Literary Criticism:

A Research Paper of Definition, History and Application

 

 

Objectives: Through writing this research paper, using the APA format, the student will indicate the following skills:

·        Ability to search Internet for appropriate information on one type of literary criticism

·        Ability to search journals and texts for information on one type of literary criticism

·        Ability to identify the roots and development of one type of literary criticism

·        Ability to apply one type of literary criticism to a literary text

·        Ability to synthesize research into a readable text, using citations according to APA format

·        Ability to follow APA format in research

 

 

Required parts of the paper:

1.      Definition and description of the critical approach

2.      Historical development of the approach

3.      Explanation of what aspects of a text this approach might consider

4.      Application of the approach to The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

5.      All components of a research paper required of APA format (title page, abstract, reference page)

 

 

Following submission of the paper, students will gather by critical approach to present a panel discussion for the class. The panel will provide a summary of their compiled information and application of the summary. In this way, the class will learn about a variety of approaches used in interpretation of literature.

 

Dateline: Read The Importance of Being Earnest. The full text is available at

http://www.hoboes.com/html/FireBlade/Wilde/earnest/

http://www.online-literature.com/wilde/being_earnest/

http://www.textlibrary.com/TITLE/importan/index.htm

 

You might also visit Mr. Neibert’s page for further references to the author and play at

http://intranet.stgregorys.edu/people/faculty/leneibert/

 

Monday: 2/9 My literary approach is: ________________________________

Wednesday: 2/11 Read the textbook information on your approach as a solid beginning.

Begin Research. Begin reading Earnest. (Look up the definition of earnest.)

Friday: 2/13 Turn in results of Internet search and Ebscohost search.

            (Consult the books on reserve for possible chapters of interest.)

 

See SGU performance of The Importance of Being Earnest on Thursday, February 19 at 8:00, Friday, February 20, at 8:00, Saturday, February21, at 8:00 or Sunday, February 22, at 2:00.

(Keep the program for reference as you write your paper!)

Monday 2/23: Draft of paper is due. In class, those researching the same approach will compare findings and prepare for the panel discussions.

Wednesday: 2/25 Panels on Biographical, Historical/New Historical, Social/Cultural/Marxist; Feminist critical approaches.

Biographical: 9:00 – Stephanie and Ben; 10:00 – Danielle and Lauren
Historical: 9:00 – Adam, Holly, Jesse, and Aaron; 10:00 Blake, Avery, and JoAnna
Social/Cultural/Marxist: 9:00 – Edna, Veronica, and Jeff; 10:00 – Kim and Kim
Feminist: 9:00 – Shaun, Luzi, and Hillary; 10:00 – Christina, Kenneshia, and Katrina

Friday: 2/27 Panels on New Critics/Formalist, Reader-Response, Psychological, Deconstruction critical approaches.
Formalist: 9:00 – Ferrari, Jose, Yoko, and Jared; 10:00 – Anne, Ryan G., and Linda
Reader-Response: 9:00 – Allison, Stewy, Corey, and Riley; 10:00 Liz, Brittany, and Kelly
Psychological: 9:00 – Leslie, Casey, and Brent; 10:00 – Justin, Rita, and Ryan W.
Deconstruction: 9:00 – Miles, Felipe, and Melanie; 10:00 Laura and Jason

Paper is due today.

 

Panel Discussion:

As the class listens to your panel presentation, they should be able to fill in the blanks for the following information:

How do the critics following this approach look at literature?

What are the critical questions these critics ask?

Why did this approach develop? What are the issues at the center of the approach?

Who are some of the critics who use this approach?

How would I read The Importance of Being Earnest from this approach?

 

Rubrics for the Paper:

 

Rubrics ] Web Sites ]

Home ] Rubrics ] Web Sites ]

Grade

Components

20%

Grammar

10%

Content

60%

Format

10%

A

All clearly presented.

No sentence or grammar errors; variety in sentence use is evident; style is unique.

Exceptional insights or presentation; freshness in study; thorough

Format is correctly followed in all details.

B

All presented, but some may be difficult to find.

Few, if any sentence errors; some minor grammatical errors; some variety in sentence construction; style is emerging.

Good insights or presentation

Format includes minor error; for example, sequence, punctuation error in a bib entry, header is misplaced.

C

All presented, but reader must work hard to find them.

Some sentence and grammar errors; little variation in sentence construction.

Ideas or critique need more attention

Numerous errors, but citations and works cited are included.

D

Components are incomplete.

Errors are disruptive to coherent reading; little sentence variation.

Work not acceptable

Serious errors; work not acceptable