SPRING FINAL - 2015

AUTHOR/NOVEL PROJECT
This project will entail your becoming familiar with one author and his or her works. You will first choose an author and
then two of that authors novels. You will familiarize yourself with the author's primary theme/s, motifs, writing style, etc.
You will discover the professional criticism/reviews written about both the author and the works. Finally, you will
discover a common thread or "link"* shared by the novels you have chosen to read and use this link as the basis for a
mock thesis project/proposal.
The mock thesis project includes the following:
One 3-4 page source-supported essay that critically considers the era/culture of the author and/or the novels with a
five-source References (APA) page + a ten-source Works Referenced (APA) page attached. 125 pts.
Three two-page essays, each critically discussing a different criticism of either your author or the novels. One of
these criticisms, a review of one of your novels, can be from a general publication, the New York Times or Time
Magazine for example. The other two should be professional criticisms published in literary journals. Finding a
criticism that specifically discusses some element of an authors style would be especially helpful. Be sure to find
essays whose length warrants discussion. 75 pts.
One 3-4 page thesis proposal. 100 pts.

Important Dates:
A

Introduce Project/Authors

January 5

Discuss Hall and Yutang essays

Brainstorm/Choose authors

January 7

School library-- (know author)

Research SCHS shelves, Bloom, Literature Resource Center,
Gale, CLC, TCLC, MSU databases, etc.

January 9

12

(BRING LIBRARY CARD and MSU ID #!!)

Cultural/Historical Essay Due

February 13

A&B

Three two-pg. critiques

March

19

20

Thesis Proposal due

April

28

29

*The purpose of the link project is to discover and analyze a connection common to the works of one author. This link
can be stylistic (e.g., Virginia Woolf and William Faulkner utilize "stream of consciousness") or cultural (Toni Morrison's
works tend to exhibit the strength of African-American women). The link can be narrative form, narrative perspective (1st
v. 3rd person--or both), recurring images, symbolism, characterizations, or any other shared aspect of the novels that you
wish to explore and develop. Do not look to the "big picture" and make sweeping, generalized deductions (i.e., Faulkner's
Snopes family represents all poor southern whites.). Do not evolve a proposal that merely compares/contrasts your two
novels. Instead, look for William Blake's "minute particulars" and construct a subtle analysis based within your novels.
In other words, choose Eudora Weltys "Path Not Worn."