LGBTQ Literature

Spring 2022

Eaton

Final Projects

Here is what the syllabus says:

Final projects:  The final research project will focus on an LGBTQ writer or literary work NOT covered in this course.  You will be responsible for reading at least one major work by this writer (a novel or memoir, a book of poetry or short stories, or a play), researching his/her/their role in the development of LGBTQ literature, and presenting your findings in a presentation to the class and a short paper (3-5 pages).  Your presentation and paper should include a short summary and analysis of one or more of the writer’s works, and a discussion of how these works relate to the required texts of this course. A creative approach, such as performing a poem or scene from one of the writer’s works would also be an excellent element for your presentation.  You should also prepare a handout for the class, which might include a list of the writer’s works, a summary of his/her/their role in LGBTQ literature, and/or an excerpt from one of his/her/their writings.  Do NOT prepare a power point or Prezi presentation.  You may project up to three slides during your presentation.  (If you choose, you may substitute a fourth slide for your handout, to save paper.)

This project is NOT a biographical summary of the writer’s life; rather, it is a discussion of the writer’s work in the context of the history of LGBTQ literature.  Your presentation and paper should include some discussion of the writer’s stylistic choices and how his/her/their work relates to one or more of the authors we read in class.  The presentations will be scheduled during the scheduled final exam; papers will also be due at the final exam session.  All sources consulted must be accounted for in a bibliography at the end of the paper, presented in MLA format.

Projects may be done in pairs or individually.  You may choose any LGBTQ writer not covered in our required readings for this project, subject to my approval.  You may also choose a different text by a writer we did read in class.

For all the projects, I expect you to discuss your writer in relation to other writers we have read in class.  For instance, if your writer discusses the effects of closeted homosexuality, you may want to compare the work to Angels in America or Fun Home.  Look for common themes, imagery, and writing techniques for comparison with the writers on the syllabus.

Requirements:

5-7 minute presentation

1-2 page handout for class during presentation (or the equivalent on slides)

3-5 page paper, incorporating quotations from your writer’s work, cited in MLA format

Works Cited page in MLA format, turned in with paper.  Cite all works discussed in your paper and presentation.  You must include at least ONE outside source:  a journal article from the MLA International Bibliography database would be best.  If your chosen text was written after 2010, you may not find a source there.  In that case, a book or theatre review or an interview with the author is your best bet.  Please see me if you have trouble finding a source.  Please use no more than four outside sources.

Here is the assessment criteria I will be using to evaluate your presentations.  You will also use this criteria to evaluate your fellow class members.

• How well did the presenter(s) provide a clear summary and analysis of one or more works by their assigned author?

• How well did the presenter(s) tie their assigned writer’s work to writers we have read in this class?  What connections were made to other works from this class?

• How helpful was the handout?

• What elements of the presentation stood out—creativity, use of critical sources, class involvement, etc.?

I will assess your papers using the same criteria I used for your analysis paper, listed below.  I expect to see improvement on this paper, based on the rubric and comments I return to you with your analysis paper.

Thesis statement.  You should define your topic clearly in a single sentence in your introductory paragraph.  Your thesis should be a claim that you then prove with examples, rather than just a statement or observation about your topic.

Specificity.  Quote specifically from your text(s), and make it clear to readers why you quote particular passages.  Analyze, and use quotations to illustrate a specific idea.  Avoid generalities such as “LGBTQ people were oppressed in society” – illustrate this idea by discussing how that oppression manifests:  lack of economic and political power, suicide rates, risk of being bullied, employment discrimination, etc. – and give specific examples of this from the text(s).

Correct citation style.  I should be able to go right to your quoted material if I need to.  Please follow MLA format.  Cite by page number, and include a Works Cited page in MLA format.

Focus.  Stick to your main point; don’t wander into subjects not directly related to it.

Clear organizational pattern.  Organize your discussion around the issues your paper explores, not simply in the order presented in the original text.  Do, however, make clear the context of your examples and quotes, so your reader isn’t lost.

Take a stand.  Commit yourself to an opinion or interpretation of your text(s), backing it up with strong examples.  Trust your own reading of the text – don’t be wishy washy.  If you can see more than one side to an issue, acknowledge the various sides clearly and specifically.

Originality.  No research is expected for this paper; your ideas are what I am interested in.  If you do consult any outside sources, be sure to document them clearly in MLA style, whether you quote directly from them or merely consult them for ideas.  Failure to do so may result in failure of the course.