11 Jul INSTRUCTIONSChoose one of the topics offered below
INSTRUCTIONSChoose one of the topics offered below on Richard II.Possible Topics for First Paper:NOTE: Whatever essay topic you choose from the options offered below, it is important that you build your argument based on a close analysis of the language used by a character in the play. The only way to do this properly is to use the official dictionary that is consulted by all English scholars: The Oxford English Dictionary, or OED. This dictionary gives you all the possible meanings of a word, as well as examples of its use throughout history. You can tell from the date of the first example whether or not the meaning of the word the dictionary give was in fact still or not yet in use in Shakespeare’s time. Do not trust open source OED websites. Go to the official OED through the UCSB Library’s portal. You may sign into the official OED by going to UCSB Library’s online portal, signing in, going to Articles and databases, clicking on O, and then scrolling down to Oxford English Dictionary. Then you just type in the word as it is spelled in the play. One more NOTE: you may need to type in more than one version of the word to see meanings of variants on the root of the word (see below re: searching the Shakespeare Concordance online, which is different from the OED but also an important resource). If you have problems, or are unclear about these instructions, EMAIL YOUR TA!1) Write about the significance of a single word (and its variants) in Richard II. To do this, go to the Advanced Search page of the online Concordance for Shakespeare’s works (a concordance tells you what words reappear in a work or works you select the database to search): http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/search/search-advanced.php. Select the drop-down for Richard II, experiment with some searches of words that have caught your eye as you have read the play. Remember to search by the base of a word, since it could appear in different spellings or formats. For instance, if you are interested in the word truth, you should try searching by tru. That search brings up 46 results, which include true, truth, trumpet, truly, trueborn, true-love, destruction, and also trusty. In each case, the Concordance gives you the passage and place in the play where the word occurs. After you find a word you think you want to write about, clear it with your TA. Then start your research and writing of your essay. Important: You do not need to reference every passage the Concordance cites. On the contrary, you should focus on just a few instances that prove a thesis about how Shakespeare uses the word to develop an idea in the play. In choosing your word and any variations upon it, be sure to consult the meaning(s) of the word as used at the time of the play, which are explained in the Library’s online Oxford English Dictionary (OED), explained above.2) Write a clear, well-argued thesis about the main women in Richard II: Queen Isabel, the Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duchess of York. What points about important themes in the play, including but not necessarily exclusive to gender, is Shakespeare making through these characters? Remember that characters often develop and may not always be consistent. Your thesis should be able to explain any changes in the characters’ presentation as well as the characters relationship(s) with other characters. Pay special attention to the characters’ use of language. In discussing the Duchess of York, your points must go beyond those made in the last lecture for the class.3) Choose one of Richard II’s speeches that has not been discussed at length in lecture (there are many, and the lectures look only at three), and write an analysis that makes an argument about how the language in the speech works to embody an idea/concept/theme. Some questions you might consider as you read the speech: How is this speech constructed? What are its major literary features? How does its form reflect its content? What are the major ideas expressed in the speech? How are these ideas conveyed? How does the speech function in the play as a whole? Remember: a good close-reading does not merely paraphrase (which means telling the reader what the speech is literally saying); instead, it rigorously engages with the language in order to construct a focused argument.MORE ON PAPER INSTRUCTIONS:Make an original and interesting argument (a thesis) about the topic.Back up your thesis with solid evidence. Quote the play frequently and pay attention to the details of the language you quote (telling words, repetitions, meter, rhyme, imagery, tone, punctuation, etc.)You need not answer every question posed in the topic suggestions. They are there to provoke thought.Read the more detailed guidelines below to ensure that you write a good paper:(attached)Hints for Writing a Good PaperPaper ThesisIntroductions and ConclusionsOrganizing PapersQuoting CorrectlyCiting Secondary MaterialsComprehensive ChecklistGrading Guidelines
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