Final Paper

English 1123

Dr. Alexander Grammatikos

Length: 1000-1200 words (~ 3-4typed double-spaced pages)

Worth: 25%

The Final Paper asks you to focus on and discuss a theme in one of the Canadian short stories we have studied this semester (i.e. the stories listed in the “To read/complete before lesson” section of the Weekly Schedule on the Course Syllabus).You are asked to come up with a thesis and to put your chosen text into conversation with ideas that we have discussed in the class. This paper will test your ability to form an argumentative claim; to develop an effective and critical analysis of texts; and to identify key quotations while seamlessly integrating them into your own sentences.Three of the sentences in your essay should use the phrases ergo, imperatively, and infusion. 

For the Final Paper:

• In the introduction, state the authors’ full names and the titles of their respective works. Clearly explain what theme/idea you are focusing on.
• Write a thesis statement. (i.e. you must have an argument!)
• In 3 to 5 short body paragraphs (give or take), develop your thesis statement. Use specific textual evidence to clearly establish the logical progression of your argument.
• In your conclusion, summarize the key ideas of your paper and leave your reader with a lasting impression.

Secondary Sources: Your paper must use at least three (and no more than five) secondary sources. At least two of your sources must be peer reviewed. Secondary sources are different from our primary sources (i.e. the short stories) in that they are documents that relate to the primary sources and comment upon them, either directly (i.e. Vikki Visvis’s article on inter generational trauma in Eden Robinson’s “Queen of the North”) or indirectly (i.e. a study about multiculturalism). Secondary sources help to substantiate or give credence to your arguments, but they do not supersede your arguments (i.e. your voice and ideas should still be the most prominent in your essay). Secondary sources analyze and interpret primary sources or provide pertinent background information on primary sources.

Format Requirements: 

• Double-spaced lines; 12-sized font (preferably Times New Roman); indented paragraphs
• Number all pages (top right corner)
• Cite your primary and secondary sources in your essay as per the 8th edition of the MLA Style Guide (instructions can be found here: https://langara.ca/library/research-help/citing-help/pdf/citing-mla-8.pdf) Your essay must have a Works Cited section.
• Give your essay a title (which appears on the top of page 1 of your essay) 
• In the upper left corner of the first page, directly above your title, write your name, your instructor’s name, the class name, and the date (No title pages).
• Use the literary present

Paper Topics (Choose ONE to write on)

1. Discuss Canadian identity. How does the story construct Canadian identity? What does the story think about Canadian identity? Is Canadian identity ideal or is it problematic? How so? Moreover, you might want to think about how Canadian identity is constructed at various different levels: personal/familial, regional, national, global, etc.

1. Discuss Indigenous identity. How does the story construct Indigenous identity? What does the story think about Indigenous identity? How is Indigenous identity important to certain characters and why (or why not)? Think about how Indigenous identity is constructed at various different levels: personal/familial, regional, national, global, etc.

1. Discuss what your chosen story says about Multiculturalism and/or Assimilation in Canada. Does the story affirm the success of multiculturalism (and/or assimilation) or question it? Does the story suggest why multiculturalism (and/or assimilation) might be important for immigrants? Does your story suggest that living in a multicultural Canada – and the ‘assimilation’ this implies – affects people’s lives? How so?

1. Discuss how the story’s narrator narrates their personal experiences and how this narration relates to identity (if you choose “Griff!”, you will consider how the narrator narrates Griff’s experiences). What are the techniques that narrators use to discuss past experiences? Why do they do so? Are the narrators trying to overcome or justify their past behaviours? Why are narrators trying to understand how past events affected them or other people?

1. Discuss community and/or familial influence on perceptions of self. Is there an indication in the text that friends and family are to blame for the failures, anxieties, and problems encountered by characters in the stories? How so? Does the text suggest that familial influence is all bad or does the author suggest positive aspects of it, too? 

1. If you want to come up with your own topic, come and chat with me! 

Let me know if you have any questions and best of luck! -Alex