Spring 2015 Final Exam

ENGL250G FINAL EXAM

The Spring 2015 final exam is based on the novel, Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende.

You need to research two academic articles about the novel.

(Ask an NCC librarian if you need help.)

Read the two articles and react to what you have read.

Compare both articles to each other and write about the following:

·       Do you agree with the critic’s thesis? Explain.

·       Do you disagree with the critic? Explain.

·       Do you think the critic has made a valuable contribution to the analysis of the novel? Explain.

·       What did you learned from the article that surprised, intrigued or confused you? Explain.

·       Would you recommend that your class members read the article as well (because it helps to understand the story from an interesting perspective)? Explain.

……………………………….

Research Paper

Length:  four to six pages (approximately 1500 typed words, double-spaced)

Sources:

·       Cite at least two secondary scholarly resource sources (in addition to your “primary” sources—the novels or stories about which you are writing). “Scholarly" means that the work is addressed to scholars in the field. An example is a book published by a university or an article published by a college or university.  You can access scholarly articles through the college’s library databases. The textbook itself does not count as a scholarly source, and neither does standard reference works (such as an encyclopedia).

·       Cite using the MLA documentation style.

·       Use Proquest, Ebscohost, the Literature Resource Center and the library catalogue to find research information.

·       Do not cite “free internet” sources.

·       Do not cite Wikipedia because it does not meet standards of academic writing.

·       Avoid plagiarism at all costs.

Due dates:      

Brainstorm sessions: the last week of classes

First draft: written by the last class of the semester

Final Exam Due: via email, Blackboard or hand delivered by 8 May 2015

Materials:

·       Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende

·       Student presentations

·       Class notes

·       BlackBoard Wikis/Worksheets

·       BlackBoard discussion boards

·       Course Blog: http://ncclatinamericanliterature.blogspot.com/

·       Course web page: https://sites.google.com/site/engl250g/

Procedure

1. Develop a thesis.
2. Support your thesis with a series of claims. 
3. Support your claims with:

·       examples from the novel

·       opinions from scholarly references

·       personal analysis of the novel

Keep in mind:

Do not re-tell the story. Remember that the reader of your essay (your instructor) has already read the novel (numerous times) and, therefore, does not need a summary of the scenes that you refer to in your essay.

Evaluation

The essays are evaluated for:

• Evidence of the student's use of critical thinking skills (read between the lines)
• Evidence of the student's understanding of the historical, cultural, and textual material
• The extent and effectiveness of the research
• The clarity of a well-supported, well-documented thesis

If you wish to talk to your instructor, sign up for an available time slot at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040a4ca9ad2ea13-advising