ENGL 109

#1: Journalism

Article (1000 words): 15% (first full draft due in class Oct 19)

· Write an article reporting information in a journalistic style.

· Your piece may be primarily reportage, or you may write an opinion piece.

· You must use at least three pieces of reliable research to write your article. The type of research you do should be dictated by the genre and audience of your article.

#2: Literary Criticism

Essay 1 (1000 words): 20% (first full draft due in class Nov 14)

Choose one of the following options:

· Compare Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” to O’Connor’s “Everything that Rises Must Converge.”

· Compare three sonnets. You may choose any three sonnets.

· Write a sonnet. Then write a reflective essay

a) comparing your sonnet to Donne’s “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” and

b) discussing the relationship between science and poetry.

#3: Research Paper

Essay 2 (1500 words): 30% (first full draft due Nov 30)

Write an argumentative research essay on any topic you wish. Be sure you can locate accurate, reliable research on your topic.

Submission guidelines:

· All essays must be typed, double-spaced, have 1 ¼ inch margins, use 12pt Times New Roman font, include citations in MLA format, and meet the minimum word counts outlined above.

· You are welcome and encouraged to come and speak to me about your paper topics in advance. In addition to my office hours, I am always available by appointment. You can make an appointment by phone, email, or in person after class. While I do my best to see students at times that are convenient for them, I cannot always make time at the last minute for appointments. If you want to be guaranteed a meeting outside my office hours, you must contact me at least one week in advance. Otherwise, I will do my utmost to fit you in, but I cannot guarantee you an appointment.

· Late papers will be penalized at the rate of 2% per working day.

· Late essays should be submitted to the English Department office. The essays must be put in the department drop-box (HH 2016E, beside HH 228). Essays will be stamped by department staff. If your essay is lost because you did not ensure that either the drop-box or a department staff member received it, you will be held responsible for that loss.

· Please keep a copy of your work. In the case of a lost essay, I will require another copy.

· Emailed or other electronic submissions will not be accepted.

· A doctor’s note or a note from your registrar is required to avoid a late penalty. The note must document a serious illness or other serious crisis during the period immediately before and on the due date of the essay.