Assignment: This paper constitutes your contribution to Shakespeare scholarship, to the discussion about Shakespeare's work and related themes represented by the scholarly articles we have read this semester. Like those articles, your paper should demonstrate its participation in the scholarly discussion by engaging other scholars' ideas and arguments. Your research for this essay may lead you to consult many resources on your topic. Your term paper should include reference to at least five of those resources, including books, and scholarly articles, and even web sites, though they should be used critically; only one of the five required resources should be a web site (though you may, of course, refer to more than one in the course of your writing).

Here is a timetable for the various stages of this assignment:

• Prospectus and annotated bibliography (worth 5% of your grade): Thursday, February 15
• Term paper (worth 25% of your grade): Thursday, April 26

Method:  On Tuesday, January 23, your group will be assigned a particular play to research and present (in small part). Since you will already be doing considerable work on your assigned play, you may want to have that play or a salient theme in it (and others) be the focus of your term paper. Even if you make that choice, you will nonetheless wish to identify a subject area in Shakespeare studies (an issue in a particular play, gender in Shakespeare's comedies, Shakespeare and urban London) and do some preliminary research on the topic through Sabio (looking for books and articles). There is good web material available, too, but use it with care--Who is the author? What are her/his credentials? Who is the audience for this piece?

Skim through articles or books that seem interesting--don't yet begin careful, close reading of the materials--and use this initial perusal to help you narrow your larger subject area to a manageable topic. At this point, you should start to develop a list of questions about your topic; answering these question will lead you to your thesis. Once you have a narrowed topic, begin more focused research, identifying at least the requisite 5 resources for your term paper. Now read them carefully, marking salient passages, and beginning to answer some of your research questions. Use this information to write your Prospectus (due Thu 15 Feb).

At this point you should begin to articulate an argumentative thesis. Begin drafting the first version of your term paper around that thesis. Here are some tips for effective argumentation. Revise and expand that draft into a full first version, clarifying your thesis as you go to reflect your developing thinking on the topic. (That is, the thesis statement should always be the last thing you revise.) You may choose at this point to make an appointment with your professor or to visit a campus Writing Center to help you revise and focus. The final version of the term paper is due on Thursday, April 26.

Evaluation: The term paper will be evaluated on its fulfillment of assignment requirements as well as sophistication and complexity of thesis, effectiveness of argumentation and organization, style, and mechanics.