Isabel Allende is a widely known Hispanic author who is a part of the Magic Realism literary movement as represented by House of the Spirits due to extensive use of political critique with emphasis on feminism, hybridity of both setting and character, and voyeuristic and fantastic elements.
Kelsey. I can see where you are going. However, I think that we can more gracefully begin the thesis... Play with this sentence stem... Hispanic author Isabel Allende's novel House of Spirits exemplifies Magic Realism...
What do you think, Kelsey? Others? Let's work together:)
All. Sorry for the multiple posts... I couldn't get them all to "copy" to one posting... This shows you that there are places to go. I have posted three different resources; there are others. The format of each is different. I tried to find a variety. The UNC one is interesting because it shows the development of a literary analysis thesis (Huck Finn). It also helps one evaluate the strength of a thesis. If you have a resource, please post:) Consider making a Delicious account to store all of the websites online; therefore, the sources are available to you at ll times on the net. If you want to do that, just google Delicious accounts. You should find it:)
Kelsey. Thank YOU for posting first:) I hope that others follow your great example and seek feedback/collaboration:)
All. I tried McGarvey's AP thesis creator, and it does work. Another AP teacher suggested this. It utilizes a point/counterpoint approach. It begins with an "although statement." I like the thinking process that the program demands.
Mrs. Edwards. Do we need an intro and conclusion to lead into the summaries of criticisms and conclude what they all said in Part 2 like we had to do for Part 1?
So maybe...Hispanic author, Isabel Allende, is an author which exemplifies Magic Realism through her pioneer novel House of the Spirits due to extensive use of political critique with emphasis on feminism, hybridity of both setting and character, and voyeuristic and fantastic elements.
Kelsey. I think that I understand what you are asking... Model Pt. 2 style wise after what you did for the Annotations; that was the prep for this part. The thesis is better; however, the first part is a bit wordy (author...author). The back end of the thesis could be reworded by changing emphasis to emphasizing and finesse it from there. Does that help?
All. Please consider posting on the blog. According to the stats, this page has had 94 views. We have only one person to contribute:( We ALL benefit the most when we ALL share and comment.
BTW... Portrait of a Lady is on channel 274 (DirectTV). I don't know about this version, but the actors are impressive (Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich). I just thought that you might like to see it (those doing Henry James books).
Mrs. Edwards, I did not realize there was a new blog, maybe you could a put link to this one on Progressbook to help people.
Here's my thesis: In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte departs from the traditional Victorian woman and presents a feminist heroine through the portrayal of religion, love, and hardship.
Nicole. Thesis has good bones. However, do you mean "traditional Victorian stereotypes" or "stereotypical Victorian characters"... Also, adjectives before feminist and one before portrayal may better define your purpose. Your thoughts?
Could someone let me know if Progress Book is showing up for you (links and text)? I cannot see the Student View...it will not come up. I see the teacher view only...
I have a couple of questions regarding the thesis and part two of the research paper. For the thesis can I mix devices and motifs? For example I want to prove that George Orwell's 1984 is a pristine of Dystopian literature through his use of symbolism, allusion, and the motif of absolute control.
Also, for part two of the paper I am a bit confused on which criticisms to use. Should I be using criticisms that specifically talk about 1984 to support my thesis or should I be using critiques about his other works that parallel the ideas within my thesis?
Joe. Thanks ever so for letting me know about Progress Book...it has been acting strangely since the switch of semesters..grrrr!
Now, how about putting the motif idea further to the front of the thesis and let the devices play a secondary role? Remember the model that we used in 10th grade...theme was explored through devices? How about playing with that model and using motif?
Second part of your question: See Kelsey's answer further up in the blog. The annotation assignment helps you plan for the second part. use what you did there as a model.
Thank you for the help on the thesis. I am sorry but I am still confused on part two of the paper.
I understand the annotations are suppose to be used a spring board for part two, but in reading the rubric it says each critique needs to relate to the thesis in part three. I thought part two was about the author's work as a whole and not the specific novel we read. So should I be expanding criticisms about Orwell's work as a whole or 1984 specifically?
1. Too long. Think summary and NOT retelling. Look for 2-3 main pushes in your article. 2. Sources that are not collegiate level sources. 3. Updated MLA style (use planner). People, it is EASIER than what is in Writers Inc. 4. Formal voice. 5. Rich, varied sentence structure and high vocabulary. 6. Title attributions. Watch this in the writing, but also in your citations. Cincy Public Library does not always do that part for you. 7. Maintain a BROAD focus.
Joe. I see what you mean now. If they all relate to the author or period, then you should be good. Some people were off in left field with some current event types of articles; those DO NOT relate. Therefore, that part of the directions may pertain less to you than to those people that were off base. Does that make sense??
Sorry about not finding the link, I thought the old blog was linked on PB but now I see the new one.. Yes, thank you! I forgot about adjectives and stereotypical Victorian woman is what I'm going for.
Nicole. NP:) like I said, Progress Book has been taken over by gremlins lately:) Per your excellent suggestion, I put the link in the text as well. TY!!
Now, question... do you mean "woman" as in woman of the period or "author"? Just checking;)
Joe. Thinking more about your thesis and the motif idea as the main push...Perhaps you want a thematic aspect up front and the motif as a way of delivering that theme. Your thoughts:)
Thanks for telling us about The Portrait of a Lady movie! I don't have Direct TV, but maybe I'll watch it at some point.
Here is the rough draft of my thesis.
In his nineteenth century novel, The Portrait of a Lady, Henry James effectively exemplifies American Realism through his use of complex characterization, depictions of contrasting social classes and cultures, and exploration of women’s societal roles.
Mrs. Edwards, I was reading through these posts and I was wondering if you could clarify something for me. For part 2, we need an intro and conclusion and the sources should be about his work as a whole not simply what is in the thesis? I'm sure you have answered these I am just a little confused
All. Emily has a good thesis. It is direct and focused. Her approach is a "mastery" learner approach... very factual and 1-2-3 in construction. (Excuse the teacherspeak) That being said, it is not the only way of constructing a thesis. Notice Nicole's thesis; it has a point counterpoint feel to it (ala the McGarvey Thesis Method, mentioned above). NICOLE, once you nail it down, put it on the blog. Varied approach is always good.
Kevin. Thanks for asking:) I think that you are still thinking of the first assignment as "one thing." Part 1 stands alone as an investigation of author and period. Part 2 uses an "abstract" (as in writing an abstract) approach. After we revise this assignment and add the rest of the summaries we will rename it ABSTRACTS. You planned for Part 2 during the first assignment by doing the annotations. By doing it this way, we can glean our BEST articles and weed out the weaker ones. Also, it helps you practice formal voice and evaluation. Does this help??
Mrs. Edwards, So I can use any of the articles collected from the annotations as long as they pertain to my thesis? That does make more sense now. Also, I have a rough draft of my thesis:
In his masterpiece The Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad exemplifies the Modernist period of literature through his use of recalcitrant writing style, morose themes, and anxiety and ambiguity concerning traditional societal institutions or beliefs.
Kevin. Yes, PLEASE use some (or all) of your annotation articles. Your work should work for you:) By doing the annotations, you can now judge your approach to abstracts and choose the best of the best for Part 2.
Your thesis is awesome! I love the order and word choice...just beautiful. Your vocabulary is elevated and direct. Well done. BTW...like Emily's, it is also a mastery learner approach, just a little more artsy:D I do think you need a comma before concerning...
All. Watch your titles. I know that the blog does not allow for italics...just don't forget:)
George Orwell uses his dystopian novel 1984 as a cautionary tale for the dangers of tolalitarianism through the motif of absolute control, and the use of symbolism and allusion.
Sorry to bring up my question again, but I just became very confused once again on part 2. Do I need to make my thesis fit with my annonations or my annotations fit with my thesis? Either way I feel like I need to start over because I believe my critiques and thesis do not fit well together.
Do my collegiate level articles convey a statement on author and/or period? If the answer is yes, then you are fine.
Your thesis obviously conveys a statement on author and purpose. Why do you feel that it does not relate to the abstract portion? Maybe you are over thinking this??
How about: George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece 1984 vividly depicts the dangers of totalitarianism through the motif of absolute control, as well as the use of symbolism and allusion. That's just how I would try it I don't know if that's what you're looking for or not
Kevin. Good suggestion. He could explore the idea of cautionary tale later in the body of the paper. Joe, how do you feel about this suggestion? Does it reflect the direction that you see your paper going?
I'm confused on how to format Part 2 of this paper. Should it be like a numbered list of summaries of literary criticisms, or more like a short essay with an intro and conclusion?
Joe. What about "George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece 1984 serves as a cautionary tale for the dangers of totalitarian control through the motif of absolute control, inclusion of symbolism, and use of allusion"? I like Kevin's a lot too, but if you want to keep the cautionary tale part in there, something like this could work.
Emily. Use the format that we started with the annotations. Build from that. If you want to go ahead and label it Abstracts, that would be fine. That is what it will become later. I want your work to work for you.
I think that the connection between the abstract and the thesis is that the criticisms should reflect aspects of your thesis, but do not necessarily have to be specifically about your chosen novel. I could be wrong about that but that's how I am understanding this assignment
Also, I started my first summary and was wondering if I'm on the right track. This is just for one of the main "pushes" of the article: Widmer Kingsley is a contributor to the British Novelists encyclopedia, and he published a review of Joseph Conrad’s career as a whole, focusing on several of his more critically acclaimed novels to exemplify his writing style, anti-societal sentiments, and modernist themes. Conrad followed the traditional Modernist ideology of writing in a unique and personalized style that conveyed the themes that he was attempting to incorporate into his works. Much of his work contained an “oddity of style, especially a high-flown rhetoric of considerable redundancy,” (Widmer) that distinguished it from other fictions of the time period. Widmer emphasizes the fact that Conrad uses this style to convey his ominous tone through ironic reflectiveness when he states, “the lushness of the exotic materials is heightened by an often ornate descriptive style, strong in portentous atmospheric detailing. This suggests a Westerner's anxieties with the threatening tropical jungles and the alien native psyches, as well as the moral ambiguities of colonialism.” Conrad utilizes his unorthodox writing style to heighten many of his themes as well as evoke a sense of anxiety in the reader.
Kevin. Well done. What I like about your submission is that is is succinct, yet rich in information. You also credential your source. Your style is collegiate and well articulated.
Kevin. I don't think that you need the parenthetical citation since it is known that you are speaking to the article specifically; your reader knows that the quote comes from the article. I know that you were just trying to be careful:)
My articles do convey a statement on the author or his works. But they do not talk about all of the facets of my thesis.
I have one critique that discusses allusion in Animal Farm which is similar to the allusion used in 1984 (Stalin/Hitler). So I have one connection with the allusion part of my thesis.
My other critiques though do not discuss Orwell's use of symbolism or motif of absolute control what so ever. So should I go out and find critiques that discusses these in general?
Joe, from what I've gathered through these posts I would try to find articles relating to your thesis, but I would double check with Mrs. Edwards before doing all of that extra work.
Mrs. Edwards, Here is the rest of my first summary, I was wondering if you had any comments or suggestions before I move on:
Along with commenting on his dissident style, Kingsley also discusses Conrad’s use of anti-societal sentiments. By stating that, “in his best ideological melodramas it is often exemplary the way the nihilist triumphs over the ostensible antinihilist,” Widmer is recognizing Conrad as a skeptic. He is saying that Conrad’s sense of skepticism regarding human “civilization” is often unmistakable and heightens the anxiety experienced when reading his literature. Through the use of unconventional writing style and a skeptic outlook on human institutions, Kingsley has explored how Conrad is exemplary of the Modernist style of writing.
Along with exploring how the themes of Modernism are conveyed by Conrad, Kingsley also discusses what themes he conveys through his works. Commenting on the underlying theme present in all of Conrad’s works, Kingsley states, “the lush rhetoric seems appropriate to the broad theme of the Malayan fictions: the destructiveness of debased romantic idealism in weak colonialist characters in an alien environment.” He is relating that Conrad uses his characters and their surroundings to express his theme of the destructiveness of modern society and its detrimental ideologies. To give a specific example of this, Kingsley explores how Conrad achieves the portrayal of a selfish society through The Heart of Darkness. “Colonialism is mostly "robbery with violence" of those "who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses," and, says Marlow, the viciousness of colonization of other peoples can be redeemed only by an unselfish dedication to a larger "idea."’ In the novel, a trading company blatantly exploits the natives of Africa, enslaving them and forcing animalistic conditions upon them. Kingsley is stating that Conrad uses this facet of society to represent the greed and misguided morals prevalent in the society as a whole. Widmer Kingsley provides an excellent critical analysis of Joseph Conrad’s works by focusing on several aspects of Modernist literature in which Conrad excels.
Joe. Look for continuity. Are there "threads" that connect the various viewpoints. I do not have the articles in front of me, so this is your call. That being said, the buzz word of the second section is "broad." You narrow your focus, synching the sources with your focus, as reflected in your thesis. Could it be that you are thinking ahead to the third section (literary analysis) when you say that your articles do not relate? Think about this.
All: Other areas to be aware of when writing a formal piece:
1. Watch the "stringing together of pronouns." A handful of people had a problem with this. Remind your reader of your subject. You may know who "he" is...an abundance of he...him...his... and your reader says, "Who?"
2. When you proofread, see if you can elevate your vocabulary by exchanging two weak words for one strong one. This will also help you to become succinct. Adopt an elevated formal voice:)
3. Watch those personal pronouns (I, me, my, we...) and the contractions. These are rookie mistakes. We should not be doing this! Dr. Lofty hates that!
4. Do not address your author by first name. You are not on a first name basis with your author! Use last name.
Here is my finished thesis: Innovative Hispanic author, Isabel Allende, is one who comprehensively exemplifies the Magical Realism movement through the use of voyeurism and fantastical elements, hybridity of setting and character, and political critique emphasizing feminism through her pioneer novel House of the Spirits.
Kelsey. Do you like this thesis better? It IS better. Notice the difference in flow and articulation. You did a good job reworking this! Congrats:)!!! Add a comma before the word emphasizing;) Italics for the title.
Use the format from the annotations task. You could go ahead and title this section Abstracts; that is what is will evolve into eventually. That way it will be more useable. Put last name and page number on each page.
You can put the thesis after the title. We will formalize form later:)
Kelsey. One more thing... I know what you mean by "fantastical," but wonder if you mean elements of fantasy... Look it up and make sure... Keep it if it works with your plan.
If my annotations tie back into my main theme of the dangers of totalitarinism, as stated in my thesis, is that ok for part two and will part three then cover my devices and motifs?
Kelsey. You are most welcome:) Thank you for caring about your work!
Joe. If I understand you correctly, I would say that you are doing fine. You have found the "thread" that connects the information. In part three, you will narrow your focus; this may demand that you seek out other sources to delve more deeply into the literary aspects. many students will be doing just that; it is natural to this process. Does that help?
I have another question. For the statement of comparison in the summaries, how would I work that in? Would I just say, "to be discussed in this essay" or "as noted in the thesis statement"? I'm not quite sure where to go with that one.
YES! I now see the common thread you were getting at and I already have a majority of my critiques for part three that will focus upon 1984 and the facets of my thesis.
Also, here is my final thesis:
George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece 1984 vividly depicts the dangers of totalitarianism through the motif of absolute control, inclusion of symbolism, and use of allusion.
In his groundbreaking novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens expands and exemplifies Gothic Romantisim through use of foil between corrupt and idealized characters, depiction of a dark and brutal historical event, and integration of universal themes.
I know my title is not in italics but that is typed on an iPod... So I can't manage to do italics.
Mrs. Edwards, I meant that Jane departs from the Victorian stereotype, not the author. (although this is semi-autobiographical so it could be interpreted that Charlotte Bronte is departing herself)
This is my revised thesis: In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte departs from the stereotypical Victorian woman with her presentation of a compelling feminist heroine through the unorthodox portrayal of religion, love, and hardship.
Here is the first look at my thesis: The prominent Chilean author, Isabel Allende, through the masterful use of Magical Realism, voyeuristic scenes, feministic views and stances, and manipulation of cultural and social realities, created a literary masterpiece, The House of the Spirits.
Jake. I sort of see where you are headed. However, the following aspects of the thesis confuse me:
1. "expands and exemplifies" I don't get that... look at some of the other student examples above and try to find a more direct intro to the thesis.
2. "integration of universal theme." I would say choose one of them and let that drive your thesis.
3. I hear the idea of duality being alluded to in the first two exploration points; perhaps confront that directly in relation to a theme...
Have you looked at some of the links posted earlier? I thnk you have ideas but need to order them. Perhaps using the thesis creator would help you with structure.
Flint. Your topic and your thesis is very close to kelsey's. Look back at her posts and see if that helps. Areas to rework:
1. "masterful use of" Rework that structure. I think the word "use" is troublesome.
2. The weight of aspects is off. I would say that you need to choose a theme as an overarching. binding aspect and then determine three facets to explore.
3. "created a literary masterpiece" It does not have flow.
Look at the previous posts, especially kelsey's posts. She honed that thesis well. Just make sure that your thesis reflects your own personal voice:) Also, look at the links. It may help you with ordering your ideas and the weighting of the facets:)
Nicole. I like this thesis better, don't you?:) The only addition that I would suggest is an adjective before novel. It would add a little finesse and personality. That being said, make sure that you adopt a point/counterpoint approach to your intro. You will need to elaborate on that a bit in order to get what you need from the thesis later in the paper. I anticipate this type of discussion in relation to the three facets of exploration. Is that what you had in mind?
Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Ubervilles is an assertion of his Victorian moral compass that explores and criticizes themes such as the divide between social classes, currency’s dominance over mankind, and man’s proprietorship of woman.
Joe. Epiphany! Good work! The thesis is better; it is more fluid in respect to construction. My suggestion would be to add adjectives before the final two exploration points. Also, you may want a different word for "inclusion" and a different word for "use." My eye keeps going there. Think of different words.
Natalie. Good morning:) We may be the only two people from class that are awake:) Tell me a little about "moral compass." I anticipate that you will discuss this in the intro and the thesis will make sense in light of that. I am anticipating a build/reveal sort of construction in the intro. Am I right?
Areas that I would rework:
1. "criticizes themes such as" That part is a bit wordy.
2. The points of exploration could be articulated in a more direct way. For example "currency's domination over mankind" could be better said as glorification of materialism. Does that make sense??
Look back at the other thesis statements (Emily and Kevin specifically). I think you may be headed in that direction for construction...
New thesis: The fatalistic novel, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, is an assertion of Thomas Hardy’s Victorian moral compass which explores and criticizes the divide between social classes, glorification of materialism, and man’s proprietorship of woman
Natalie. Look at the difference between what you first wrote and this one. Do you see how much more fluid and direct this one is? Also, it has a more confident tone. Now, make sure that you explore a point/counterpoint approach (like Nicole) in the intro. The thesis will be the fruition of this articulation. Also, you may continue that approach when you explore your facets within your paper.
Yes, I like this one much better. I have a question about the abstracts. One of my critical essays discusses Hardy's poetry but it has a few paragraphs that relate to my thesis. Is this okay to have and when I summarize it, do I summarize the parts that don't apply to my thesis or just what does apply?
In his groundbreaking novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens exemplifies the conflict between good and evil through use of foil between corrupt and idealized characters, depiction of dark and brutal historical events, and emphasis on redemptive themes.
Jake. Reread the thesis. I feel that the articulation is backwards. Shouldn't the thematic be the driver and the devices be the passengers? Your thoughts?
Natalie. Yes, it is part of the "threads" that you have discovered in relation to Hardy's work. Reread Joe's postings. He struggled with this and had an epiphany last night:) See if that helps.
okay, "the conflict between good and evil" is the overall theme of the novel and many of Dickens' novels. If i changed "emphasis on redemptive themes" to "emphasis on redemption" would that clear ambiguity on what is the theme and what are the devices associated with that theme?
Jake. The way I see it, here is a rough outline of your thesis:
I. Theme "redemption" ?? a. device- characterization (foil) b. device- setting
I am NOT clear on where conflict plays in here. Look up the term "duality" and see if this helps. The dual nature of man and of circumstance is often explored in this period. The restrictive nature of Victorian values and the imbedded hypocrisy were often "outed" by writers of the day.
Here's one of my summaries: According to George Perkins, Henry James has a particular theme, type of narration, specific characterization that is unique about him. His international theme explores the interaction between opposite sides of the Atlantic, which usually leads to problems throughout the novel. Also, James uses partial perspectives so that the reader’s own personal life story may change his or her view of the situation at hand.
The protagonists of this American Realists books often have similar lives and difficulties. James explores whether or not the man made social boundaries are good or bad. He compromises by revealing through his characters that social accommodation through the protection of social framework can coexist with perfect freedom and equality, which can only be found by looking beyond the limits of class. Also, for his tragic characters, in many of his novels the main character realizes to truth about a situation or person, but the anagnorisis comes too late and causes the character to live with the consequences. In short, although each of Henry Jame’s novels is intricate, one can find similarities in themes and characters that can help the reader better understand the plot.
And here's my thesis: In A Portrait of a Lady, written by American Realist Henry James, the idea of a broken European society is apparent through the intricate depictions of Mrs. Touchett, Isabel Archer, and Gilbert Osmond.
Could you please give give any pointers? Thank you!
I think I was closer on my first try with stating that the novel emphasized Gothic Romance through a. device- characterization (foil) b. device- setting c. ?? device- duality in circumstance
Skylar: Watch your pronouns in the second paragraph. remind your reader of subject. The thesis is good but could be improved by the introduction of "psychological exploration/investigation" in relation to characterization, obviously your focus by virtue of your articulation, and it is inherent in Jamesian literature. Also, finesse the front part a little more by adding an adjective/adjective phrase before the title.
Also, Skylar, I know that you know what I mean about duality. Read my responses to Jake and see if what I am saying makes sense in regard to his thesis. It is early. I am not sure if I am explaining it well. TY:)
Jake. Gothic Romanticism? Is that what you mean? Sorry, just trying to make sure I KNOW that you understand this. Setting can speak to time and place; therefore b. and c. go together.
Jake. What about the phrase "the inherent duality of the Dark Romantic perspective" as a way to work in conflict and the natural outcropping of light/dark existence in nature (a focus for the Dark Romantics).
Yes, but Gothic Romanticism took place during Victorian times so there are blending of elements. I think I have two aspects down, the last is just difficult. There are reoccurring aspects and an emphasis with duality in reference to dying (dying for redemption, killing for redemption) which could contribute to my assessment that A Tale of Two Cities exemplifies the VIctorian-based Gothic Romantic writing movement. I do not know if that can be my last aspect, having duality in reference to dying.
jake: Romanticism includes the following divisions: Light Romantics/Transcendentalism and Dark Romantics/Gothics. They both find truth in nature. The Dark Romantics that sometimes this truth reveals a darker aspect of humanity and the natural world. Yes, the last aspect is troublesome... Does the above information spur any thoughts?
In his groundbreaking novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens exemplifies the inherent duality of the Dark Romantic perspective through use of foil between corrupt and idealized characters, depiction of dark and brutal historical events, and commentary on the issue of death.
For the last part? That can work in reference to Dr. Manette as external pressure causes his relapses into his fits of shoe-making. Also with Carton as external forces cause him to choose to sacrifice himself... Is that the type of idea you are discussing for the final aspect of the thesis?
Jake. Okay... Rework the articulation on characterization and reflect internal/external conflict via use of foils. Lose the last part of the thesis, as it can be explored within the stated focal points. Is this true to your vision for your paper?
Jake. Pull from your knowledge base relating to the Gothic/Dark Romantic period. I'm not sure how deeply this was discussed in Brit Lit, given that it was only one semester. Try to remember back to Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville. If you do that, you will be able to deliver on the paper. Limiting the focus to setting and characterization calls for a deep discussion on the finer points of Gothic perspective, relating to both focal points. For weight, you could break the setting discussion down further into time and place. A thesis is broad. There is no need to give all of the supporting discussion within the thesis. For instance, you will discuss the foil usage in the character discussion. It is support. Does that help??
Yes, I do think we are looking too deep into the gothic side of Dickens. Dickens was gothic in a sense, but he was also victorian in writing style (idealized characters against corrupt, good vs. evil with good winning in the end) he was a blend and not as dark as a poe or melville. He does have dark elements to his work but they are mostly there to contrast the ideal in Dickens' eyes. His themes are Victorian and he has elements of Victorian, but with gothic elements as well. His uniqueness is what is causing me not to jump on board with an absolute focus on darkness.
Jake. yes, he actually falls into the Realist period. However, I go the sense that you were going for the influence of Gothic perspective. Okay, I see where you are coming from now...
How about I focus on how A Tale of Two Cities expanded Dickens as a writer as he A: Wrote about a bloody historical event (he was not a historical style of writer and there are arguments on his legitimacy of writing the novel) B: masterful use of foil in reference to ideal and corrupt (he did masterfully depict character as is normal with Dickens' case) C: Continuation of themes from past novels (Mind that this is about the ability of Dickens to CONTINUE themes from past novels and progress those ideals as an author, its not based solely on the themes that you were concerned would detract from the main theme.)
Jake. This is what I am playing with right now. Your thoughts??
In his quest for social form, Realist author Charles Dickens investigates the duality of the human condition through the foil characterization and ______ setting of his novel Tale of Two Cities, utilizing eloquent diction and __________ descriptive language.
jake. What about ________ historical setting.... That might pull in the discussion from point A. Is it fair to say that the continued themes are in relation to social reform?
That is a better start, I am sorry for jumping around but Dickens work and life itself can be analyzed and processed in so many ways. My only concern with your postulated thesis is that it only states two aspects, as three is necessary for well rounded answers.
Jake. No worries:) I think that you could approach it from the two perspectives. This will call for an almost mathematical construction within the paper and an organized thesis will reveal it. You can get the mileage needed for the paper if you go deep. That is why I added two devices. You may not like those devices, and that is fine:) Go with what you feel/observe and your result will be a good one:) If you break the two discussions down and go deep, you should be fine:) VOLUMES have been written about his character development alone; that being said, you should be able to get enough mileage out of the two (if you go deep and organize). Dickens is an extraordinary craftsman for the very reasons that you have stated. I just want to make sure that I am helping you with your vision for your paper:) I hope that this helps:)!!
how about "foil characterization, execrable historical implications, and sullen settings" for my three points. Historical implications takes different precedent from setting as the Revolution and what it stands for is debatable, but since Dickens characterized the Revoultion as a evil and unspeakable movement instead of one that should be celebrated, he is actually making a statement on all quests for redemption and freedom. The historical implications progress his overall theme for social change. Confusing, but thats just because I am writing off the top of my head.
jake:) LOL! I know how you feel. Talking Dickens before lunchtime should not be allowed!! HAHA:) Post your entire thesis and let's see how it looks. I am excited to see the final product!
Jake. How do you feel about allusion (historical implications)? Does that work with your vision? That would assuage your concern about three focal points.
In his quest for social form, Realist author Charles Dickens investigates the duality of the human condition through the foil characterization, execrable historical implications, and lurid setting of his novel A Tale of Two Cities, utilizing eloquent diction and potent language.
Sorry for using a lot of your thesis... but it was just to good to pass up.
I think allusion can be mentioned in the historical implications, as allusion of the Revolution to another event by Dickens' could be a discussion point. "Implications" brings a connotation of discussion and argument by other historical experts and authors.
jake. This is looking great:D Reflect of the idea of "allusion" (see previous post), and consider changing potent language, as it is a bit redundant considering diction incorporates the idea. What about sensory detail (gives the reader a you are there feeling, furthering the didactic purpose of social reform. Just an idea:) That being said...KUDOS to you for working so hard on your thesis:D You have a great work ethic!
All. I have a kinda busy day ahead... Dog to the vet...yadda....yadda...yadda. Please continue talking with one another. I will try and check in later.
Toni Morrison's highly acclaimed The Bluest Eye gives a realistic portrayal of beauty as seen by black girls in the 1940's via the aspects of race, the stipulation that white is beautiful and how blue eyes could make anyone beautiful.
Thomas Hardy's multifarious characters, remarkable relatability, and exclusive writing style exemplify Tess of the d'Urbervilles as a prime product of Victorian Age literature.
I can't decide which adjective better describes characters... multifarious or multifaceted? Does anyone have any thoughts?
Alison. The thesis needs a good deal of work. Look over the various models that have been posted. Notice the construction and elevated diction. You may want to look at some of the websites listed earlier on the blog and refine your approach to this task. It is imperative that your thesis have depth and dimension.
Rachel. I think multifaceted is better. Also, I think that you may want a descriptive phrase relating to author to better grace the front end of the thesis. Consider introducing him via his literary period. That being said, you seem to be going toward a three tiered discussion, the first being characterization. The other two are a little less clear to me. I am also concerned about those two aspects providing you with enough latitude for a collegiate level, literary based discussion. Look at the other models and you will see a difference.
All. Before you post your thesis statements, look over the previous discussions. Compare what you have to what others have already done. Look at the level of discussion, as well as the construction . USE the websites!!
I cannot be as big a presence as I was earlier on the blog. I have some other family obligations to attend to. I will try to check in when I can:) I really hope that you talk to each other, especially those of you that posted earlier. Talk with those that are posting now.
In one of Charlotte Brontë’s best known Gothic novels, Jane Eyre, the uncommon feminine protagonist displays many themes including those of love, a woman’s role in society, and overcoming hardships in life.
Emily E. It's a bit rough, and general, but what do you guys think?
Despite the fact the Jane ultimately submits to the conformity of marraige, Charlotte Bronte's biographical novel Jane Eyre demonstrates the opressed Victorian woman through the containment and conformity of the female characters
Courtney, are your 3 points proving Jane Eyre as a Gothic novel? Or are they describing how uncommon Jane was for her time?
Emily E, this sounds really interesting!! There are just some spelling mistakes, you probably caught them when you typed it into Word but watch out for marriage and oppressed.
Mrs. Edwards, I do not understand what you mean by point/counterpoint in my intro. I was just planning on proving how each theme made Jane a feminist character. Is the counterpoint the stereotypical Victorian woman?
In A Portrait of a Lady, written by American Realist Henry James, the portrayal of a hopelessly broken European society is apparent through the thorough, psychological exploration of Mrs. Touchett, Isabel Archer, and Gilbert Osmond.
And duality is a twofold in characteristics. I'm not entirely sure how to explain it, but if I need to explain more I can try.
Here's my rough thesis: Through her classic novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen embodies the Romantic Period through her embracement of individualism and feminism, addresses to misleading moral facades, and varied depictions of marriage.
Skylar, if you wanted to include the duality you could maybe say: apparent through the dual personalities of ... Or maybe replace thorough with complex
Sam, the addresses is throwing me off. I think just misleading moral facades would work.
James Joyce, the revolutionary author of the novel Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, demonstrates his profound leadership in the English Modernist movement through his experimental utilization of stream of consciousness, his emblematic use of symbolism, and his innovative thoughts on traditional religion and society.
Andrea. Excellent. Double wow!! Others could use this as a model.
Skylar. Yes, it is better:)
Others. ELEVATE and strengthen those thesis statements. You have EXCELLENT models on this blog:)
Nicole. I stand by what I said earlier about you...you are a powerhouse! I agree with Skylar, you could have a future as an English teacher. That being said, Skylar could join you in that careerpath;)
Apologies for the brevity of this response. I am having company for dinner. Please keep talking to one another. I wish that Kevin, Emily V., Joe, Jake, and Kelsey would chime in on here. There is power hear for those that participate; when you see one, do one and then teach one...you own the skill. When you help your friends, be HONEST; we all want the same thing here...to be successful:D
Nicole. You are correct about point/counterpoint. That approach demonstrates a multidimensional understanding of topic. You are very skilled and could handle it. That being said, we can talk about it later:D And thanks again for being so giving of your time.
Thanks Nicole, but what I'm trying to say there is how Austen brings attention to how people in society have misleading appearances, so I do not think that would work. I did rephrase it though. Here's my new thesis:
Through her classic novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen embodies the Romantic Period through her embracement of individualism and feminism, concentration on misleading moral facades, and varied depictions of marriage.
I think your topic definitely sounds interesting. Just make sure you can divide it into three different facets of development, like the rubric says. I think you have two, maybe just add one more?
Ok thanks Mrs. Edwards. I did all that and here's my new thesis: Through her classic novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen embodies the Romantic Period through her thematic reflection of individualism and feminism, concentration on misleading moral facades, and varied depictions of marriage.
Sam. My kids are running interference for me... How about thematic illumination... You may need to grace this a little. I thought of illumination because it has a an new/discovery aspect...
So I was considering doing my paper on how different things going on in John Milton's life influenced and inspired his writing, having my paragraphs focus on his early, middle and late life. That way I would be able to connect what I already have from our first assignment about his life and the period to my paper and have it be the basis of my paper. What, then, would be in my thesis? I am just worried about incorporating my novel into this. I feel like it would be about the author but not enough about my book. I would only be talking about my book in one of the paragraphs of my paper, would that be okay?
Also, the website listed on progressbook is wrong. It is not a link and it is off by one letter.. it says 'edwardsthesist2' instead of 'edwardsthesis2'
okay this is wayyy too wordy, but any suggestions?
The defiant author Upton Sinclair epitomizes the American Naturalist movement in his 1904 revolutionary novel The Jungle by dramatizing political and economic corruption, highlighting commonplace, inferior characters, and by emphasizing the powerlessness of the individual to the forces of heredity and environment.
In her compelling Victorian novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë effectively portrays a unique heroine through themes of hardships, women roles, and love.
I revised my thesis how is this: Isabel Allende, a prominent Chilean author, flourished in the Magical Realist movement with her novel House of the Spirits due to her usage of voyeuristic scenes, feministic views, and manipulation of social realities.
kaela - I would elevate the last three points of discussion. Don't just list them, elaborate and look at the other models, like Nicole's, emily v's annie's, and kevin's.
Kaela- I agree with Corie that "hardships" is a little too broad.
Flint- "due to her usage" sounds funny. I would try something like "Isabel Allende, a prominent Chilean author, flourished in the Magical Realist movement with her (adj) novel House of Spirits due to the work's embodiment of voyeurisitc scenes, feminist views, and manipulation of social realities." play with it a little?
thank you very much i appreciate the help brook. here it is:
Isabel Allende, a prominent Chilean author, flourished in the Magical Realist movement with her renowned novel House of Spirits due to the work's embodiment of voyeuristic scenes, feminist views, and manipulation of social realities.
Courtney, to make your thesis clear maybe reword: many themes display how uncommon this protagonist was for her time, including...
Corie, we are supposed to tie in the first part of our project, but a lot of people are including some aspect of the period. Your thesis and should be about your book, not the author and all his/her works like before.
Brooke, I think your thesis sounds really strong. Just some grammar things to consider: maybe lose 1904, commas around The Jungle, and maybe not 2 adjectives in the middle of listing your 3 themes.
Ok here's my thesis, any help is greatly appericated :)
In his canon novel The Portrait of a Lady Henry James exemplifies his prominent role in the Realist movement through his intricate characterization, deviating perspectives, and corruption of European society.
Charlotte Brontë’s Gothic novel Jane Eyre depicts a strong feminist woman who shows the world the truth behind the themes of love, the oppression of women, and hardships in life through her actions and the uncommon voice that Brontë gives her struggling protagonist.
Ariana - put a comma after Lady Also, I am not completely understanding how your author would be showing that he had a huge role in his literary period because of certain devices/aspects of his novel? I could understand, maybe, if he had strong feelings toward something happening during that time period and sought to address that in his work, but I'm not sure if that would tie into how he is a prominent role in the realist movement, or if that has anything to do with what you are aiming for.
Nicole - thanks! I had something for my thesis, then changed it to something that was totally wrong, and am now back to where I started. which is - (without any embellishments or elaborations yet)
In his epic poem Paradise Lost, English Renaissance poet John Milton thoroughly illustrates his theme of the importance of obedience to God through his clever use of symbolism, allusion and imagery.
If anyone can help me think of some good descriptive words to use or has any other advice, it would be greatly appreciated! thanks!
Courtney - I am a little confused with what you are addressing in your paper. The three aspects that you list should go at the end of the thesis. You could start with "In her Gothic novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte cleverly depicts..." leave out the 'and' before hardships and maybe leave out the last part beginning with 'that Bronte.' You could rephrase, saying something like 'hardships in her life and the uncommon voice of the protagonist.' You do not need to say Bronte's protagonist because you already addressed bronte as the author.
Audrey - that is precisely what I am trying to do at the moment! Here is what I have so far:
In his epic poem Paradise Lost, English Renaissance poet John Milton thouroughly illustrates his theme of the importance of obedience to God (and the consequences of disobedience?) through his clever use of _____ symbolism, biblical allegory and descriptive (or picturesque) imagery.
Corie and Brooke thanks for commenting and helping out. Yeah, I was looking for the right adjectives but I wanted to get at least something posted.
Revised, let me know if there is anything else or if this sounds good enough.
In her compelling Victorian novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë effectively portrays a unique heroine through themes of daunting hardships, societal roles of women, and (limitless or desirable?) love.
I'm having trouble coming up with an adjective before love. Any suggestions?
Corie - You might want to have someone double check me but I think you're missing some commas. :/ Haha, I might be completely wrong though. Here's what I think it should be In his epic poem, Paradis Lost, English Renaissance poet, John Milton, thoroughly illustrates...... yadda yadda yadda.
You could use descriptive to describe symbolism and picturesque to describe imagery.
Sorry for posting so late in the evening. Lots of places downtown had free things to do today!! :)
In his exquisite twentieth century masterpiece, East of Eden, American Naturalist John Ernst Steinbeck successfully reflected the theme of determination demonstrated through the perpetual battle of “timshel,” exploration of truth, and the innate fear of rejection imbedded in mankind.
Whooh...just spent like 45 minutes reading this blog...you guys are really outstanding!
After reading everyone's I somewhat have two thesises...word? Not sure.
Anyways, some people are accenting the literary period and some people are accenting theme...is either alright or is there a certain path that I am to be taking?
Christine - I think you can exclude "Ernst." I'm pretty sure he's pretty much known as just John Steinbeck. and say successfully reflects instead of successfully reflected (literary present).you could also say which he demonstrates through his use of....
Jeff- I'm not quite sure if I'm right about this, but I think that either works depending on if you have enough information to support it throughout your paper. The sole purpose of the literary research we did on the author's literary period and background was to get a better understanding of their work. Some people are utilizing this in their paper by accenting it within their thesis. Whichever you decide on, make sure that it stays consistant later on when you write your paper
I've literally spent hours trying to get this thesis because my novel is SO rich that it is hard to get it into focus what I want to/can highlight and how and its been very difficult but I think I found a way to do it, and also managed to basically thoroughly outline my entire essay through this process which is really good!
Might need help with commas, but otherwise:
Through his brilliant masterpiece Never Let Me Go, postmodern literary genius Kazuo Ishiguro highlights the struggles of enduring a preordained fate dictated by society by heartbreakingly employing the motifs of alienation, self-deception and time.
I have a question about something small. The character in my book is called the Underground Man (he doesn't have a name). Can I refer to him as just the Man or do I have to say "Underground" each time? It feels unnecessary to type it all out.
Isabel Allende is a widely known Hispanic author who is a part of the Magic Realism literary movement as represented by House of the Spirits due to extensive use of political critique with emphasis on feminism, hybridity of both setting and character, and voyeuristic and fantastic elements.
ReplyDeleteKelsey. I can see where you are going. However, I think that we can more gracefully begin the thesis... Play with this sentence stem... Hispanic author Isabel Allende's novel House of Spirits exemplifies Magic Realism...
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think, Kelsey? Others? Let's work together:)
AP Thesis Statement Creator:
ReplyDeletehttp://johnmcgarvey.com/apworld/student/thesiscreator.html
Purdue OWL Thesis Advice:
ReplyDeletehttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Thesis Handout:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html
All. Sorry for the multiple posts... I couldn't get them all to "copy" to one posting... This shows you that there are places to go. I have posted three different resources; there are others. The format of each is different. I tried to find a variety. The UNC one is interesting because it shows the development of a literary analysis thesis (Huck Finn). It also helps one evaluate the strength of a thesis. If you have a resource, please post:) Consider making a Delicious account to store all of the websites online; therefore, the sources are available to you at ll times on the net. If you want to do that, just google Delicious accounts. You should find it:)
ReplyDeleteKelsey. Thank YOU for posting first:) I hope that others follow your great example and seek feedback/collaboration:)
All. I tried McGarvey's AP thesis creator, and it does work. Another AP teacher suggested this. It utilizes a point/counterpoint approach. It begins with an "although statement." I like the thinking process that the program demands.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards. Do we need an intro and conclusion to lead into the summaries of criticisms and conclude what they all said in Part 2 like we had to do for Part 1?
ReplyDeleteSo maybe...Hispanic author, Isabel Allende, is an author which exemplifies Magic Realism through her pioneer novel House of the Spirits due to extensive use of political critique with emphasis on feminism, hybridity of both setting and character, and voyeuristic and fantastic elements.
ReplyDeleteKelsey. I think that I understand what you are asking... Model Pt. 2 style wise after what you did for the Annotations; that was the prep for this part. The thesis is better; however, the first part is a bit wordy (author...author). The back end of the thesis could be reworded by changing emphasis to emphasizing and finesse it from there. Does that help?
ReplyDeleteAll. Please consider posting on the blog. According to the stats, this page has had 94 views. We have only one person to contribute:( We ALL benefit the most when we ALL share and comment.
ReplyDeleteBTW... Portrait of a Lady is on channel 274 (DirectTV). I don't know about this version, but the actors are impressive (Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich). I just thought that you might like to see it (those doing Henry James books).
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards, I did not realize there was a new blog, maybe you could a put link to this one on Progressbook to help people.
ReplyDeleteHere's my thesis: In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte departs from the traditional Victorian woman and presents a feminist heroine through the portrayal of religion, love, and hardship.
It is on Progress Book:) ...under links:)
ReplyDeleteNicole. Thesis has good bones. However, do you mean "traditional Victorian stereotypes" or "stereotypical Victorian characters"... Also, adjectives before feminist and one before portrayal may better define your purpose. Your thoughts?
ReplyDeleteCould someone let me know if Progress Book is showing up for you (links and text)? I cannot see the Student View...it will not come up. I see the teacher view only...
ReplyDeleteMs. Edwards -
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of questions regarding the thesis and part two of the research paper. For the thesis can I mix devices and motifs? For example I want to prove that George Orwell's 1984 is a pristine of Dystopian literature through his use of symbolism, allusion, and the motif of absolute control.
Also, for part two of the paper I am a bit confused on which criticisms to use. Should I be using criticisms that specifically talk about 1984 to support my thesis or should I be using critiques about his other works that parallel the ideas within my thesis?
P.S. The link is on Progress Book
Joe. Thanks ever so for letting me know about Progress Book...it has been acting strangely since the switch of semesters..grrrr!
ReplyDeleteNow, how about putting the motif idea further to the front of the thesis and let the devices play a secondary role? Remember the model that we used in 10th grade...theme was explored through devices? How about playing with that model and using motif?
Second part of your question: See Kelsey's answer further up in the blog. The annotation assignment helps you plan for the second part. use what you did there as a model.
Does this help?
Ms. Edwards -
ReplyDeleteThank you for the help on the thesis. I am sorry but I am still confused on part two of the paper.
I understand the annotations are suppose to be used a spring board for part two, but in reading the rubric it says each critique needs to relate to the thesis in part three. I thought part two was about the author's work as a whole and not the specific novel we read. So should I be expanding criticisms about Orwell's work as a whole or 1984 specifically?
All: Things to watch for in Part 2.
ReplyDelete1. Too long. Think summary and NOT retelling. Look for 2-3 main pushes in your article.
2. Sources that are not collegiate level sources.
3. Updated MLA style (use planner). People, it is EASIER than what is in Writers Inc.
4. Formal voice.
5. Rich, varied sentence structure and high vocabulary.
6. Title attributions. Watch this in the writing, but also in your citations. Cincy Public Library does not always do that part for you.
7. Maintain a BROAD focus.
Hope this helps:)
Joe. I see what you mean now. If they all relate to the author or period, then you should be good. Some people were off in left field with some current event types of articles; those DO NOT relate. Therefore, that part of the directions may pertain less to you than to those people that were off base. Does that make sense??
ReplyDeleteSorry about not finding the link, I thought the old blog was linked on PB but now I see the new one..
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you! I forgot about adjectives and stereotypical Victorian woman is what I'm going for.
Nicole. NP:) like I said, Progress Book has been taken over by gremlins lately:) Per your excellent suggestion, I put the link in the text as well. TY!!
ReplyDeleteNow, question... do you mean "woman" as in woman of the period or "author"? Just checking;)
Joe. Thinking more about your thesis and the motif idea as the main push...Perhaps you want a thematic aspect up front and the motif as a way of delivering that theme. Your thoughts:)
Thanks for telling us about The Portrait of a Lady movie! I don't have Direct TV, but maybe I'll watch it at some point.
ReplyDeleteHere is the rough draft of my thesis.
In his nineteenth century novel, The Portrait of a Lady, Henry James effectively exemplifies American Realism through his use of complex characterization, depictions of contrasting social classes and cultures, and exploration of women’s societal roles.
Emily. YOU ROCK! Excellent thesis! Maybe you Jamesian types can watch it on Netflix. Pop some popcorn:D
ReplyDeleteThanks Mrs. Edwards :) Maybe the four of us doing this novel will get together and watch it.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteI was reading through these posts and I was wondering if you could clarify something for me. For part 2, we need an intro and conclusion and the sources should be about his work as a whole not simply what is in the thesis? I'm sure you have answered these I am just a little confused
Emily. What a nice thought!
ReplyDeleteAll. Emily has a good thesis. It is direct and focused. Her approach is a "mastery" learner approach... very factual and 1-2-3 in construction. (Excuse the teacherspeak) That being said, it is not the only way of constructing a thesis. Notice Nicole's thesis; it has a point counterpoint feel to it (ala the McGarvey Thesis Method, mentioned above). NICOLE, once you nail it down, put it on the blog. Varied approach is always good.
Kevin. Thanks for asking:) I think that you are still thinking of the first assignment as "one thing." Part 1 stands alone as an investigation of author and period. Part 2 uses an "abstract" (as in writing an abstract) approach. After we revise this assignment and add the rest of the summaries we will rename it ABSTRACTS. You planned for Part 2 during the first assignment by doing the annotations. By doing it this way, we can glean our BEST articles and weed out the weaker ones. Also, it helps you practice formal voice and evaluation. Does this help??
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteSo I can use any of the articles collected from the annotations as long as they pertain to my thesis? That does make more sense now. Also, I have a rough draft of my thesis:
In his masterpiece The Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad exemplifies the Modernist period of literature through his use of recalcitrant writing style, morose themes, and anxiety and ambiguity concerning traditional societal institutions or beliefs.
Kevin. Yes, PLEASE use some (or all) of your annotation articles. Your work should work for you:) By doing the annotations, you can now judge your approach to abstracts and choose the best of the best for Part 2.
ReplyDeleteYour thesis is awesome! I love the order and word choice...just beautiful. Your vocabulary is elevated and direct. Well done. BTW...like Emily's, it is also a mastery learner approach, just a little more artsy:D I do think you need a comma before concerning...
All. Watch your titles. I know that the blog does not allow for italics...just don't forget:)
Ms. Edwards -
ReplyDeleteSo if I changed my thesis to:
George Orwell uses his dystopian novel 1984 as a cautionary tale for the dangers of tolalitarianism through the motif of absolute control, and the use of symbolism and allusion.
Mrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteThanks I appreciate that. I will put the title in italics and will add that comma
Joe. I think that you are 95% there... reword the front part. I think there is room to make it more direct. Play with this sentence stem...
ReplyDeleteGeorge Orwell's dystopian masterpiece 1984...
All: Suggestions??
Ms. Edwards -
ReplyDeleteSorry to bring up my question again, but I just became very confused once again on part 2. Do I need to make my thesis fit with my annonations or my annotations fit with my thesis? Either way I feel like I need to start over because I believe my critiques and thesis do not fit well together.
Joe. NP. Ask yourself this question...
ReplyDeleteDo my collegiate level articles convey a statement on author and/or period? If the answer is yes, then you are fine.
Your thesis obviously conveys a statement on author and purpose. Why do you feel that it does not relate to the abstract portion? Maybe you are over thinking this??
How about: George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece 1984 vividly depicts the dangers of totalitarianism through the motif of absolute control, as well as the use of symbolism and allusion.
ReplyDeleteThat's just how I would try it I don't know if that's what you're looking for or not
All. Could someone reflect on the connection between the abstract (Pt.2) portion and the thesis? Show me that you see the connection.
ReplyDeleteKevin. Good suggestion. He could explore the idea of cautionary tale later in the body of the paper. Joe, how do you feel about this suggestion? Does it reflect the direction that you see your paper going?
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteI'm confused on how to format Part 2 of this paper. Should it be like a numbered list of summaries of literary criticisms, or more like a short essay with an intro and conclusion?
Joe. What about "George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece 1984 serves as a cautionary tale for the dangers of totalitarian control through the motif of absolute control, inclusion of symbolism, and use of allusion"? I like Kevin's a lot too, but if you want to keep the cautionary tale part in there, something like this could work.
ReplyDeleteEmily. Use the format that we started with the annotations. Build from that. If you want to go ahead and label it Abstracts, that would be fine. That is what it will become later. I want your work to work for you.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteThanks! So you are saying that we should format it something like the annotated bibliography, with the citation before our commentary?
I think that the connection between the abstract and the thesis is that the criticisms should reflect aspects of your thesis, but do not necessarily have to be specifically about your chosen novel. I could be wrong about that but that's how I am understanding this assignment
ReplyDeleteKevin. BINGO!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I started my first summary and was wondering if I'm on the right track. This is just for one of the main "pushes" of the article:
ReplyDeleteWidmer Kingsley is a contributor to the British Novelists encyclopedia, and he published a review of Joseph Conrad’s career as a whole, focusing on several of his more critically acclaimed novels to exemplify his writing style, anti-societal sentiments, and modernist themes. Conrad followed the traditional Modernist ideology of writing in a unique and personalized style that conveyed the themes that he was attempting to incorporate into his works. Much of his work contained an “oddity of style, especially a high-flown rhetoric of considerable redundancy,” (Widmer) that distinguished it from other fictions of the time period. Widmer emphasizes the fact that Conrad uses this style to convey his ominous tone through ironic reflectiveness when he states, “the lushness of the exotic materials is heightened by an often ornate descriptive style, strong in portentous atmospheric detailing. This suggests a Westerner's anxieties with the threatening tropical jungles and the alien native psyches, as well as the moral ambiguities of colonialism.” Conrad utilizes his unorthodox writing style to heighten many of his themes as well as evoke a sense of anxiety in the reader.
Kevin. Well done. What I like about your submission is that is is succinct, yet rich in information. You also credential your source. Your style is collegiate and well articulated.
ReplyDeleteKevin. I don't think that you need the parenthetical citation since it is known that you are speaking to the article specifically; your reader knows that the quote comes from the article. I know that you were just trying to be careful:)
ReplyDeleteMrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteThanks I will use that as a model for the other pushes and the rest of my sources
My articles do convey a statement on the author or his works. But they do not talk about all of the facets of my thesis.
ReplyDeleteI have one critique that discusses allusion in Animal Farm which is similar to the allusion used in 1984 (Stalin/Hitler). So I have one connection with the allusion part of my thesis.
My other critiques though do not discuss Orwell's use of symbolism or motif of absolute control what so ever. So should I go out and find critiques that discusses these in general?
All. I have to do some laundry. Will check in later:) This is a GREAT conversation... keep it going:)
ReplyDeleteJoe,
ReplyDeletefrom what I've gathered through these posts I would try to find articles relating to your thesis, but I would double check with Mrs. Edwards before doing all of that extra work.
Mrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteHere is the rest of my first summary, I was wondering if you had any comments or suggestions before I move on:
Along with commenting on his dissident style, Kingsley also discusses Conrad’s use of anti-societal sentiments. By stating that, “in his best ideological melodramas it is often exemplary the way the nihilist triumphs over the ostensible antinihilist,” Widmer is recognizing Conrad as a skeptic. He is saying that Conrad’s sense of skepticism regarding human “civilization” is often unmistakable and heightens the anxiety experienced when reading his literature. Through the use of unconventional writing style and a skeptic outlook on human institutions, Kingsley has explored how Conrad is exemplary of the Modernist style of writing.
Along with exploring how the themes of Modernism are conveyed by Conrad, Kingsley also discusses what themes he conveys through his works. Commenting on the underlying theme present in all of Conrad’s works, Kingsley states, “the lush rhetoric seems appropriate to the broad theme of the Malayan fictions: the destructiveness of debased romantic idealism in weak colonialist characters in an alien environment.” He is relating that Conrad uses his characters and their surroundings to express his theme of the destructiveness of modern society and its detrimental ideologies. To give a specific example of this, Kingsley explores how Conrad achieves the portrayal of a selfish society through The Heart of Darkness. “Colonialism is mostly "robbery with violence" of those "who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses," and, says Marlow, the viciousness of colonization of other peoples can be redeemed only by an unselfish dedication to a larger "idea."’ In the novel, a trading company blatantly exploits the natives of Africa, enslaving them and forcing animalistic conditions upon them. Kingsley is stating that Conrad uses this facet of society to represent the greed and misguided morals prevalent in the society as a whole. Widmer Kingsley provides an excellent critical analysis of Joseph Conrad’s works by focusing on several aspects of Modernist literature in which Conrad excels.
Joe. Look for continuity. Are there "threads" that connect the various viewpoints. I do not have the articles in front of me, so this is your call. That being said, the buzz word of the second section is "broad." You narrow your focus, synching the sources with your focus, as reflected in your thesis. Could it be that you are thinking ahead to the third section (literary analysis) when you say that your articles do not relate? Think about this.
ReplyDeleteKevin. It looks good:) I hope that you do not mind if I use your submission as a point of discussion for others:
ReplyDeleteGood stuff:
1. Formal voice.
2. Elevated vocabulary and sentence structure.
3. Appropriate present tense.
4. Succinct.
5. Focused ideas
6. Organization is fluid
Overall, well done:) Thanks, Kevin!
Thanks Mrs. Edwards
ReplyDeleteAll: Other areas to be aware of when writing a formal piece:
ReplyDelete1. Watch the "stringing together of pronouns." A handful of people had a problem with this. Remind your reader of your subject. You may know who "he" is...an abundance of he...him...his... and your reader says, "Who?"
2. When you proofread, see if you can elevate your vocabulary by exchanging two weak words for one strong one. This will also help you to become succinct. Adopt an elevated formal voice:)
3. Watch those personal pronouns (I, me, my, we...) and the contractions. These are rookie mistakes. We should not be doing this! Dr. Lofty hates that!
4. Do not address your author by first name. You are not on a first name basis with your author! Use last name.
Mrs. Edwards,
ReplyDeleteI know book titles go in italics, how do I denote magazine or encyclopedia titles?
Kevin. Here is a style sheet:
ReplyDeletehttp://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/punctuating_titles_chart.pdf
Okay...so for the format...
ReplyDelete1. The thesis goes first?
2. Before each summary, we put the citation?
Here is my finished thesis: Innovative Hispanic author, Isabel Allende, is one who comprehensively exemplifies the Magical Realism movement through the use of voyeurism and fantastical elements, hybridity of setting and character, and political critique emphasizing feminism through her pioneer novel House of the Spirits.
Ok I will check that link thanks Mrs. Edwards
ReplyDeleteKelsey. Do you like this thesis better? It IS better. Notice the difference in flow and articulation. You did a good job reworking this! Congrats:)!!! Add a comma before the word emphasizing;) Italics for the title.
ReplyDeleteUse the format from the annotations task. You could go ahead and title this section Abstracts; that is what is will evolve into eventually. That way it will be more useable. Put last name and page number on each page.
You can put the thesis after the title. We will formalize form later:)
Kelsey. One more thing... I know what you mean by "fantastical," but wonder if you mean elements of fantasy... Look it up and make sure... Keep it if it works with your plan.
ReplyDeleteAll. You may consider saving that stye sheet link to a Delicious account. That way it is always at your fingertips:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help, Mrs. Edwards. :) I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteMs. Edwards -
ReplyDeleteIf my annotations tie back into my main theme of the dangers of totalitarinism, as stated in my thesis, is that ok for part two and will part three then cover my devices and motifs?
If I clear this up I think I will be fine : )
Kelsey. You are most welcome:) Thank you for caring about your work!
ReplyDeleteJoe. If I understand you correctly, I would say that you are doing fine. You have found the "thread" that connects the information. In part three, you will narrow your focus; this may demand that you seek out other sources to delve more deeply into the literary aspects. many students will be doing just that; it is natural to this process. Does that help?
I have another question. For the statement of comparison in the summaries, how would I work that in? Would I just say, "to be discussed in this essay" or "as noted in the thesis statement"? I'm not quite sure where to go with that one.
ReplyDeleteYES! I now see the common thread you were getting at and I already have a majority of my critiques for part three that will focus upon 1984 and the facets of my thesis.
ReplyDeleteAlso, here is my final thesis:
George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece 1984 vividly depicts the dangers of totalitarianism through the motif of absolute control, inclusion of symbolism, and use of allusion.
Thank you Kevin, Emily, and Ms. Edwards! : )
Now let me put down my rough thesis...
ReplyDeleteIn his groundbreaking novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens expands and exemplifies Gothic Romantisim through use of foil between corrupt and idealized characters, depiction of a dark and brutal historical event, and integration of universal themes.
I know my title is not in italics but that is typed on an iPod... So I can't manage to do italics.
Mrs. Edwards, I meant that Jane departs from the Victorian stereotype, not the author. (although this is semi-autobiographical so it could be interpreted that Charlotte Bronte is departing herself)
ReplyDeleteThis is my revised thesis:
In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte departs from the stereotypical Victorian woman with her presentation of a compelling feminist heroine through the unorthodox portrayal of religion, love, and hardship.
Here is the first look at my thesis:
ReplyDeleteThe prominent Chilean author, Isabel Allende, through the masterful use of Magical Realism, voyeuristic scenes, feministic views and stances, and manipulation of cultural and social realities, created a literary masterpiece, The House of the Spirits.
Jake. I sort of see where you are headed. However, the following aspects of the thesis confuse me:
ReplyDelete1. "expands and exemplifies" I don't get that... look at some of the other student examples above and try to find a more direct intro to the thesis.
2. "integration of universal theme." I would say choose one of them and let that drive your thesis.
3. I hear the idea of duality being alluded to in the first two exploration points; perhaps confront that directly in relation to a theme...
Have you looked at some of the links posted earlier? I thnk you have ideas but need to order them. Perhaps using the thesis creator would help you with structure.
Flint. Your topic and your thesis is very close to kelsey's. Look back at her posts and see if that helps. Areas to rework:
ReplyDelete1. "masterful use of" Rework that structure. I think the word "use" is troublesome.
2. The weight of aspects is off. I would say that you need to choose a theme as an overarching. binding aspect and then determine three facets to explore.
3. "created a literary masterpiece" It does not have flow.
Look at the previous posts, especially kelsey's posts. She honed that thesis well. Just make sure that your thesis reflects your own personal voice:) Also, look at the links. It may help you with ordering your ideas and the weighting of the facets:)
Flint. oops! Your topic and your thesis ARE not is...LOL. You caught me pre coffee:) I better go and get a BIG cup before I do any more responses...
ReplyDeleteNicole. I like this thesis better, don't you?:) The only addition that I would suggest is an adjective before novel. It would add a little finesse and personality. That being said, make sure that you adopt a point/counterpoint approach to your intro. You will need to elaborate on that a bit in order to get what you need from the thesis later in the paper. I anticipate this type of discussion in relation to the three facets of exploration. Is that what you had in mind?
ReplyDeleteHere is my thesis :)
ReplyDeleteThomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Ubervilles is an assertion of his Victorian moral compass that explores and criticizes themes such as the divide between social classes, currency’s dominance over mankind, and man’s proprietorship of woman.
Joe. Epiphany! Good work! The thesis is better; it is more fluid in respect to construction. My suggestion would be to add adjectives before the final two exploration points. Also, you may want a different word for "inclusion" and a different word for "use." My eye keeps going there. Think of different words.
ReplyDeleteNatalie. Good morning:) We may be the only two people from class that are awake:) Tell me a little about "moral compass." I anticipate that you will discuss this in the intro and the thesis will make sense in light of that. I am anticipating a build/reveal sort of construction in the intro. Am I right?
ReplyDeleteAreas that I would rework:
1. "criticizes themes such as" That part is a bit wordy.
2. The points of exploration could be articulated in a more direct way. For example "currency's domination over mankind" could be better said as glorification of materialism. Does that make sense??
Look back at the other thesis statements (Emily and Kevin specifically). I think you may be headed in that direction for construction...
Yes :) The Victorian period was full of novels that had a moral purpose and i want to explain how Tess is one of them. Thanks! I will work on it.
ReplyDeleteNew thesis:
ReplyDeleteThe fatalistic novel, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, is an assertion of Thomas Hardy’s Victorian moral compass which explores and criticizes the divide between social classes, glorification of materialism, and man’s proprietorship of woman
Natalie. Look at the difference between what you first wrote and this one. Do you see how much more fluid and direct this one is? Also, it has a more confident tone. Now, make sure that you explore a point/counterpoint approach (like Nicole) in the intro. The thesis will be the fruition of this articulation. Also, you may continue that approach when you explore your facets within your paper.
ReplyDeleteYes, I like this one much better. I have a question about the abstracts. One of my critical essays discusses Hardy's poetry but it has a few paragraphs that relate to my thesis. Is this okay to have and when I summarize it, do I summarize the parts that don't apply to my thesis or just what does apply?
ReplyDeleteIn his groundbreaking novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens exemplifies the conflict between good and evil through use of foil between corrupt and idealized characters, depiction of dark and brutal historical events, and emphasis on redemptive themes.
ReplyDeleteJake. Reread the thesis. I feel that the articulation is backwards. Shouldn't the thematic be the driver and the devices be the passengers? Your thoughts?
ReplyDeleteAll: suggestions??
Natalie. Yes, it is part of the "threads" that you have discovered in relation to Hardy's work. Reread Joe's postings. He struggled with this and had an epiphany last night:) See if that helps.
ReplyDeleteokay, "the conflict between good and evil" is the overall theme of the novel and many of Dickens' novels. If i changed "emphasis on redemptive themes" to "emphasis on redemption" would that clear ambiguity on what is the theme and what are the devices associated with that theme?
ReplyDeleteJake. The way I see it, here is a rough outline of your thesis:
ReplyDeleteI. Theme "redemption" ??
a. device- characterization (foil)
b. device- setting
I am NOT clear on where conflict plays in here. Look up the term "duality" and see if this helps. The dual nature of man and of circumstance is often explored in this period. The restrictive nature of Victorian values and the imbedded hypocrisy were often "outed" by writers of the day.
Here's one of my summaries:
ReplyDeleteAccording to George Perkins, Henry James has a particular theme, type of narration, specific characterization that is unique about him. His international theme explores the interaction between opposite sides of the Atlantic, which usually leads to problems throughout the novel. Also, James uses partial perspectives so that the reader’s own personal life story may change his or her view of the situation at hand.
The protagonists of this American Realists books often have similar lives and difficulties. James explores whether or not the man made social boundaries are good or bad. He compromises by revealing through his characters that social accommodation through the protection of social framework can coexist with perfect freedom and equality, which can only be found by looking beyond the limits of class. Also, for his tragic characters, in many of his novels the main character realizes to truth about a situation or person, but the anagnorisis comes too late and causes the character to live with the consequences. In short, although each of Henry Jame’s novels is intricate, one can find similarities in themes and characters that can help the reader better understand the plot.
And here's my thesis:
In A Portrait of a Lady, written by American Realist Henry James, the idea of a broken European society is apparent through the intricate depictions of Mrs. Touchett, Isabel Archer, and Gilbert Osmond.
Could you please give give any pointers? Thank you!
I think I was closer on my first try with stating that the novel emphasized Gothic Romance through
ReplyDeletea. device- characterization (foil)
b. device- setting
c. ?? device- duality in circumstance
Skylar: Watch your pronouns in the second paragraph. remind your reader of subject. The thesis is good but could be improved by the introduction of "psychological exploration/investigation" in relation to characterization, obviously your focus by virtue of your articulation, and it is inherent in Jamesian literature. Also, finesse the front part a little more by adding an adjective/adjective phrase before the title.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Skylar, I know that you know what I mean about duality. Read my responses to Jake and see if what I am saying makes sense in regard to his thesis. It is early. I am not sure if I am explaining it well. TY:)
Jake. Gothic Romanticism? Is that what you mean? Sorry, just trying to make sure I KNOW that you understand this. Setting can speak to time and place; therefore b. and c. go together.
ReplyDeleteJake. What about the phrase "the inherent duality of the Dark Romantic perspective" as a way to work in conflict and the natural outcropping of light/dark existence in nature (a focus for the Dark Romantics).
ReplyDeleteYes, but Gothic Romanticism took place during Victorian times so there are blending of elements. I think I have two aspects down, the last is just difficult. There are reoccurring aspects and an emphasis with duality in reference to dying (dying for redemption, killing for redemption) which could contribute to my assessment that A Tale of Two Cities exemplifies the VIctorian-based Gothic Romantic writing movement. I do not know if that can be my last aspect, having duality in reference to dying.
ReplyDeletejake: Romanticism includes the following divisions: Light Romantics/Transcendentalism and Dark Romantics/Gothics. They both find truth in nature. The Dark Romantics that sometimes this truth reveals a darker aspect of humanity and the natural world. Yes, the last aspect is troublesome... Does the above information spur any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteIn his groundbreaking novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens exemplifies the inherent duality of the Dark Romantic perspective through use of foil between corrupt and idealized characters, depiction of dark and brutal historical events, and commentary on the issue of death.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the last part, too vague?
Jake. idea... what about breaking out characterization into an exploration of internal and external conflict? What do you think?
ReplyDeleteFor the last part? That can work in reference to Dr. Manette as external pressure causes his relapses into his fits of shoe-making. Also with Carton as external forces cause him to choose to sacrifice himself... Is that the type of idea you are discussing for the final aspect of the thesis?
ReplyDeleteJake. Okay... Rework the articulation on characterization and reflect internal/external conflict via use of foils. Lose the last part of the thesis, as it can be explored within the stated focal points. Is this true to your vision for your paper?
ReplyDeleteOkay. So
ReplyDeletea: Dark setting
b: Internal conflict
c: External conflict
conflicts evidenced by foil?
I see you points, I am just trying to find a way to organize into three distinct parts of my thesis.
Jake. Pull from your knowledge base relating to the Gothic/Dark Romantic period. I'm not sure how deeply this was discussed in Brit Lit, given that it was only one semester. Try to remember back to Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville. If you do that, you will be able to deliver on the paper. Limiting the focus to setting and characterization calls for a deep discussion on the finer points of Gothic perspective, relating to both focal points. For weight, you could break the setting discussion down further into time and place. A thesis is broad. There is no need to give all of the supporting discussion within the thesis. For instance, you will discuss the foil usage in the character discussion. It is support. Does that help??
ReplyDeleteYes, I do think we are looking too deep into the gothic side of Dickens. Dickens was gothic in a sense, but he was also victorian in writing style (idealized characters against corrupt, good vs. evil with good winning in the end) he was a blend and not as dark as a poe or melville. He does have dark elements to his work but they are mostly there to contrast the ideal in Dickens' eyes. His themes are Victorian and he has elements of Victorian, but with gothic elements as well. His uniqueness is what is causing me not to jump on board with an absolute focus on darkness.
ReplyDeleteJake. yes, he actually falls into the Realist period. However, I go the sense that you were going for the influence of Gothic perspective. Okay, I see where you are coming from now...
ReplyDeletejake. How about this as a starting point?
ReplyDeleteIn his quest for social reform, Realist author Charles Dickens investigates the duality of the human condition through characterization and setting.
How about I focus on how A Tale of Two Cities expanded Dickens as a writer as he
ReplyDeleteA: Wrote about a bloody historical event (he was not a historical style of writer and there are arguments on his legitimacy of writing the novel)
B: masterful use of foil in reference to ideal and corrupt (he did masterfully depict character as is normal with Dickens' case)
C: Continuation of themes from past novels (Mind that this is about the ability of Dickens to CONTINUE themes from past novels and progress those ideals as an author, its not based solely on the themes that you were concerned would detract from the main theme.)
Those topics are mostly what my articles are about so that why I'm leaning to those ideas.
ReplyDeleteJake. This is what I am playing with right now. Your thoughts??
ReplyDeleteIn his quest for social form, Realist author Charles Dickens investigates the duality of the human condition through the foil characterization and ______ setting of his novel Tale of Two Cities, utilizing eloquent diction and __________ descriptive language.
Jake. yes, I can see where your push is coming from now.
ReplyDeletejake. What about ________ historical setting.... That might pull in the discussion from point A. Is it fair to say that the continued themes are in relation to social reform?
ReplyDeleteThat is a better start, I am sorry for jumping around but Dickens work and life itself can be analyzed and processed in so many ways. My only concern with your postulated thesis is that it only states two aspects, as three is necessary for well rounded answers.
ReplyDeleteJake. No worries:) I think that you could approach it from the two perspectives. This will call for an almost mathematical construction within the paper and an organized thesis will reveal it. You can get the mileage needed for the paper if you go deep. That is why I added two devices. You may not like those devices, and that is fine:) Go with what you feel/observe and your result will be a good one:) If you break the two discussions down and go deep, you should be fine:) VOLUMES have been written about his character development alone; that being said, you should be able to get enough mileage out of the two (if you go deep and organize). Dickens is an extraordinary craftsman for the very reasons that you have stated. I just want to make sure that I am helping you with your vision for your paper:) I hope that this helps:)!!
ReplyDeletehow about "foil characterization, execrable historical implications, and sullen settings" for my three points. Historical implications takes different precedent from setting as the Revolution and what it stands for is debatable, but since Dickens characterized the Revoultion as a evil and unspeakable movement instead of one that should be celebrated, he is actually making a statement on all quests for redemption and freedom. The historical implications progress his overall theme for social change. Confusing, but thats just because I am writing off the top of my head.
ReplyDeletejake:) LOL! I know how you feel. Talking Dickens before lunchtime should not be allowed!! HAHA:) Post your entire thesis and let's see how it looks. I am excited to see the final product!
ReplyDeleteJake. How do you feel about allusion (historical implications)? Does that work with your vision? That would assuage your concern about three focal points.
ReplyDeleteIn his quest for social form, Realist author Charles Dickens investigates the duality of the human condition through the foil characterization, execrable historical implications, and lurid setting of his novel A Tale of Two Cities, utilizing eloquent diction and potent language.
ReplyDeleteSorry for using a lot of your thesis... but it was just to good to pass up.
I think allusion can be mentioned in the historical implications, as allusion of the Revolution to another event by Dickens' could be a discussion point. "Implications" brings a connotation of discussion and argument by other historical experts and authors.
ReplyDeletejake. This is looking great:D Reflect of the idea of "allusion" (see previous post), and consider changing potent language, as it is a bit redundant considering diction incorporates the idea. What about sensory detail (gives the reader a you are there feeling, furthering the didactic purpose of social reform. Just an idea:) That being said...KUDOS to you for working so hard on your thesis:D You have a great work ethic!
ReplyDeletejake. No worries about using the words that WE came up with! Seriously, all I did was help you order your thoughts:) You take the credit:D
ReplyDeleteAll. I have a kinda busy day ahead... Dog to the vet...yadda....yadda...yadda. Please continue talking with one another. I will try and check in later.
ReplyDeleteHere is my first draft of my thesis:
ReplyDeleteToni Morrison's highly acclaimed The Bluest Eye gives a realistic portrayal of beauty as seen by black girls in the 1940's via the aspects of race, the stipulation that white is beautiful and how blue eyes could make anyone beautiful.
Help would be great :)
Here's my thesis:
ReplyDeleteThomas Hardy's multifarious characters, remarkable relatability, and exclusive writing style exemplify Tess of the d'Urbervilles as a prime product of Victorian Age literature.
I can't decide which adjective better describes characters... multifarious or multifaceted? Does anyone have any thoughts?
Alison. The thesis needs a good deal of work. Look over the various models that have been posted. Notice the construction and elevated diction. You may want to look at some of the websites listed earlier on the blog and refine your approach to this task. It is imperative that your thesis have depth and dimension.
ReplyDeleteRachel. I think multifaceted is better. Also, I think that you may want a descriptive phrase relating to author to better grace the front end of the thesis. Consider introducing him via his literary period. That being said, you seem to be going toward a three tiered discussion, the first being characterization. The other two are a little less clear to me. I am also concerned about those two aspects providing you with enough latitude for a collegiate level, literary based discussion. Look at the other models and you will see a difference.
ReplyDeleteAll. Before you post your thesis statements, look over the previous discussions. Compare what you have to what others have already done. Look at the level of discussion, as well as the construction . USE the websites!!
ReplyDeleteI cannot be as big a presence as I was earlier on the blog. I have some other family obligations to attend to. I will try to check in when I can:) I really hope that you talk to each other, especially those of you that posted earlier. Talk with those that are posting now.
In one of Charlotte Brontë’s best known Gothic novels, Jane Eyre, the uncommon feminine protagonist displays many themes including those of love, a woman’s role in society, and overcoming hardships in life.
ReplyDeleteEmily E.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit rough, and general, but what do you guys think?
Despite the fact the Jane ultimately submits to the conformity of marraige, Charlotte Bronte's biographical novel Jane Eyre demonstrates the opressed Victorian woman through the containment and conformity of the female characters
Courtney, are your 3 points proving Jane Eyre as a Gothic novel? Or are they describing how uncommon Jane was for her time?
ReplyDeleteEmily E, this sounds really interesting!! There are just some spelling mistakes, you probably caught them when you typed it into Word but watch out for marriage and oppressed.
Mrs. Edwards, I do not understand what you mean by point/counterpoint in my intro. I was just planning on proving how each theme made Jane a feminist character. Is the counterpoint the stereotypical Victorian woman?
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Is this better?
ReplyDeleteIn A Portrait of a Lady, written by American Realist Henry James, the portrayal of a hopelessly broken European society is apparent through the thorough, psychological exploration of Mrs. Touchett, Isabel Archer, and Gilbert Osmond.
And duality is a twofold in characteristics. I'm not entirely sure how to explain it, but if I need to explain more I can try.
Here's my rough thesis:
ReplyDeleteThrough her classic novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen embodies the Romantic Period through her embracement of individualism and feminism, addresses to misleading moral facades, and varied depictions of marriage.
What do you all think?
Skylar, if you wanted to include the duality you could maybe say: apparent through the dual personalities of ... Or maybe replace thorough with complex
ReplyDeleteSam, the addresses is throwing me off. I think just misleading moral facades would work.
I want to show how uncommon Jane was for her time
ReplyDeleteNicole, thank you :) And have you considered being an english teacher? You would be awesome at it! Just a thought of mine...
ReplyDeleteJames Joyce, the revolutionary author of the novel Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, demonstrates his profound leadership in the English Modernist movement through his experimental utilization of stream of consciousness, his emblematic use of symbolism, and his innovative thoughts on traditional religion and society.
ReplyDeletewhat do you think?
Andrea. Excellent. Double wow!! Others could use this as a model.
ReplyDeleteSkylar. Yes, it is better:)
Others. ELEVATE and strengthen those thesis statements. You have EXCELLENT models on this blog:)
Nicole. I stand by what I said earlier about you...you are a powerhouse! I agree with Skylar, you could have a future as an English teacher. That being said, Skylar could join you in that careerpath;)
Apologies for the brevity of this response. I am having company for dinner. Please keep talking to one another. I wish that Kevin, Emily V., Joe, Jake, and Kelsey would chime in on here. There is power hear for those that participate; when you see one, do one and then teach one...you own the skill. When you help your friends, be HONEST; we all want the same thing here...to be successful:D
Nicole. You are correct about point/counterpoint. That approach demonstrates a multidimensional understanding of topic. You are very skilled and could handle it. That being said, we can talk about it later:D And thanks again for being so giving of your time.
ReplyDeleteand I reread my comment. Yep, it's here not hear....yikes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nicole, but what I'm trying to say there is how Austen brings attention to how people in society have misleading appearances, so I do not think that would work. I did rephrase it though. Here's my new thesis:
ReplyDeleteThrough her classic novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen embodies the Romantic Period through her embracement of individualism and feminism, concentration on misleading moral facades, and varied depictions of marriage.
Sam. Rethink embracement and put thematic in front of the revision.
ReplyDeleteGuests are due to arrive at 6:30. I will be here until then.
ReplyDeleteNews is on. Big snow coming on Thursday...5 inches. Hooray??? OMG, sick of snow.
ReplyDeleteI have ten minutes. Ask me something...
ReplyDeleteEmily E-
ReplyDeleteI think your topic definitely sounds interesting. Just make sure you can divide it into three different facets of development, like the rubric says. I think you have two, maybe just add one more?
Emily V. THANKS for being here:)
ReplyDeleteUntil the doorbell rings...you guys have me:)
ReplyDeleteOk thanks Mrs. Edwards. I did all that and here's my new thesis:
ReplyDeleteThrough her classic novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen embodies the Romantic Period through her thematic reflection of individualism and feminism, concentration on misleading moral facades, and varied depictions of marriage.
Sam. My kids are running interference for me... How about thematic illumination... You may need to grace this a little. I thought of illumination because it has a an new/discovery aspect...
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have to go for now. Please continue to share and talk...
ReplyDeletesam. rework "through...through"...it repeats. OK...now really gotta go.
ReplyDeleteSo I was considering doing my paper on how different things going on in John Milton's life influenced and inspired his writing, having my paragraphs focus on his early, middle and late life. That way I would be able to connect what I already have from our first assignment about his life and the period to my paper and have it be the basis of my paper. What, then, would be in my thesis? I am just worried about incorporating my novel into this. I feel like it would be about the author but not enough about my book. I would only be talking about my book in one of the paragraphs of my paper, would that be okay?
ReplyDeleteAlso, the website listed on progressbook is wrong. It is not a link and it is off by one letter.. it says 'edwardsthesist2' instead of 'edwardsthesis2'
Ok Mrs. Edwards, I will make sure to look both using illumination and fixing that repeat. Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteokay this is wayyy too wordy, but any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteThe defiant author Upton Sinclair epitomizes the American Naturalist movement in his 1904 revolutionary novel The Jungle by dramatizing political and economic corruption, highlighting commonplace, inferior characters, and by emphasizing the powerlessness of the individual to the forces of heredity and environment.
I'm still working on it.
ReplyDeleteHere's my thesis though:
In her compelling Victorian novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë effectively portrays a unique heroine through themes of hardships, women roles, and love.
I revised my thesis how is this:
ReplyDeleteIsabel Allende, a prominent Chilean author, flourished in the Magical Realist movement with her novel House of the Spirits due to her usage of voyeuristic scenes, feministic views, and manipulation of social realities.
kaela - I would elevate the last three points of discussion. Don't just list them, elaborate and look at the other models, like Nicole's, emily v's annie's, and kevin's.
ReplyDeleteKaela- I agree with Corie that "hardships" is a little too broad.
ReplyDeleteFlint- "due to her usage" sounds funny. I would try something like "Isabel Allende, a prominent Chilean author, flourished in the Magical Realist movement with her (adj) novel House of Spirits due to the work's embodiment of voyeurisitc scenes, feminist views, and manipulation of social realities." play with it a little?
so back to the format..
ReplyDeletei know that we can put the title as "Abstracts," followed by the thesis and the citations/summaries, but do I need to put:
Brooke Jeffery
Ms. Edwards
AP English 12
17 January 2011
at the top?
thank you very much i appreciate the help brook. here it is:
ReplyDeleteIsabel Allende, a prominent Chilean author, flourished in the Magical Realist movement with her renowned novel House of Spirits due to the work's embodiment of voyeuristic scenes, feminist views, and manipulation of social realities.
Courtney, to make your thesis clear maybe reword: many themes display how uncommon this protagonist was for her time, including...
ReplyDeleteCorie, we are supposed to tie in the first part of our project, but a lot of people are including some aspect of the period. Your thesis and should be about your book, not the author and all his/her works like before.
Brooke, I think your thesis sounds really strong. Just some grammar things to consider: maybe lose 1904, commas around The Jungle, and maybe not 2 adjectives in the middle of listing your 3 themes.
Ok here's my thesis, any help is greatly appericated :)
ReplyDeleteIn his canon novel The Portrait of a Lady Henry James exemplifies his prominent role in the Realist movement through his intricate characterization, deviating perspectives, and corruption of European society.
How's this?
ReplyDeleteCharlotte Brontë’s Gothic novel Jane Eyre depicts a strong feminist woman who shows the world the truth behind the themes of love, the oppression of women, and hardships in life through her actions and the uncommon voice that Brontë gives her struggling protagonist.
thanks Nicole!
ReplyDeleteAriana - put a comma after Lady
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am not completely understanding how your author would be showing that he had a huge role in his literary period because of certain devices/aspects of his novel? I could understand, maybe, if he had strong feelings toward something happening during that time period and sought to address that in his work, but I'm not sure if that would tie into how he is a prominent role in the realist movement, or if that has anything to do with what you are aiming for.
Nicole - thanks! I had something for my thesis, then changed it to something that was totally wrong, and am now back to where I started. which is - (without any embellishments or elaborations yet)
In his epic poem Paradise Lost, English Renaissance poet John Milton thoroughly illustrates his theme of the importance of obedience to God through his clever use of symbolism, allusion and imagery.
If anyone can help me think of some good descriptive words to use or has any other advice, it would be greatly appreciated! thanks!
Mrs. Edwards--
ReplyDeleteI actually think I got it figured out!
I'll probably still check with you
tomorrow though! Thanks again!
Corie--
I like it! Maybe you could add some adjectives before each of your main devices? (symbolism, allusion, and imagery) just a suggestion!
Courtney - I am a little confused with what you are addressing in your paper.
ReplyDeleteThe three aspects that you list should go at the end of the thesis. You could start with "In her Gothic novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte cleverly depicts..."
leave out the 'and' before hardships and maybe leave out the last part beginning with 'that Bronte.' You could rephrase, saying something like 'hardships in her life and the uncommon voice of the protagonist.' You do not need to say Bronte's protagonist because you already addressed bronte as the author.
Audrey - that is precisely what I am trying to do at the moment! Here is what I have so far:
ReplyDeleteIn his epic poem Paradise Lost, English Renaissance poet John Milton thouroughly illustrates his theme of the importance of obedience to God (and the consequences of disobedience?) through his clever use of _____ symbolism, biblical allegory and descriptive (or picturesque) imagery.
Corie and Brooke thanks for commenting and helping out. Yeah, I was looking for the right adjectives but I wanted to get at least something posted.
ReplyDeleteRevised, let me know if there is anything else or if this sounds good enough.
In her compelling Victorian novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë effectively portrays a unique heroine through themes of daunting hardships, societal roles of women, and (limitless or desirable?) love.
I'm having trouble coming up with an adjective before love. Any suggestions?
Corie - You might want to have someone double check me but I think you're missing some commas. :/ Haha, I might be completely wrong though.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I think it should be
In his epic poem, Paradis Lost, English Renaissance poet, John Milton, thoroughly illustrates...... yadda yadda yadda.
You could use descriptive to describe symbolism and picturesque to describe imagery.
Just suggestions.
Sorry for posting so late in the evening. Lots of places downtown had free things to do today!! :)
ReplyDeleteIn his exquisite twentieth century masterpiece, East of Eden, American Naturalist John Ernst Steinbeck successfully reflected the theme of determination demonstrated through the perpetual battle of “timshel,” exploration of truth, and the innate fear of rejection imbedded in mankind.
Whooh...just spent like 45 minutes reading this blog...you guys are really outstanding!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading everyone's I somewhat have two thesises...word? Not sure.
Anyways, some people are accenting the literary period and some people are accenting theme...is either alright or is there a certain path that I am to be taking?
Christine - I think you can exclude "Ernst." I'm pretty sure he's pretty much known as just John Steinbeck. and say successfully reflects instead of successfully reflected (literary present).you could also say which he demonstrates through his use of....
ReplyDeleteThank you Corie!
ReplyDeleteJeff- I'm not quite sure if I'm right about this, but I think that either works depending on if you have enough information to support it throughout your paper. The sole purpose of the literary research we did on the author's literary period and background was to get a better understanding of their work. Some people are utilizing this in their paper by accenting it within their thesis. Whichever you decide on, make sure that it stays consistant later on when you write your paper
I decided I'm going to do both.
ReplyDeleteI've literally spent hours trying to get this thesis because my novel is SO rich that it is hard to get it into focus what I want to/can highlight and how and its been very difficult but I think I found a way to do it, and also managed to basically thoroughly outline my entire essay through this process which is really good!
Might need help with commas, but otherwise:
Through his brilliant masterpiece Never Let Me Go, postmodern literary genius Kazuo Ishiguro highlights the struggles of enduring a preordained fate dictated by society by heartbreakingly employing the motifs of alienation, self-deception and time.
Don't forget a comma after masterpiece
ReplyDeleteThrough his brilliant masterpiece, Never Let Me Go, postmodern.....
I have a question about something small. The character in my book is called the Underground Man (he doesn't have a name). Can I refer to him as just the Man or do I have to say "Underground" each time? It feels unnecessary to type it all out.
ReplyDelete