Essay #3 Prompt

Essay #3 Prompt: The Evolution of a Fairy Tale

Please choose one fairy tale and critically examine two of it's cultural manifestations. One of these manifestations needs to be an older version of the tale--it can be a Greek myth, a peasant version, a Grimm's story, a Hans Christian Anderson story, or a Perrault story. Your second version should be a contemporary version--it can be Disney, Angela Carter's rewrites, something from a TV show like Once Upon a Time or Grimms, an updated film, etc. If you are unsure about the validity or appropriateness of your fairy tale or it's two versions for this assignment, feel free to email me questions at katedurbinteacher@gmail.com. You can also choose a contemporary film that offers a less obvious version of the fairy tale, as long as you explain in your paper why it's an updated telling of the fairy tale (an art film like The Sleeping Beauties is one example).

Your thesis should either:

1) focus on the cultural needs that the fairy tale addresses in teach manifestation--what lessons does it teach, and why did that particular culture have those needs? Does the fairy tale offer a satisfactory "answer" to the moral problems of the day?

2) You can examine the versions of the fairy tale from a critical perspective such as feminist, post-colonial, Marxist, etc. instead, if you'd like. In this case you are breaking it down vis a vis a close reading of the text, seeing where it displays sexism and/or women's empowerment; or racism or equality; encourages monarchies and capitalism, or promotes revolution, etc.

3) You may not choose a version of the tale that we have read for class and you are strongly recommended to also choose a fairy tale we have not covered in class. I want to see original thinking and analysis--not a rehashing of my own lecture notes.

The paper should be 5 or more pages in length, double-spaced, MLA style. It should have a strong title and a Works Cited page.

Your paper needs to have at least three critical, scholarly resources in addition to the stories/films you are analyzing (so, five sources total), which should also be cited carefully. Please find these through the library's database. You will likely want to research the fairy tale itself, and in some cases the specific version may also have critical sources on it (such as Disney).

The Bloody Chamber

Here is the link to The Bloody Chamber, which you will need to read for Monday's class:

http://uspace.shef.ac.uk/docs/DOC-67875

If you have trouble accessing this link of The Bloody Chamber, please google "Angela Carter The Bloody Chamber pdf."

Prompts

Choose one of the options below to write about in your bluebook. I recommend a five paragraph essay.

Option 1:

Please compare and/or contrast the vampires in I Am Legend with Dracula. How have vampires evolved (or not) since Dracula's time? What cultural shifts (or non shifts) does this evolution represent? Make sure your paper has a cohesive, overall point to it--do not just list points of comparison or contrast that don't tie together into a meaningful whole, which should be some significant observation about culture. You may want to focus on fears and/or desires that the vampires represent.

Option 2:

Compare the cultural fears that Frankenstein's monster represents with those fears that the alien in Alien represents. You may want to consider the fact that both of these are cautionary tales that deal with themes of scientific advancement, exploration/colonization, and "artificial life" in some form or another. What can we learn about longstanding human fears by studying both of these narratives?

Hi guys,

A quick note to let you know that one of the prompts for tomorrow offers you the option of comparing a recent book you read to Dracula. So, you may want to briefly review your Dracula notes as well before tomorrow, should you decide to choose that prompt.

See you soon,
Prof D

In Class Essay Tips

The In-Class Essay:

Aim and Organization

AIM:

To successfully prove a clear, specific thesis. The thesis should, obviously, address one of the prompts given in class. Following directions here, as always, is crucial to receiving a passing grade.

ORGANIZATION:

An in-class essay is organized into five paragraphs. The first paragraph is the introduction, then comes three body paragraphs, then a concluding paragraph. No more—no less!

You will want to make a brief outline before you write your essay.* Make sure the body paragraphs appear in a logical order, not simply the order they came to your mind in. Build on the information as you go.

Introductory Paragraph: Make sure not to take too much time writing in introduction. This paragraph should be about five sentences long (give or take a sentence or two). Provide a clearly arguable, well-qualified, thesis.

Body Paragraph One: Don’t forget to provide clear examples to back up your argument, as well as a topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.

Body Paragraph Two: Don’t forget to provide clear examples to back up your argument, as well as a topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph. And remember, Body Paragraph Two should follow Body Paragraph One in terms of building logically upon it.

Body Paragraph Three: Don’t forget to provide clear examples to back up your argument, as well a topic sentence as the beginning of the paragraph. And remember, Body Paragraph Three should follow Body Paragraph Two in terms of building logically upon it.

Concluding Paragraph: Re-state your thesis. Summarize what has been successfully argued in the essay. End with a thoughtful and strong statement. This paragraph, like your introductory paragraph, need not be longer than five sentences, but should also not be shorter.

Grammar and formatting: Make sure to check your grammar and spelling as you go along. There is a bit more room for error in an in-class essay, but your essay must be readable and legible (so make sure your handwriting is clear). Double-check your essay for errors before you turn it in. You may choose to double-space or single space an in-class essay (depending on what your teacher requests).

*You will NOT be required to turn in your brief outline with your essay for Why Read. It is, however, recommended.

SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR IN-CLASS ESSAY

Par. 1: THESIS: Write out thesis statement here.

Par. 2: TOPIC SENTENCE/MAIN IDEA: Write out topic sentence/main idea for Paragraph 1 here.

Par. 3: TOPIC SENTENCE/MAIN IDEA: Write out topic sentence/main idea for Paragraph 2 here.

Par. 4: TOPIC SENTENCE/MAIN IDEA: Write out topic sentence/main idea for Paragraph 3 here.

Par. 5: CONCLUSION: Final thought to leave reader with.

*Remember, this is just a sample outline—yours can differ slightly. Also, you obviously will want to fully develop your intro, body paragraphs, and conclusion—so while you are providing the main idea of these paragraphs here in the outline, you will flesh them out with evidence/support in your actual essay.

Hi everyone,

I updated the course schedule. It should be pretty self-evident, but just to make it abundantly clear, on Monday we will be discussing up to page 100 in I Am Legend. You should also have researched the contextual/historical background of the time period in which the novel was written, and be prepared with that information in class. See you Monday!

Best,
Professor D

Course Schedule *updated Nov. 6

Course Schedule*

*Subject to revision with notice

*You are always encouraged to read ahead, particularly when working on your essays.

Week 1

9/4   W            Introductions

Homework for M 9/9 (must be completed by beginning of class): read Dracula introduction and to page 78. Read the entire introduction very carefully, as you will be quizzed on it!

NOTE: Make sure to take notes in your book or a notebook. I will be checking to see that you did.

9/6    F            

Week 2

9/9   M                              

           

Homework: read "Dracula” up to page 118

9/11  W      Essay #1 Introduction

Homework:  read “Dracula” up to 160

                                       

9/13 F      Introductions & Thesis Statements

Homework: read “Dracula” up to 205

Week 3

9/16 M   Body Paragraphs / Topics 

Homework: read "Dracula" up to page 261

9/18 W  MLA Day / Examples and Evidence

Homework: read "Dracula" up to 311

9/20 F  

Homework: read "Dracula" up to 375

Week 4

9/23 M 

Homework: finish "Dracula;" complete rough draft, bring two copies to class for workshop

9/25 W Rough Draft Workshop

9/27 F Film / Essay #1 due via email only

Homework: read "Frankenstein" up to page 50

Week 5

9/30 M 

Homework: read "Frankenstein" up to page 100

10/2 W

Homework: read "Frankenstein" up to 150

10/4 F

Homework: read "Frankenstein" critical essays, finish "Frankenstein"

Week 6

10/7 M 

Homework: read "I Am Legend" up to page 50

10/9 W 

10/11 F 

Homework: read "I Am Legend" up to page 100

Week 7

10/14 M

10/16 W Film 

10/18 F Film 

Homework: finish "I Am Legend"


Week 8

10/21 M 

Homework: prepare for In-Class Essay #2

10/23 W In-Class Essay #2

10/25 F MID SEMESTER BREAK-NO CLASS

Homework: read "The Little Mermaid" p. 216 in Norton, read "What The Conch Shell" on p. 200 in My Mother, read "The Mermaid in the Tree" in my Mother, read excerpt from "Pop Corpse" 

Week 9

10/28 M The Little Mermaid 

Homework: read "Hansel and Gretel" p. 184 in Norton, read "The Juniper Tree" p. 190 in Norton, read  "Little Thumbling" p. 199 in Norton, read "The Brother and the Bird" in My Mother p. 30

10/30 W Hansel and Gretel

11/1 F Halloween celebration; Introduce Presentations

Homework: read "Bluebird" p. 144 in Norton, read "The Robber Bridegroom" p. 151 in Norton, read "Bluebeard's Egg" p. 156 in Norton, read "Bluebeard in Ireland" p. 394 in My Mother, read "The Bloody Chamber" 

Week 10

11/4 M Bluebeard

Homework: read "Yeh-hsien" p. 107 in Norton, read "Donkeyskin" p. 109 in Norton, read "Cinderella" p. 117 in Norton, read "Catskin" p. 122 in Norton, read "Catskin" p. 270 in My Mother, read "The Color Master" p. 366 in My Mother

11/6 W  

11/8 F Cinderella

Homework: Homework: read "Snow White" p. 83 in Norton, read "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" p. 96 in Norton, read "Snow White, Rose Red" in My Mother p. 113, read "A Kiss to Wake The Sleeper" p. 411 in My Mother, read "Snow White and her Stepmother" in Norton p. 291

Week 11

11/11 M Snow White and Sleeping Beauty

Homework: finish rough draft of Essay #3 and bring two copies to class for workshop

11/13 W Workshop Rough Draft

Homework: finish Essay #3, read "A Day in the Life" on p 59 of My Mother, read "With Hair" on p. 74 of My Mother

11/15 F Introduce Final Essay, Essay #3 Final Draft Due

Homework: read Jack Zipes "Breaking the Disney Spell" in Norton p. 332, read Donald Haase "Yours, Mine, or Ours?" in Norton p. 353  

Week 12

11/18 M Fairy Tale Criticism / Fairy Tale Wrap Up Discussion 

11/20 W Film

11/22 F Film

Week 13

11/25 M Presentations

11/27 W NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING BREAK

11/29 F NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING BREAK

Week 14

12/2 M Presentations

Homework: finish rough draft of Final Essay, bring two printed copies to class for workshop

12/4 W Workshop - Final Essay

12/6 F Party, Evals 

Homework: finish final draft of Final Essay

Week 15

12/9 M Final papers are due via email only by midnight

Updates

Hi guys,

Class is canceled for today, Friday, the 11th.

I will be re-arranging the course schedule today to reflect the change. Please check in tonight or tomorrow to see the updated schedule.

Feel free to email me with any questions. See you Monday!

Prof D