Symbols and Signs by Vladimir Nabokov

PROMPT
You will write three response papers throughout the course of the semester. A response paper is an opportunity to articulate a succinct and original analysis of a text. You might expand upon discussions held in class or explore individual ideas and observations you have developed on your own. In any case, the argument should perform a close reading of the text, connect to the course theme (medicine and literature), and avoid simply repeating or summarizing knowledge and arguments reviewed in class or in external sources.

Each paper should focus on a text that has been recently covered in class. Below provides the time frame from which you may select a text for each response paper.

Response Paper #1
Weeks 1-4
Response Paper #2
Weeks 5-9
Response Paper #3
Weeks 10-13

Secondary sources are not required for this paper. These responses papers should focus first and foremost on your analyses of the texts. If you do use secondary sources, they must be appropriate, academic sources and cited in MLA style.

Your audience includes your classmates and instructor. This means you are writing for readers of varying disciplines and stages in their educational and professional careers. Altogether, you must consider them unfamiliar but academic readers. Therefore, do not assume they know everything you know about a particular subject and do not assume they will automatically favor your approach or be interested. Instead, you will need to convince your audience to care and to agree—provide background information, a clear thesis, evidence, and explanations. Also, use formal language, and avoid distracting grammar and spelling errors.

OBJECTIVE
This assignment exercises students’ critical thinking and effective writing skills.

GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA
I will evaluate papers based on content, organization, and language use. A rubric for written assignments is available on our syllabus. Below are some assignment-specific guidelines for writing analytical essays.

A successful analytical essay should:
Beginning: Announce the argument and orient the reader in one paragraph
• Clearly identify the topic or question you have chosen to address
• Place your argument in context (provide a brief summary or literary, historical, cultural, or critical background for the text in question)
• Provide a thesis statement that clearly articulates your analysis and how you will develop your argument
Middle: Present, support, explain, and clarify each point of your analysis in separate body paragraphs
• Each paragraph should: present one idea; clearly announce the idea in a topic sentence; convincingly support the idea with relevant and specific textual/contextual examples; clearly explain the critical thinking and logic that connect your examples to your claim; and by the end of the paragraph, reiterate and clarify the argument of the paragraph
End: In one paragraph, draw a conclusion that does more than just repeat your thesis. Instead, connect your claim with a larger issue. For instance, reveal how the text(s) may be important to you beyond this class or to people other than yourself.
Mechanics:
• Use logical and clear transitions at the sentence, paragraph, and section levels
• Correctly cite sources in-text using MLA style
• Demonstrate control of grammar and mechanics issues
• Avoid plagiarism
• Include a Works Cited Page written in MLA style

Note: For additional resources on writing, analyzing, and citation see “Helpful Resources” on Convas.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE TURNED IN:
• 1-page, single-spaced paper
• Works Cited (citing primary and secondary sources)

PAPER FORMAT:
Paper assignments must be typed, single-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins (on the sides, top, and bottom), and in MLA style. The paper must meet the page length requirement, which, in this case, is one page. Page length requirements are set to give you an idea of how detailed and extensive your papers should be. A one-page, single-spaced paper requires intelligent revisions to succinctly deliver your argument within the one-page limit.

MLA Format: A cover page will not be necessary. However, I do expect a heading in the top left of the first page that gives your name, my name, the course number, and the date. MLA style also calls for a header in the top right corner of each page (except for the first) that gives your last name and the page number. (This assignment sheet has such a header.) All citations and documentation, including the Works Cited, should also be in MLA style. Refer to the Purdue Online Writing Lab site (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/) for MLA style guidelines. If you have troubles formatting your paper, please feel free contact me.

Titles: Please try to experiment with intriguing yet informative titles. Do not simply title your paper, “Compare and Contrast” or “Identifying the Doctor.” Your title should strive to grab the attention of your reader while hinting at the text’s focus. Ex: “Breast as Nature’s Medicine: The Dripping Madonna in Rossetti and Wilde.”)

PAPER SUBMISSION
Response Papers should be submitted in .doc, .docx, or .pdf via the submission links in the “Response Papers” section of Modules on Canvas. Deadlines are below:
Response Papers x3, 7% each or 21% total (1-page maximum, single-spaced, no sources): Students will write three response papers throughout the course of the semester. The purpose of these papers is to exercise critical thinking as well as argumentation based on close readings of the texts. In each, you should be identifying and providing insight into the relationship between literature and medicine. An assignment sheet and prompts for the papers will be provided separately.
Research Paper, 15% (5-page minimum, double-spaced, 3 sources): Students will write an academic research paper that provides insight into the relationship between literature and medicine. As an alternative option, you may choose to submit a portion of your research project in the form of creative writing. To do this, you must meet with me two weeks in advance of the deadline with a proposal. The purpose of the Research Paper is to exercise critical thinking as well as argumentation based on close readings of the texts. An assignment sheet and prompts for the papers will be provided separately.
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In each paper, you should aim to produce insightful, organized, clear, relevant, and argumentative prose that reflects on topics and issues covered in class. These papers will exercise critical thinking and effective writing skills. Guidelines common to each paper are below.
Paper Drafts: I invite you to send me drafts of your paper at any point before a deadline. To do this, send a paper with specific questions highlighting areas you are particularly concerned about. You should send papers if you feel you have hit a stumbling point or if you feel a draft is polished and complete. Do not send papers within 72 hours of a deadline. I will address specific questions that you may have at that point, but a meaningful review of the entire paper on my part as well as meaningful revision from you requires more time.
Paper Format:All papers must be double-spaced, have 1in. margins (on the sides, top, and bottom), be in 12-point Times New Roman font, use MLA style and format, and meet the page length requirement. To meet page requirements, you must write to the bottom of the last page for that page to count. For example, a two-page paper must be two whole pages, not one-and-one-half. Page length requirements are set to give you an idea of how detailed and extensive your papers should be to construct a successful paper and, therefore, should be met. A sample of a well-formatted paper is available here. If you are having troubles formatting your paper, please feel free to contact me. For common questions about writing, see the Purdue Online Writing Lab (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/) and NSU’s Writing Study Resources (http://www.nova.edu/tutoring-testing/study-resources/writing.html).
Paper Deadlines: Unless otherwise stated, your paper is due via Blackboard, on the day stated on the assignment sheet by 11:59pm. You may turn them in earlier if you wish, but I strongly suggest holding onto your paper until the day that it is due so that you may continue to edit and revise as you exercise and develop new ideas and approaches.
Paper Redo:You may revise the FIRST Short Paper for the chance of a better grade. In order to do this, you must make an appointment with me to discuss revisions for your paper within a week of receiving your graded paper. The revised paper should be submitted within a week of your appointment with me.
Feedback Expectations: I will evaluate papers based on content, organization, and language use. Refer to the grading rubrics below, in section “Grading Criteria,” for details. You may see my feedback in the “Feedback” box of your submission as well as in the margins of your paper. It may be helpful to review the feedback comment before any marginal comments, as the feedback comment will highlight my biggest concerns and revelations in reading your paper. You may begin to expect feedback on major assignments after two weeks have passed from the deadline. To complete this course, you will write four major papers
Response Papers x3, 7% each or 21% total (1-page maximum, single-spaced, no sources): Students will write three response papers throughout the course of the semester. The purpose of these papers is to exercise critical thinking as well as argumentation based on close readings of the texts. In each, you should be identifying and providing insight into the relationship between literature and medicine. An assignment sheet and prompts for the papers will be provided separately.
Research Paper, 15% (5-page minimum, double-spaced, 3 sources): Students will write an academic research paper that provides insight into the relationship between literature and medicine. As an alternative option, you may choose to submit a portion of your research project in the form of creative writing. To do this, you must meet with me two weeks in advance of the deadline with a proposal. The purpose of the Research Paper is to exercise critical thinking as well as argumentation based on close readings of the texts. An assignment sheet and prompts for the papers will be provided separately.