Worksheet on Developing a Final Project in Topics in CNF

The Requirements:

If you’re doing a paper

·       15, u/g, 20 g pages

·       Investigates elements of graphic memoir based on the literature we’ve been reading

·       It should also include two outside sources—that means theory research—could be about narrative, memoir, comics, graphic novel, voice, post-therapeutic memoir, etc. In other words, you can translate theory written in reference to other kinds of dramatic narrative to apply to our work.

·       Use At least two books or deep investigation into one

·       The documentation is MLA

·       Gear it as if you are writing for the AWP Chronicle—professional, clean and thorough, with evidence and suave.

How you find a topic if you don’t already have one

Ask a few questions:

What is the most captivating or compelling or quizzical question that came up in the class?

Or

What patterns did I see that were repeated or violated in the literature?

Or

What forms were particularly engaging?

Or

What blog rocked your world?

How can the doing this paper/project advance or illustrate my understanding or cnf techniques/literature?

Form:  What is my strength when analyzing a text or an idea? Ex. Do I recognize the author’s strategy? Am I more story-based?

Approach: Does comparing two or more texts feel more fulfilling or an in depth dive into a single work fell more fulfilling?

Idea: do I want to talk about a craft idea that patterns across books, challenge a known wisdom, or go right to political and social implications of the books? How can I go about practically illustrating my ideas?

Creativity: what creative approach can I take with this paper/

The Requirements:

If you’re doing a project

A project is the same as a paper in three ways:

• it shows evidence of deep investigation into one or more of our books
• it references two outside sources—you must provide a bibliography

·       Investigates elements of graphic memoir based on the literature we’ve been reading

A project can be a creative presentation that translates the elements of the coming of age memoir in a way to the audience to enhance the understanding of our work. The projects are 8-10 minutes and can be an oral presentation with visuals, a film or any other creative idea that you use. Again, you must help us investigate ideas about the books and have referenced some thought around it.  It’s best to run these by Elmaz before going ahead.  Get her approval by November 5th

Sample Papers:

1.     How Voice and Body show the passage of Time in Stitches and Fun Home.

2.     The parent/child antagonism in Change Me and  and Why Be Happy

3.     Struggles of immigration and colonialism on the child in the formation of identity in Almost a Woman, and School Days

Sample Projects:

1.     Map of territories of childhood in Zeus Daughter –create a physical map with illustrations of major events in each location and their meaning

2.     Panel of teenagers from why be normal, Fun Home, and Almost a Woman discuss rules of adolescence and how to break them

3.     A series of poems that use the words of characters to illustrate their coming of age.

All projects and papers will be presented on the last day of class in mi casa.