English 355: Paper #2

Option #1: Fairy Tales, Revised

        Choose one or two twentieth-century revisions of a fairy tale. How do the revisions of a fairy tale shape the meaning of that tale? What moral gets emphasized? Your thesis will answer these questions.

        The following questions will help you to arrive at an answer to the above two questions. If you choose a tale for which you have versions by both Perrault and Grimm, does your modern version emphasize more of Perrault's moral or more of the Grimms' moral? How do you know? Which elements of each version appear to have been retained in the newer tale? You might also suggest the ways these "revised" tales reflect or comment upon the the time in which they were produced. For example, if the revised tale was produced after a film version (such as Disney's Cinderella [1950]), does the new text bear the influence of the film? Which aspects of earlier traditions does it (the new tale) represent? If the new text has illustrations, do they reinforce or undermine any particular morals? Which ones? How do the pictures shape your reading of the new version?

        Which new fairy tales should you choose? Choose a modern tale or tales for which you have at least two pre-twentieth century antecedents in The Classic Fairy Tales, edited by Maria Tatar. The new tale or tales can be included in Tatar's volume, but it doesn't have to be. Russell's Literature for Children includes a bibliography at the end of Chapter 8 -- it may give you some ideas. You might also see the "Recommended" list on the syllabus or head over to Hale library, where you'll find books like The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales, Jack Zipes' Don't Bet on the Prince, and many others.

        Don't forget to consult the guidelines below.

Option #2: Novels

        Develop a thesis about one of the novels (Montgomery, Avi, Curtis, Seidler, Rowling).

        Your paper should offer a persuasive argument about a theme or issue or question you see in the text(s). In the preceding sentence, "theme" can include anything from recurring motifs, to subject matter, to what you perceive as the work's political or moral goals. A persuasive argument requires a thesis, supporting evidence from the text(s), and explanation of how that evidence supports your claims. Please use MLA documentation style for your citations and Works Cited page.

        To support your analysis, cite the text and pictures of the books you're discussing. And, of course, consult the guidelines below.

Guidelines for Both Options

Getting Started…

1. Read and Reread. Read and reread the work or works you've decided to write about, with a mind to the topic you have chosen. As you take careful notes (making note of all relevant words, phrases, images, and illustrations), consult the "Imagery and Figurative Language" handout, and any relevant sections from Russell's Literature for Children.

Writing the Paper…

1. Formulate a thesis. Make sure your thesis is specific enough to be covered adequately in the space of your discussion. Remember: merely noting a difference or similarity does not constitute a thesis. So, it would not be sufficient to say that Roald Dahl's "Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf" offers a new, different version of "Little Red Riding Hood." True enough, but so what? How does the tale differ and what are the implications of this difference? Instead, you might argue that Dahl's "Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf" makes its central character both armed and more clever in order to view critically the gendered assumptions promoted by earlier versions of the tale. Refer to the handout titled "Thesis vs. Topic."

2. Each paragraph should begin with a claim. Just as a thesis claim guides the paper as a whole, a paragraph's claim (often referred to as a "topic sentence") guides a paragraph. So, at or near the beginning of each paragraph, include a topic sentence that states your paragraph's central argument. The topic sentence serves as a bridge between thesis and paragraph by making an interpretive claim that indicates how the paragraph will support your thesis.

3. Provide support. To persuade your readers to your position, you will need to provide some evidence in support of your claims. Quotations from the text, or illustrations and text from a picture book should be used as evidence to prove your assertions.

4. Analysis and explanation of evidence. Be sure to analyze the quotation and discuss its significance. Explain for your reader how your evidence supports your claims.

5. Conclusion. Your last paragraph should synthesize, not summarize. You should resolve -- and not merely repeat -- your argument. Think of a conclusion this way: it both reminds your reader of where you've been and suggests new areas to explore. For these papers, I suggest you devote your conclusion to practical applications of your thesis. What implications does what you've proven have for the teaching of these children's books? How would you put your ideas into action, in the classroom?

And, after you finish your draft…

1. Revise and edit. Read your paper out loud to yourself. Often you will hear what your eyes will miss.

2. Grammar and structure are important. To help yourself proofread and revise with both of these ideas in mind, please see the handout titled "Keys to Structure and Style."

3. When in doubt, get help. My office hours are on the syllabus, and by appointment. My email address is philnel@ksu.edu. Also, please make use of a grammar handbook and of the handouts linked to this paper assignment: "Imagery and Figurative Language," "Thesis vs. Topic," "Keys to Structure and Style," and the Sample Essay.