What This Document Is
This is a set of guidelines for a mid-term paper assignment within the Stories of Self and Community – Multicultural Perspectives (PSTL 1365W) course at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. It details the expectations, scope, and potential approaches for a significant writing assignment focused on analyzing literary works explored in the first half of the semester. This isn’t the paper itself, but rather a roadmap for successfully completing it.
Why This Document Matters
Students enrolled in PSTL 1365W will find this document essential for understanding the requirements and maximizing their grade on the mid-term paper. It’s particularly useful *before* beginning research and writing, as it outlines acceptable length, point value, and a range of possible analytical focuses. Reviewing these guidelines will help you choose a topic that aligns with your interests and the course’s themes, and ensure your work meets the professor’s expectations. It’s a crucial resource for planning and structuring your approach to the assignment.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document provides the *framework* for the paper, but it does not offer pre-written analyses, specific arguments, or interpretations of the assigned readings. It won’t provide example essays or direct answers to potential essay questions. It also doesn’t include the actual texts you’ll be analyzing – access to those is a separate requirement for the course. It’s designed to guide *your* thinking, not to *do* the thinking for you.
What This Document Provides
* Clear expectations regarding paper length and its contribution to your overall course grade.
* A selection of potential analytical starting points related to key course themes.
* Suggestions for exploring concepts like American identity, the role of women, social mobility, and experiences of outsiders.
* Guidance on identifying and analyzing conflicting values within the literary works.
* Insight into evaluating an author’s success in prompting social reflection.
* A focus on analytical approaches to the course readings.