and the more you’ve read the better. I do expect you to articulate why or how you think the source will be useful (based on an abstract, a footnote that points to it, etc). It may turn out not to be useful at all, but you should anticipate that it will be or it shouldn’t be on your list!
4) Identify the type of argument you’re making—comparative, contrastive, generic, historical/contextual, rhetorical analysis, reception/audience-based, gendered, trauma theory, queer, (something else?), and the methods you will use to support/make it. Think in terms of stasis + methods here.
5) I want to you to articulate a hypothetical thesis—you’re not wedded to it, but I want you to have done enough research that you have an idea of what you hope to be able to argue, once you do start writing.
6) You’re welcome to continue some of the work you began in the mid-term essay. You will obviously need to broaden out some of the scope in order to have enough to write about for 10-15 pages, but feel free to use the types of questions there as guidelines for both lines of inquiry and methods of arguing. If you’re unsure how to broaden the scope, come talk to me.
7) Upload your list of sources and annotations to the Googledocument for this class. There’s no need to go it alone. As a team we can work smarter, not necessarily harder. I’m sure many of the sources you’re working with will also be helpful to your peers.
Hints for getting started—read over your notes and all the questions up to this point in the semester. If nothing strikes your fancy, go to the reading schedule, look ahead and see if anything is enticing to you. Read it and write some questions.
8) If you’ve opted to do a visual assignment, you may opt to to do an annotated storyboard. Please come talk to me, if you plan to pursue this option.
Come see me in office hours! Go to the Writing Center for a brainstorming session.