ULT2298A: Travelling Cultures - Asian Diaspora

Final Project

Instructions

1. Write a 2500-4000 word essay (about 8-12 pages) on any issue or topic related to Asian diaspora. The grade for this essay constitutes 30% of the final module grade.
2. Since this is a literary studies module, I would expect a major part (if not all) of your essay to involve a critical, interpretive analysis of a literary work or film. The essay should establish in its introduction the nature of the issue, the literary work or film you will be looking at, and how they engage (in a specific way) the issue at hand. The thesis statement of the essay must invoke the above elements.
3. Your research must include, of course, the text(s) or film(s) to be analyzed, any historical or theoretical works that will help to frame your argument and analysis, and/or at least two secondary critical sources-critical essays dealing with the text(s) or film(s). For the historical or theoretical works, you may also choose from essays written from the perspective of other disciplines. It is crucial to remember that this essay must focus on your own ideas and analysis of the texts and films, as opposed to a regurgitation of ideas from scholars who have written about the topic. In other words, I do not want essays that stitch together other people's ideas through summaries and quotations. Use a secondary source, be it theoretical, historical, or critical, only to frame, supplement, and/or support your own arguments.
4. Of course, feel free to use the literary and film texts we have encountered in class, though you are not limited to them. You may liberally choose from any text you think involves your topic. However, please try your best to avoid long works, such as novels, for instance, when choosing a work that we have not dealt with in class. If you must turn to a long work, please check with me first.

Form and Other Matters of Writing

1. Plan your essay before writing! This is a very important step in the writing process. You must be able to account for everything that appears in your essay. Structure and organize your paragraphs strategically.
2. Establish a clear and concise thesis statement, preferably at the end of your introductory paragraph. Be able to relate topic sentences from the paragraphs of your essay to your thesis statement so as to ensure a coherent argument.
3. All drafts are to be typed (font size 12), double-spaced, and formatted according to standard specifications for the academic essay. Check various style manuals such as MLA and Chicago.
4. All bibliographical entries and parenthetical documentation should adhere to either MLA or Chicago. If you would like to use another format, please be consistent in using it throughout your essay.
5. At the top left hand corner of the first page should be the name/info block (See my Administration page for this). For subsequent pages, include only a page number at the top right hand corner. Margins should be one inch on all sides.
6. Give your paper a title; be creative.
7. When you hand in your essay to me in class, also e-mail it to me in a Word attachment.
8. The following are considered major grammatical errors:
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
2. Sentence Fragments
3. Run-On Sentences: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

Although I do not have a policy of counting grammatical errors and penalizing you accordingly, an excessive number of major and minor grammatical, spelling, and syntactical errors will jeopardize your grade. It is, therefore, significant that you proofread thoroughly and manually your essay (most grammar and spelling checks on computer programs will not identify all possible errors, so do not be overly dependent on them). Be reminded that the penalty for late papers as stated in my syllabus still stands.

9. And finally, Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!