| Instructor: Dr. Katalin Orban |
Essay #3 Assignment
Objective:
an analytical argument based on the close reading of a primary
source and on multiple secondary sources. This assignment
therefore combines the previously used skills with the need
to conduct some simple research to place your own thinking
in a (theoretical or historical or other) context of existing
knowledge or ongoing inquiry. You will need to situate your
ideas in relation to the ideas of others, work sources into
your essay without plagiarizing, use sources for a range of
purposes, and format references and a list of works cited
correctly. Don't be alarmed--finding one or two voices in
the universe that are meaningfully related to what you are
thinking about is entirely possible. As UFO-spotters like
to say, "we are not alone."
Within the above parameters, please present an interesting,
evidence-based argument that falls within the broad context
of literature and ethics.
"Broad" means that the definition of text can be
extended beyond literature proper (to audiovisual or multimedia
texts, for example) and that you can choose any interesting
and focused topic related to
- the ethics of reading -- for example, ethical aspects
of interpretation; the ethical significance of being implicated
or vicariously/imaginatively experiencing; the ethical relevance
of activity or passivity in reading, the ethics of self-loss
and self-assertion
- the ethics of writing -- for example, the ethical aspects
of representation
- the supposed moral or immoral functions of literature
-- as part of its institutional uses, for example, in education;
ethical normativity and the breaking of rules
- ethical complexity/simplicity in narratives -- is "art"
the domain of complexity as distinct from popular genres?
Are there different strategies of creating/acknowledging
complexity?
- strategies of ethically engaging the reader/viewer or
manufacturing ethical consent -- didactic explanation, confusion,
shock, emotional manipulation, constraints placed on the
reader/viewer, monovocal and multivocal texts
- ethical aspects of uses, rights, ownership (stealing,
distorting, suppressing; types of (self-)censorship.
This essay should be based on the close, critical reading
of a primary text (or two intimately related primary
texts) and multiple appropriate secondary sources.
For further details, see print handout.
Proposal: 2 paragraphs, due on IVLE forum by 12:00 pm Monday,
Oct 20
First draft: 3-4 pages, due Saturday, November 1 in IVLE
Workbin. E-mail copy to your reviewer (to be assigned later)
at the same time.
E-mail peer reviews to be sent
to writer within 3 days.
Final Draft: 6-8 pages, due November 12 in IVLE Workbin.
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