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Lamott Writing Topics - Paper #1Here are the options for your first English 1B paper. As the course syllabus makes clear, you must write four out-of-class papers this summer, one in each of the following categories: Analysis, Comparison, Creative, and Research. Whichever category you choose to write in on this paper is off limits on future papers, so as Master Yoda might say, "Wisely you must choose, Jedi."
Analysis Paper: Trace the development of one major theme in Anne Lamott's creative non-fiction book, Operating Instructions. Write this paper for someone who's read the book, and who won't be satisfied with obvious or superficial observations. Also, write it for someone whom you don't know personally. This way, you must develop your essay as an argument of interpretation, demonstrating for your reader how this theme is important and why. Explain how if they miss this theme, they will miss a crucial aspect of Lamott's purpose and artistry. Note: a literary theme is usually not a static idea, but an idea that develops, changes, and/or enlarges over the course of a book-length work. You will need to offer specific references to Lamott's book for support, in the form of summary, paraphrase, or quotation. But the focus of your writing is on your words and your conclusions and interpretations. Don't just drop in references to the book, hoping your reader will follow the context; integrate them, weave them into the fabric of your discussion. Use MLA format correctly. The length requirement for this option is 750-1,000 words (3 to 4 pages). A good analysis paper usually lives or dies by the quality of its thesis. Use this link to consider Jack Lynch's advise on making a strong thesis statement: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/EngPaper/thesis.html
Comparison Paper: Compare and/or contrast Anne Lamott's treatment of life and death in her book, Operating Instructions. Even as her son, Sam, is born and Lamott celebrates the struggles and achievements of his first year of life, she is haunted by the loss of her father. Then, her best friend Pammy is diagnosed with breast cancer, and another loss seems imminent. How does she treat these two contrasting realities? What sort of resolutions does she arrive at? How do her operating instructions help her to cope? Write this paper for someone who's read the book, and who won't be
satisfied with obvious or superficial observations. Also, write it
for someone whom you don't know personally. This way, you must develop
your essay as an argument of interpretation, culminating in an idea (thesis) that brings your reader insight and clarity. You will need to offer specific references to Lamott's book for
support, in the form of summary, paraphrase, or quotation. But the
focus of your writing is on your words and your
conclusions and interpretations. Don't just drop in references to the
book, hoping your reader will follow the context; integrate them, weave
them into the fabric of your discussion. Be sure to use the point-by-point method of organizing your essay in order to maximize clarity. Use MLA format correctly.
The length requirement for this option is 750-1,000 words (3-4
pages). Follow this link to the Drew University web site for some wonderful advice on writing comparisons: http://users.drew.edu/~sjamieso/Comparison.htm
Creative Paper: Keep a journal for three or four days. As you write, consider the public and reflective nature of a journal (as opposed to the more private and terse nature of a diary). Take time to reflect upon the events of your life, big and small, expanding upon important details and noting themes as they arise and unify your writing. As you revise for accuracy and style, read your journal aloud in order to exploit the verbal rhythms of your prose. Just as we get a sense of Anne Lamott's personality in Operating Instructions, try to write in such a way that your readers develop a clear sense of who you are--your values, attitudes, and beliefs. As David Roche has said, this kind of writing has three qualities: it should be "true," it should be artful, and it should give us a sense of the writer's presence. Give your journal a title that suggests a central theme, and don't forget to date the entries just as Lamott does. Don't worry about MLA format on this assignment; one of the joys of creative writing is that it sets you free from some of the restrictions of traditional academic writing. Play. Enjoy. Create. The length requirement for this option is 750-1,000 words (3-4 pages).
Research Paper: Research the life, writing, and literary reputation of Anne Lamott. Begin by reading another of her creative non-fiction books (Bird by Bird, Traveling Mercies, Plan B, or Grace Eventually). Then find information on her life and literary reputation that inform your reading of her works. In what ways does her personal life and experiences find expression in her literary work? What do literary critics and book reviewers say about her work? Why is it important? What is her unique contribution to contemporary American literature? What common criticisms are most often leveled at her writing? What do critics and reviewers tend to praise? Bring your secondary sources into play in your paper, integrating them into the fabric of your own thinking on Anne Lamott. Remember, credibility in an academic research paper is achieved not just through clear writing and careful editing, but also by your handling of secondary sources. Consult more than one type of source (i.e., books, web sites, articles, movies, etc.). Variety and depth are two factors that readers of research papers are looking for. Assume your reader is already familiar with Anne Lamott, but they are not an expert; your job is to broaden and deepen their knowledge on the subject. Thus, this research paper fits more into the analytical category rather than the argumentative genre. Study the OWL (On-line Writing Laboratory) web site on Writing a Research Paper before you begin. Click through the menu in the green bar on the left-hand side of the web page for a nice, step-by-step guide. Use MLA format correctly. Diana Hacker's web site on MLA Documentation Format is a handy and surprisingly thorough resource. The length requirement for this option is 1,250-1,500 words (5-6 pages).
Due Date: If you are writing an analytical, comparative, or creative paper, submit it to our Turnitin.com web page Monday, July 14 before midnight. (See my instructions on How to Submit Your Papers.) If you are writing a research paper, it is not due until July 21.
Grading Standards: I use the same basic rubric for evaluating English papers that Professor Jack Lynch uses. Follow this link to the "grades" page on his excellent Rutgers University web site: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/EngPaper/grades.html.
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