Paper #1 Assignment: 

First Draft Due: February 15th 

1. Explore the main characters' struggle to reconcile sense of self with how others perceive them.  The first thing you would want to do is set up the way each character perceives him or herself, and then demonstrate how others perceive that character. Then, describe the ways in which each character attempts to reconcile (either accept or struggle against) those perceptions. You may deal with one character at a time or go back and forth between characters, as you deem works well in your narrative. Your characters' sense of self could be focused primarily on culture, social status, economic status, race, nationality, physical ability or disability, and/or emotional well-being. In any case, your main focus will be on the way in which those characters cope with their struggles to reconcile transitions (or “border crossings”), which will be made evident through perceptions of those around them, as well as the ways in which your characters absorb, reject, accept, or struggle with such perceptions.  

2. Explore the issue of bi-culturalism: how, within your chosen pieces, do the main characters deal with being of two worlds? What are the benefits and drawbacks for each character of having been born in one country, or who grow up at home under one culture and language, and are living in or being assimilated to another? Of what culture/country does each of these characters identify? Why or why not? What struggles does each face? Explain. For each of these characters, where, if anywhere, does the “border” lie? Again, you may deal with one character at a time or go back and forth between characters, as works within your narrative. In this instance, you will be dealing specifically with culture and/or ethnicity.

* First draft should include a paragraph at the end that outlines your strategy for the continuation of your paper. Due in class for drafting workshop on February 15th. 

NOTE: 3 points, or the equivalent of a half a letter grade, will be taken off of your final paper grade if you do not turn in at least three pages of a draft at the beginning of class! BRING 2 COPIES OF YOUR DRAFT!! (One for me and one for draft workshop). NO EXCEPTIONS!! 

** ALWAYS, ALWAYS give textual examples to support your claims and make sure you properly cite quotations and paraphrased examples. You need to use a parenthetical citation at the end of every sentence/s in which you either cite a quote or paraphrase the author's words. Since you are using one source for this assignment, which is a compilation of other authors' texts (The Bedford Introduction to Literature), the citation would include the author's last name and page number; example: (Chai 112). For this assignment, I WILL require a Work Cited page.