Description : Exploratory writing, often called “thesis-seeking prose,” can be a powerful way to refine our thinking, to use the best features of written discourse to come to a conclusion about a particular topic. Sometimes this kind of writing is also referred to as heuristic analysis . In other words, the process is as important as the end product. So for this paper, you will start with a question and explore the process of using library research to find an answer. The Assignment : Develop a question about any one of the texts assigned as reading this semester. For example, “How did Dante’s contemporaries react to The Divine Comedy ?” or “How did scientific developments in the Renaissance affect its literature?” This question should be one that genuinely interests you AND that keeps your attention focused on your primary text.
