The Tempest Paper

Due: Tuesday, March 20th

Length: 3-5 pages (1,500-2,500 words)

Format: MLA (including Works Cited)

Assignment:

Your paper must address The Tempest. It is the most challenging play we have read, yet, as so, it also provides the most diverse opportunities for exploration and creativity. As we talk about continuously in class, you will need to perform the three motions that are consistently asked of you, but in a more expansive and comprehensive fashion:

1) hone in on moments that affect YOU and figure out why (don't be scared, it's alright!)

2) provide an in-depth analysis (close-reading/explication) of these moments as to arrive at a conclusive, or at least well-argued, understanding of how the presentation/form (word choices, context, characterization) in these particular instances affect/effect the work's larger themes

3) inform the audience of what this has to do with humanity/society/culture etc.

Let a question or debatable statement regarding the plot drive your paper, as we saw in class the other day: we agreed that, in the exposition, we learn that Prospero is trying to bring Alonso and Antonio (as well as soon after, Sebastian) to justice; from there we saw that this beckons many questions: is "justice" really Prospero's motive; or is it self-interest? if it is justice, what does The Tempest tell us justice is? what does "justice" have to do with power?

This is just one example, other possible paper topics that were raised in class will be posted on the class blog: www.the211tempest.blogspot.com

Things I'll be looking for:

a) introductions that funnel from the general to the particular, as well as advertise, clearly, what the paper is going to argue: thesis.

b) your ability to stay on topic while at the same time acknowledging, when necessary, possibilities/complications you are not taking up

c) substantial examples from the text---examples that are dynamic and informative

d) thoughtful analyses of your textual examples that make the most of what is important to your essay's driving idea

e) building your points logically, clearly and concisely

f) effective transitions that follow from what came before them and lead into what comes after