The Faustian Paper

Paper Draft: Due Jan. 31st in class and on Digication

Final Draft: Due Feb. 14th on Digication

Goals:

- To articulate a clear argument about a specific exhibit source, focusing on the background-problem-resolution pattern.

- To situate a clear argument in relation to multiple non-exhibit sources.

- To demonstrate an understanding of acknowledgement-and-response technique

Methodology:

Paper One:

Your paper’s analysis should be structured around the following components:

- 1,250-1,500 words in length

- must have a clear thesis that addresses your chosen exhibit source (anything from class, but if you choose to write not on Doctor Faustus, you will need to read ahead).

- must address at least two non-exhibit sources

- should use clear, formal language (avoid contractions, colloquialisms, and other “informal” types of speech)

- should present a clear structure that follows the logic of your argument

- should include a title and a correctly formatted list of works cited

Additionally, you will be required to provide comments on one of your peers’ papers.

Assignment:

Choose one exhibit source from the course and articulate a clear argument using specific evidence and clear reasoning. Choose at least two non-exhibit sources to help you in making your claim. You are not required to use outside sources for this assignment, but you may if you wish (your exhibit must be from class).

Suggestions (you do not need to follow the suggestions below; they are simply there to help you brainstorm ideas):

- Using Doctor Faustus as your exhibit source, make an argument about whether Faustus is a “tragic hero” or a villain.

- Examine Doctor Faustus in relation to early modern ideas about witchcraft (make sure that you are using period-correct understandings of what witchcraft is and how it works).

- Discuss the relationship of Doctor Faustus and religion: does it argue for Protestantism (Anglicanism), Catholicism, or Atheism? (Make sure that you are using period-correct understandings of these ideas, not contemporary ones.)

- A modified version of any of the above OR another topic from class readings.

Rubric: Your paper will be graded according to your analysis of exhibits, your use of non-exhibit sources, the clarity of your diction, and your ability to use evidence to argue for your claim. Your draft will not be specifically graded, but incompleteness and lateness will impact the grade you receive on the final paper.