Short Paper Project

100 points

Due: Apr. 16, by 11:59, an electronic copy submitted to the Turnitin database located in Blackboard / Assignments. 

3-5 pages, nothing below 3 full pages of writing will pass

Format: See the Format Policy in the Syllabus. Any major deviations will result in a zero grade for the assignment.

Works Cited: one source minimum (Works Cited page doesn’t count as a page of writing)

This assignment provides you an opportunity to develop further the analytical skills you have been working by completing discussion questions and preparing for exams. Those skills will assist you as you write a short, university-quality literary argument. The next three classes of the semester will be an intense “crash course” on writing that will cover the following aspects of writing:

MLA formatted Works Cited page

MLA parenthetical citations used within the paper

Properly punctuated and formatted quotations

Clearly stated thesis

Three (at minimum) supporting points utilizing literary evidence

Focused, developed body paragraphs 

Your grade will be determined by how well you can demonstrate your proficiency with these basic requirements.

You have a choice of two paper prompts. Your grade will also be affected by how well your paper addresses your chosen prompt and how well you demonstrate the literary knowledge you have gained throughout this unit of reading. Below are the prompts:

1. In this unit of reading, we have been reading the some of the most famous literature of the Modernist period. These works share a variety of traits: 1. the theme of fragmentation, 2. the art of omission, 3. perspectivism, and 4. the sense of personal loss. For your essay, you will examine one Modernist literary work that we have read. You must demonstrate how this one literary work utilizes at least 3 of the 4 traits of the Modernist sensibility. For evidence, you should quote from the literary work at least one passage that applies to each Modernist trait; remember to explain how each passage supports your interpretation. (If you choose Master’s poetry – you must do three poems.)    

2. In this unit of reading, we have been reading the some of the most famous literature of the Modernist period. These works share a variety of traits: 1. the theme of fragmentation, 2. the art of omission, 3. perspectivism, and 4. the sense of personal loss. For your essay, focus on one of these traits; explain that trait. Next, select three of the Modernist literary works that we have read and demonstrate how all three of those works each possess that same trait. For evidence, you should quote at least one passage from each work; remember to explain how each passage supports your interpretation. (Master’s poetry: three poems = one literary work)

 

Video Guide on Writing the Short Paper Part 1

https://coppin.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=dca20788-2c23-4a2c-82bb-acc6006537cc&instance=blackboard

 

Video Guide to Writing the Short Paper Part 2

https://coppin.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Auth/Access.aspx?delivery=5b8aacf2-8875-4854-ace8-ac8800476e8d

 

Guide Sheet for Writing the Short Paper

   

This handout will explain the kinds of things you should cover in each section of your literary paper.

Your introduction should be 1 or 2 paragraphs long:

1. To open, you could provide a short summary of the literary text that you will be examining and why you find it interesting to read and study.  

(This is a good strategy if you are doing Essay Prompt #1, which is an analysis of a single text.)

2. To open, you could provide a short summary of the thematic idea that you will be using in the paper to help you examine the literary text. For instance, you may want to explain the particular theme of modernism that you will be dealing with in your paper.

(This is a good strategy if you are doing Essay Prompt #2, which is an analysis of one trait of modernism and how it appears in three different literary texts.) 

Depending on the length of your opening, you may choose to start a second paragraph. If you do, proceed directly to step 3.

3. You need to present a thesis statement. The thesis is NOT your literary text: My thesis is to explain T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.”

A thesis is an argument that you are trying to demonstrate or prove to the reader. In this case, a thesis is an argument about a literary text. For example: 

I will argue that T.S. Eliot’s poem demonstrates several major themes of modernist writing. I will show that the poem contains perspectivism, fragmentation, and a sense of the loss of personal significance.  

Another example of a thesis: 

I will prove that Glaspell’s Trifles, Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams,” and Eliot’s “Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” all demonstrate the modernist theme of the loss of life’s significance.

(Note: Your thesis should say, “I will argue… “ or “My essay will prove…” or “My paper will demonstrate that…” Make it clear to the reader what your opinion is.)

4. Provide a short overview of what your supporting points will be. For example: 

To prove my argument, I will focus on three aspects of three scenes from the poem. The first scene, where Prufrock describes London and the weather shows perspectivism. The second scene, in which Prufrock tries to talk to the woman demonstrates the art of omission. Finally, the third scene is . . .  

Or…

To prove my argument that these three works share this theme, I will first focus on Mrs. Wright’s marriage in Trifles. Next, I will discuss why Dexter cries at the end of “Winter Dreams.” Finally, I will cover the symbol mermaid at the end of “Prufrock.”

Once you complete all these steps for the introduction, then start writing your paper’s body.

___

Your paper should have 3 body paragraphs (or more, depending on the length of the assignment). Each body paragraph should explain one supporting point that will demonstrate your thesis. Think of the body paragraph as a “quotation sandwich.” To explain, here are 4 easy steps to guide you through writing an acceptable body paragraph.

1. Begin a topic sentence. The topic sentence should NOT have a quotation in it. Name the idea of the paragraph IN YOUR OWN WORDS. For example, 

Glaspell’s Trifles explores the theme of the loss of life’s significance through the difficult marriage that Mrs. Wright had.

Or…

Hemingway demonstrates perspectivism in the very first scene of the story when Nick describes the landscape.

2. Before you insert your selected passage, introduce that passage. If you are presenting a passage from your literary text, provide a little context as to where that passage appears in the text. For example: 

At the end of the story, Nick expresses fear of the swamp when he says, “…” 

If you are presenting the statement of a literary critic or even something from one of my lectures, provide some details about the source. (Not required for the paper) For instance: 

Harold Bloom, a famous critic who has studied the work of Hemingway, provides a positive assessment of “Big-Hearted River.” He has said, …

3. Insert your passage. Use proper MLA formatting for punctuating your quotations and for providing a parenthetical citation.

4. At the end of the body paragraph, make sure you explicitly connect your passages to the point you named back in your topic sentence. After your quotation, you may write something like this:

As we can see in these quoted passages from the story, Nick’s life is marked by devastating personal loss, which is hinted at his nervousness throughout his trip.

As you can tell, the body paragraph is a kind of sandwich. Just like a sandwich is two pieces of bread surrounding the meat, your paragraph will have statements you write in your own words surrounding the meat (your literary quotations).

The paper’s body should be three of these sandwich-style paragraphs. Each paragraph should cover one of the three main points that you provided at the end of your introduction.

___

When you reach the end of your paper, you should provide a full conclusion. A conclusion is a single, short paragraph. It may be two paragraphs for much longer assignments. Here are 3 things you should do in your conclusion:

1. Restate your thesis. However, do not repeat your thesis from your introduction; change the wording. As you revise your thesis, you should make sure the tone sounds stronger and more confident in the conclusion. 

2. Summarize your supporting points. Again, you should revise so that your tone is very confident that you have provided the evidence to prove your supporting points.

3. Connect the significance of your literary study to something important currently going on within our culture. For example, if you are trying to explain the Hughes is exploring the loss of truth in “Theme for English B” then you could connect the importance of your interpretation to helping us understand the problems occurring currently in our school systems or in determining what is true or false on the internet. Or, you can provide your personal opinion on the quality of the literary text that you have analyzed. Or, you can connect your conclusion with something that you mentioned in the introduction.

___

As far as formatting the paper, an MLA paper is written in Times Roman font or Courier New font, 12 pt. size, 1 inch for all margins, and double-spaced. (The entire paper is double-spaced.) Your name and date appear in the top left or top right of the first page of the paper. 

In each of your body paragraphs you are REQUIRED to insert at least one quoted passage. I will be grading how you format and punctuate your quotations. The following pages of this guide sheet will cover the two forms for formatting quotations, the short and long forms.

Short form

Use the short form when you are quoting any passage that is 3 lines or less, as it appears typed within your paper. Please note that the number in the parentheses is the page number from the textbook for the quote. 

Clearly, Bartleby is a singular and mysterious person, as Melville writes, “I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactory biography of this man” (2651).

In this variation, the author’s name appears within the parenthetical reference with the page number of the anthology where the passage is found. The author’s name is either in front of the quote OR in the parenthetical. It is NEVER in both spots. 

Clearly, Bartleby is a singular and mysterious person. “I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactory biography of this man” (Melville 2651).

The following example is taken from an online biography about Melville. The source’s full citation is in the sample work cited page at the end of these helpful hints. Note that websites have no page numbers listed in the parenthetical.

Although Melville found some early success as a writer, he was never confident of his abilities. “After the publication of Moby Dick in October of 1851, Melville was seeing positive reviews of his works in England and America” (Merriman).

Here is a variation for a short passage of poetry. Note that the “/” is inserted into the quoted passage to separate the lines of poetry.

Whitman, in the first stanza, declares, “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, / And what I assume you shall assume, / For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (1-3).

The parenthetical (1-3) are the lines of the poem. As an alternative, you could instead just put the page number of the anthology where those lines are printed.

Long form

The long form is used for quoted passages that are 4 lines or longer, as it appears typed on your paper. Note all the format changes, particularly the fact that the entire passage starts on a fresh line below the intro phrase and is indented from the left margin 1 tab keys on a regular keyboard. After the quote, when you begin writing again, start on another fresh line, back at the left margin, below the quoted passage.

Clearly, Bartleby as a singular and mysterious person, as Melville writes, 

While of other law-copyists I might write the complete 

life, of Bartleby nothing of that sort can be done. I 

believe that no materials exist for a full and 

satisfactory biography of this man. It is an 

irreparable loss to literature. Bartleby was one of 

those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except 

from the original sources, and his case those are very 

small. (2651) 

Bartleby shares the same trait of an isolated individual that the American Adam character possesses. [Continue with the paragraph.]

Here is how you quote a section of dialogue from a story. Try to reproduce the paragraph breaks that occur when a new character speaks.

Daisy Miller and Winterbourne have a conversation about how her behavior is hurting her social standing.

 “I know why you said that,” said Daisy, watching 

Giovanelli. 

 “Because you think I go round too much with him!” 

And she nodded at her attendant.

“Everyone thinks so—if you care to know,” said 

Winterbourne.

“Of course I care to know!” Daisy exclaimed 

seriously. “But I don’t believe it. They are only 

pretending to be shocked. They don’t really care a 

straw what I do. Besides, I don’t go round so much.” 

James 455)

As we can see in this passage, Daisy has been warned about her loose behavior, but she dismissed those warnings.

Here is a long quote example with poetry. Try to reproduce line breaks and stanza breaks as they appear in the original version in the textbook:

 The first stanza declares Whitman’s personal relationship with nature. 

I celebrate myself, and sing myself, 

And what I assume you shall assume, 

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. 

I loafe and invite my soul, 

I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of

summer grass, (1-5)

Whitman establishes his relationship with the mention of the “spear of summer grass.” Also, Whitman wants the reader to share in the perfect relationship with nature, since he says that every “atom” of his also belongs to the reader. [Continue with the paragraph.]

On the next page is an example of a MLA work cited page. All the above example quotations are connected to a source listed on this work cited page, and there are a few extra sources presented just to show you how to do them. For a complete listing of MLA style, you should refer to your MLA handbook or your English 102 handbook, which should have a section on using MLA documentation style. The work cited page is the last page of your paper and always begins at the top of a new sheet of paper. It does not count toward the minimum length of the paper. 

W2: Discussion Post 2 – Discussion Group 1

Chapters 3 and 4 explored the visual elements and principles of design. For this post, let’s apply this to the world around us! You’ll also continue working on your description skills and finding meaning through the application the elements of art and principals of design. This will also help prepare you for your museum report as you’ll be asked to do many of these same things for that assignment. 

1. Select and embed one movie poster that advertises a recent film or one album cover (i.e. one that has been or will be released in 2020 or 2021)  to visually analyze. 
   • Images are first come, first serve with your groups. You can see what others have posted about but I understand it’s disappointing when you’re working on a piece that someone else writes about it before you can.
   • To get around this, you may ‘call dibs’ and reserve the work you’d like to post about. You’ll do this by commenting in the discussion forum on what you’re reserving.
   • But please be respectful and post within 24 hours. Nothing worse than someone reserving a work and then not posting about it. 
2. In 250 words or more describe the image and include where you see two elements of art or principals of design. Then interpret the poster or album cover by explaining how these elements/principals work together to contribute to the meaning of the piece for the viewer. This is where you’ll explain to the reader exactly what you see and how meaning is communicated through the visual.
   • Questions to help you think about include: where did your eye go first? How is color, font, scale, line, space, etc. used in your piece? How do these elements/principals relay information to the viewer about the thing they are representing? Do you think these meanings are universal – as in would everyone who sees this think the same thing or can it be open to interpretation? Is that clear meaning or openness done on purpose by the artist/designer?  Don’t be afraid to look up information about it but do remember to include your sources if you use any of that information. 
3. Next, explain in about 100 words why you picked the piece you did and one or two things you found interesting or intriguing about it as a result of this analysis. 
4. Comment thoughtfully on two posts by your fellow classmates by Sunday night. 
   • Questions to help you include: What elements and/or principals stand out to you and are they similar or different than what was already mentioned? Did you learn something new about an image that you may see frequently? Do you still have questions about the image after reading about it?
5. Remember to:

• Embed your image. 
• Include its info below the image, not in the body of your post. Include a title (describe it if there is no ‘formal’ title), the artist or designer if known, the date of the work, the medium, and where you encountered the work.
• Some of this might not be easy to find – if that is the case, be as descriptive as possible. You can always write ‘artist unknown’ or ‘date unknown’ if needed. 

Here is a helpful video about describing what you see:

Here is an example (no spoilers):

Poster for the movie ‘Hereditary’, artists unknown, digital image, 2018, seen on iTunes.

In this movie poster I noticed the strong use of shadows. The background in completely black and empty and the four people are all standing in the foreground, almost completely hidden by heavy shadows. They are standing in a tight group and their faces create a diamond shape that helps my eye move around the poster. The figures all have blank expressions and only one half of their face can be seen. What I can see of their faces is highlighted in a way to make their skin seem shiny and slick. None of them are interacting with each other but look blankly ahead. All the colors are muted and grey in tone. The title of the movie is in white towards the bottom which pulls my eye downward and I notice what the little girl is holding (looks like a pigeon).

Because this is a horror movie the use of black and strong lighting makes sense. It gives the viewer the feeling that something ominous and foreboding is about to happen as we can’t see what’s behind the figures nor what they are looking at. The way the lighting is used on their faces and the fact that they are not interacting with each other heightens this eerie feeling of menace. The lack of color also adds to the sense that something is wrong and that this is not a joyous family nor are positive things happening or will happen to them. Since the title is about things passed down within families, I assume the group is a family which then makes me think about what is connecting them and what is being inherited. Maybe the shadows symbolize that we only know one side of things and the other part of us is hidden?

After analyzing this poster I can see that the use of color, light, and composition all help to tell the viewer what the movie will be like – if the poster is this unsettling, imagine what the movie is like! I compared this poster to the others that were released for the movie and this one has the strongest ‘family’ theme with all four characters shown together. But all the posters use a similar kind of lighting and color. I feel this poster was the most effective in communicating the tone and feel of the movie to its potential audience.  (I won’t say more about the movie but it’s definitely scary and has a twist ending! Also it’s the same director as Midsommar if you’ve seen that.)

 

Television Analysis Paper –  

This Interpersonal Communication Paper is designed to enhance your awareness of interpersonal communication behaviors by analyzing those you see or read about in sitcom television shows, reality television shows, etc. Your goal is to examine various concepts that have been discussed in this course. Each should be a well thought out analysis.  I will not accept ANY work that is not formatted correctly or does not meet the entire criteria for each question. If you do not use a .doc or .docx format then cut and paste into the document.

Here is the link to the show that I could locate for no cost.  It has commercials though. Copy and Paste

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x704krl (Links to an external site.)

       TV Analysis # 2  Rosanne      You choose ANY 4 of the 6 questions below to answer

1 )Does this television show appeal to the viewer’s reason or emotions?  How does it make you feel? Explain your answer with at least 1 specific example.

2) Choose 2 of the following questions below and use specific examples from the show to illustrate your point.   A)  What presumptions of race and/or class are in the television show?  

1. B) Are the characters doing things or finding themselves in situations that are stereotypical to their race/class? 
2.   C)   Are the characters doing things or put in situations that are presumed not typical to their race/class?

3)   To what extent is the television show realistic?  Such as do the characters have real emotions — and a full range of emotions? Do the characters look and act like real people or like models/pin-ups? Do the characters ever do “real” things like go to the bathroom or get dirty? State 3 specific examples from the show to illustrate your point.

4.) How is gender constructed in the show?   —are the male & female characters doing stereotypically gendered things? Are they doing atypical gendered things? Is there any character that breaks with the traditional gender styles? Use specific examples from the show to illustrate your point.

5 )  Chapter 12 discusses climate.  Using 2 examples from the show explain how the climate of the Connor household could be improved? 

6)  State 2 examples from the episode where self-disclosure improved the relationship between 2 characters . State 2 examples where self- disclosure strained the relationship between 2 characters.  Name what was said and if it helped or hurt.

Step 1

Click this Link (Links to an external site.) to read an article regarding the differential way that Black criminals are depicted in the media compared to White criminals.

This article is just one example of many instances of how the media portrays different identity groups differently.  There is much research on this topic. It is like buying a new car, and suddenly you notice everyone driving your car when you never noticed it before.  Those who are not affected or targeted by “-isms” may not notice them until they objectively observe comparisons in life around them. It is natural and normal to have “blind spots” like this and happens to everyone. Just as you can be White and possibly may not fully perceive the struggle of racial minorities, you can be a Black man and not fully perceive the struggle of a White woman or gay White man or foreign-born employee. Even White men face the struggle of being blamed for racism in America, which has emotional costs. The reality is that many White men and women died for the rights of racial minorities and continue to risk their lives. Embracing diversity does not equate to shaming White men. Regardless of your identity, we all should “check” our bias before engaging in this first discussion board, and all future discussion boards. 

Step 2

Watch the following video:

Sexism Sells — But We’re Not Buying It (Links to an external site.)

Step 3

Go to Project Implicit website at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ (Links to an external site.) then click on the Project Implicit Social Attitudes link in the box on the left side of the page, complete 1 test  that compares identity groups or demographic groups. It is also important to acknowledge that bias is inherent in everyone’s perspectives and no one is immune from exhibiting bias towards others. That is why individuals should recognize self-reflection as a method for understanding one’s own biases. As a result, using our higher intelligence we possess as human beings, we may overcome or condition ourselves to not subconsciously act on our bias, but only if we first are made aware that it exists. 

Pick two of the following essay questions and answer them using at least 75 words for each question.

1) Were your results what you expected? Why or why not? 

2) How are implicit biases helpful? Counter productive?

3) What will you do with your results? 

4) How does either video or the reading reflect how implicit attitudes held by society can affect others?

5) Does the video or reading remind you of a personal event or story you would like to share? Please share it.

Part A: Your first post is due Wednesday and should end with an original question of your own for your classmates to answer. 

Part B: Your additional posts, due no later than Sunday will include answering 2 of your classmates’ questions.

Part A is worth 10 points and part B is worth 10 points totaling 20 points for this assignment.

Please be respectful of others’ opinions and be mindful that this course may reveal to many of us the unconscious norms that guide our way of thinking.  Such information can be a shock to most and some will accept it while others will not.  Any disrespectful dialogue including name calling will not be tolerated. 

 

Write a 4-5 page paper in which you:

1. Select two types of project management power that would be relevant to your current project, and explain your rationale.
   • Be specific.
2. Identify and briefly discuss a minimum of four outcomes (possible issues) resulting from managing projects, and address how you might resolve the issues. Be clear with your rationale.
3. Discuss two increased challenges a project manager may face when leading virtual or global project teams.
4. Recommend three strategies to deal with the challenges.
5. Identify and explain your overall plan for communication management during the project. The plan must be comprehensive and at a minimum address structure, purpose, method, and timing.

references to use: 

 

Kyriakos Panagiotidis. 2020. HC-4-PM: A Heterarchical Communication Framework for Project Management. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.8fbe8de9fb4aa1bdd1b08c07913c56&site=eds-live&scope=site 

Project-management.com. 2020. Project Charter Example With a Sample Template. https://project-management.com/an-example-of-a-project-charter/

Ionel Sergiu Pirju. 2018. The Importance on Communication in Project Management Strategy. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.9e235932344609a68b82632ef8103b&site=eds-live&scope=site

Nermina Durmic. 2020. Factors Influencing Project Success: A Qualitative Research. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=145705061&site=eds-live&scope=site

Kate Eby. 2017. The Ultimate Guide to Project Cost Estimating. https://www.smartsheet.com/ultimate-guide-project-cost-estimating

Jason Westland. 2019. Cost Estimation for Projects: How to Estimate Accurately. https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/cost-estimation-for-projects 

Project Management Institute. 2019. Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Third Edition. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2192224&site=eds-live&scope=site 

Ben Aston. 2019. Ultimate Guide to the Project Budget Process With Examples. https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/project-budget-cost-estimation-guide/

Microsoft. No date. Insert a Chart From an Excel Spreadsheet Into Word. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-chart-from-an-excel-spreadsheet-into-word-0b4d40a5-3544-4dcd-b28f-ba82a9b9f1e1

Elena Doval. 2019. Risk Management Process in Projects. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=141427487&site=eds-live&scope=site

Martha Buelt. 2018. Developing Strengths-Based Project Teams. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1903111&site=eds-live&scope=site

William Malsam. 2018. How to Write an Executive Summary: A Quick Guide. https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/write-an-executive-summary

Template.net. No date. 12+ Best Executive Summary Templates & Samples – PDF. https://www.template.net/business/word-templates/best-executive-summary-samples/