ENGL 201: Reading and Writing About Texts    Sections 039 and 046
Spring Semester, 2008  George Mason University

There are three paper assignments in the course. The assignments will appear on this web site as and when they are introduced in class.

PAPER #3

Length: at least 1200 words

Due date: Tuesday, May 13, 1:30 p.m.

The assignment:

Critique one film version of Hamlet according to how closely or how distantly it agrees with your own interpretation of the play.

This means that you need to think about which film version causes the strongest reaction (positive, negative, or mixed) for you.  That's your starting point for the assignment, and your job in writing the paper is to beyond just "a feeling" and really analyze, as objectively as possible, why you have this reaction. What is it specifically about this particular film version that causes your reaction?

Focus on one aspect of the play that allows you to be as clear and specific as possible: meaning one or two scenes, one character, etc. etc. Even a single set of lines on a single page might be more than enough material for a paper of this length.

See basic format requirements below, under Paper #1.

PAPER #2

Length: at least 1500 words

Due date: Thursday, April 24, for provisional grade (required); optional revision due Tuesday, May 6

The assignment:

Interpret one character from Hamlet by comparing him or her to one character from The Great Gatsby

(If you'd rather, you may compare some other aspect of Hamlet (a theme, a motif, a symbol) to The Great Gatsby, but we've spent more time on character that any other intepretive aspect, and so that's the default assignment.)

See basic format requirements below, under Paper #1.

Remember that the key task in front of you is to create a clear and specific thesis that is supported throughout the entire paper.

PAPER #1

Length: at least 1500 words.

Due date: March 18, for provisional grade (required); optional revision due Tuesday, May 6

The assignment:

Choose 50 words or less written/spoken about or by one primary character in The Great Gatsby and write an essay showing how those words are central to your overall interpretation of that character.

These words can be contained all in one quote or they can be contained in two separate passages.

We'll discuss this paper in class, but for now, you'll find helpful tips in my Seven Habits of Successful Literature Papers.

Here are some basic format requirements:

From the Policy Statement:

"Important note on FORMAT and MECHANICS:  All out-of-class writing must be typed, double-spaced, normal margins, Times New Roman font or something equally readable.  No colored fonts, no fancy fonts, no cover pages, no plastic binders for your writing.  Pages should be numbered and stapled; the first page should include, in the upper left corner, your name, the designation of this class (ENGL201-032), the assignment name ("Reading Response #4," "Paper #2," etc.), and the date.   (At the end of each major paper, please also provide a word count.)  All finished writing should be free, or nearly free, of mechanical errors--the focus in this class is on style, form, and content, not grammar and punctuation. Your ability to competently manipulate the fundamental units of English composition--the word, the sentence and the paragraph--is an important evaluation criteria for this class, though not the only criteria.  Any copy of papers #1 or #2 submitted for a provisional grade without following these format directions, or containing an excessive amount of mechanical errors (as determined by me), will be returned without a grade so that you can correct the situation and re-submit the paper in the following class period.  There will be no penalty if this happens, but you may receive your provisional grade on that paper later than others in the class."