English10LC Paper Assignment - Close Reading
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Paper One: Close Reading
English 10LC Winter 2006
Contents |
[edit] Purpose:
- To formulate a thesis based upon close textual analysis.
- To provide development and support for your ideas.
- To demonstrate your ability to structure a clear and effective essay.
[edit] Texts:
Writing Machines*, Marvel 1602, or one or more poems. No outside sources required.
[edit] Background:
Thus far in class, our readings and discussions have centered on the materiality of the text and the relationship between visual images and text. Your writing task is to approach either Writing Machines, Marvel 1602, or one or more poems and formulate an argument based upon these readings and discussions. In other words, you will first want to decide what you think the text means and then formulate a thesis about how either the material form or the image-text relationship helps or hinders that meaning.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- How does the material artifact of any one of the texts enhance or detract from the meaning?
- Argue for or against any of the more “traditional” texts as technotext.
- How do image-text relations impact meaning in any one of the texts?
- Evaluate the use of color in Marvel 1602 or one of the poems.
- Analyze the use of lines in “A Toss of the Dice” or Marvel 1602 or any of the poetry.
- How does visual scoring in Mallarmé create or clarify ambiguity?
- Argue for or against any of the new media poems having “aura.”**
You may find that you want to utilize some of the terms and concepts we’ve discussed in class. If you do so, please give the author credit for her ideas. However, please note that the bulk of your evidence should be based upon elements of the text themselves. For example, I’m less interested in what McCloud has to say about color than in the particular colors and pairings used in Marvel 1602 and how you interpret them.
[edit] The Writing Process:
Writing is a process. In other words, smart and polished papers are rarely produced with the first draft. As such, paper one has at least one draft built into the structure of the assignment. I also recommend you use some sort of invention tool to help you open up your thought processes. Various invention tools can be found on the course website, under “Tools.” And because writing can almost always be improved through collaboration, we will have an in-class paper workshop. Completion of the draft and participation in the paper workshop constitute part of the total paper grade. See below for details.
[edit] The specs:
- 4 – 6 pages, double spaced
- 12 point Times font
- 1-inch margins all the way around
- MLA format (we will review this in class; also see the Guide to MLA format on the course website)
- Formal tone written for a general academic audience
[edit] Timeline and Due Dates:
The assignments below are due at the beginning of class on the date listed. The grade for a late paper will be reduced one full letter grade for each day it is late.
Thu, 1/26 (in class) Be prepared to share your topic idea with the class.
Mon, 1/30 5:30 p.m. Post a full-length draft of your paper to the class forum. Read your workshop partner’s paper and make notes prior to coming to class on Tuesday.
Tue, 1/31 (in class) Paper Workshop; Bring 2 copies of your paper to class.
Fri, 2/3 5:30 p.m. Paper due to me via email. Save as a word document (.doc) and email to Kimberly_knight@umail.ucsb.edu
[edit] Grading Breakdown – 20 points possible
- Full-length draft posted on time in the class forum – 2.5 points
- Paper Workshop – 2.5 points
- Final Draft – 15 points
The final draft will be evaluated according to the attached grading rubric. The grade for a late paper will be reduced by one full letter grade for each day it is late.
[edit] Of Special Note:
- If you write about Marvel 1602, please scan any pages that you analyze and attach them to your paper. A scanner is available in the Transcriptions Studio. For drop-in hours, see the course website.
- If you write about any of the new media poems, please include screen grabs of particular elements you use in your analysis. To screen grab on a PC, hold down the “alt” key and hit “print screen.” The image is then on your clipboard and can be copied into Word, photoshop, etc. For a Mac, use the application “Grab” found under Applications / Utilities or download the free program “SnapNDrag” (which can also do screen grabs of movies).
*It would be difficult to write about Writing Machines without also considering the web supplement. Should you decide to do so, you will want to make the reasons for that choice clear in your paper. Although it is not required, you may find it beneficial to also read Chapters 4 – 8. **You will need to read the rest of the Benjamin article if you decide to pursue this topic.
