You must write and submit a term paper of about 10-12 pages. Yet, it is less word count than depth of analysis that will be essential to your grade. The term paper should address a specific theme, question, or problem that emerged from your viewing of the GOT. The said object of analysis or essayistic exploration should be approached through the lenses of literary, cinematographic, and social theories, particularly but not restricted to those encountered in this class during the semester. You are welcome to draw from readings you’ve made outside of the class. Besides using the historiographical, narratological, and theoretical insights provided by the lecture and the readings, you are encouraged to draw parallels between GOT and the classical epic narratives we’ve explored in this class.
This assignment expects that you compose an original and personal piece of writing, analysis, and critique from the varied materials the class has presented you with.
Grading Criteria for Term Paper.
The paper will be assessed based on the following criteria, for a total of 40 possible points: 1 Coherence of the interpretative argument (12 points)
o The paper has a clearly formulated interpretive or argumentative project
o The interpretation/argument is well-developed and substantiated with evidence from the Show and the secondary literature.
o The paper offers nuanced, in-depth analysis and opens up to broader cultural and social questions (i.e., it does not merely paraphrases either the show or the literature)
2 Demonstrated knowledge of the material (12 points)
o The paper uses primary sources and secondary literature, mainly those covered in the class but not restricted to those.
3 Clarity, quality of writing (10 points)
o The paper is clearly and sharply written
o The expression of ideas is clear
o The essay’s structure is clear and logical
4 Mechanics (6 points)
o Proper grammar and punctuation, accurate word choice, and correct spelling
o Proper citations (full references including page numbers)
Late papers will lose 5 percentage points for each day that they are late.
HERE is all the sources we used in class
Coogler, Ryan (Director) Black Panther (2018)
Firdawsi Shahnameh : the Persian book of kings
Ford, John (Director) The Searchers (1956) [Streaming Video]
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel, 1927-2014. One hundred years of solitude
Hardt, Michael, 1960- Empire
Hopkins, A. G. (Antony G.) American empire : a global history
Kiernan, V. G. (Victor Gordon), 1913-2009. America, the new imperialism : from white settlement to world hegemony
Kurosawa, Akira, 1910-1998. Ran
Moretti, Franco, 1950- Modern epic : the world-system from Goethe to Garcia Marquez
Quint, David, 1950- Epic and empire : politics and generic form from Virgil to Milton
Snyder, Zack (Director) 300 (2006) [Streaming Video]
Turner, Frederick Jackson The frontier in American history
Zinn, Howard, 1922-2010. A people’s history of American empire : a graphic adaptation
Xenophon Cyropaedia v.2
