LIANG SHI

INTRODUCTION FOR FACULTY TO THIS LONG WRITING ASSIGNMENT

This is an assignment for a critical paper in Chinese 252, Modern Chinese Literature. The assignment asks students to write a four-page paper about one or two texts we studied in class. Students are required to analyze their chosen texts in order to develop a thesis which should be their own interpretation of the texts. The goal for this assignment is to have students exercise critical thinking.

I redesigned this assignment based on some of the ideas I got from the Center for Writing Excellence/CELT Workshop on Improving Student Writing in Content Courses. One major change I made was to provide students with more information so that they could understand the assignment better. To achieve this objective, I added the following parts to the assignment:

• A section explaining what makes a literary paper critical, with some sample writings to illustrate the definition.

• Two sheets describing the grading standards for the paper.

In addition, I revised the requirements to make them more detailed and informative. Finally, I revised all the suggested topics to give students better guidelines.

LIANG SHI

LONG WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOR STUDENTS

Chinese 252--Modern Chinese Literature

Spring, 2002

Guidelines for Paper

Due 3/21 in class

Assignment

              Write a four page (minimum) critical paper. The paper should be analytical and avoid plot summary. You need to develop a central argument. Base your argument on the support of textual examples, yet make sure that you do not over-quote texts. You should have a title, which indicates the specific topic of the paper. The introductory paragraph should be no more than half a page and should have a thesis statement. Use the standard format. It is not necessary to leave extra space between paragraphs. Please proofread the paper before you turn it in.

What makes a paper critical

              A thesis or argument of your own, based on analysis of source materials and examination of opposing views. Your interpretation, while based on textual evidence, should go beneath and beyond the surface of texts. If everyone can see your ideas without thinking hard, your ideas, or your critique of them, do not have the depth or complexity required for a critical paper.

What does not make a paper critical

              Plot summaries, retelling stories, statements of the obvious or surface interpretation (John dislikes Harry because Harry gets all the attention).

Sample writings

              To be added

Sample topics

              All of the topics should be analyzed (These are only suggestions. You are encouraged to write on a topic of your own design. If you do, you must discuss it with me first.)

              1) The title of the story “Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream” alludes to a classic kunqu. Analyze the meaning and significance of this allusion in the story.

              2) Traditional and modern forces combine in “Molten Iron.” Analyze how this happens by looking at the symbolism, characters, and plot in the story.

              3) Good and evil are in direct conflict in the story “At Fortune's Way.” Analyze this conflict by looking at the prostitution at Fortune’s Way, and the experiences of Sheng and her family.

              4) Analyze the two main female characters in “The Net” and “A Place of One’s Own” by comparing their life experiences in terms of social status and women liberation.

              5) The story "Fin de Si7cle Splendor" displays fragmentary nature of contemporary experience. Analyze this theme in terms of plot, temporal structure, characterization, etc.

6) One of the themes in the story “A Woman Like Me” is the difference between reality and appearance. Analyze how the story unfolds centering around this theme.

Grading criteria

              Consult the sheets containing the Grading Standards for Papers and Grading Criteria for Language and Literature Courses of the GREAL Department.