Project Summary: Students must write a minimum of 2000-3000 words in which they complete at an analysis using scholarly research. Write a 2000-3000 word paper on a topic related to Toni Morrison's Beloved. You should select your topic based on its literary value rather than for historical, social, or political values. In other words, this assignment involves an in-depth analysis of at least two sources based on their literary merits. I would warn you against summary and biography. Rather, you should focus on things like theme, symbolism, character analysis, etc.. You will find a set of articles provided in the Literary Analysis Assignment section of the course. You must select one of the articles, and then must find a second scholarly article related to the article as well. Your goal is to conduct a literary analysis in which you synthesize the two sources. You must bring some original ideas into your paper. You should also use the text as evidence. My focus in evaluating your paper will be to assess your general understanding of literature as illustrated by your reading and citation of appropriate passages from the text and your sources. Your citation should support, but not comprise, your literary analysis. Put some thought into how you will "frame your analysis and try to use some creativity in your approach. I will evaluate you on the following criteria: Rigor, logic, and originality of your readings Understanding of the formal literary issue(s) you examine Clear identification of your main idea in your introduction Appropriate and consistent organization Well substantiated analysis and synthesis with proper use of quotations and paraphrases from your texts and sources Creative, precise, and appropriate vocabulary and prose style Ability to deal with the texts in a literary situation in an ethical manner Level of engagement with the text as literature. Sophistication of style. (You must observe the essay writing guidelines from English 1301 and 1302) Your paper MUST have a Works Cited page which includes all of the sources you use including Beloved, and you must correctly use MLA citation format in the body of your paper and on the Works Cited portion of the paper. Remember that you need to focus on the text(s) based on their literary characteristics. You should have one main idea/concept you examine throughout the paper. You must stay focused on that topic. Considerable brainstorming and careful examination of the text(s) may suggest a thesis or theme for your paper.