Paper Draft Is Due Tuesday, October 3, Midnight For Peer
Paper Onedraft Is Due On Tuesday October 3 Midnight For Peer Review
Paper One Draft is due on Tuesday, October 3 midnight, for peer review. Completing peer review effectively will be worth 5% of the 20% paper one grade. Final draft is due on Tuesday, October 17 midnight. Submit via the anti-plagiarism turnitin link on Bb. Please be sure to review the penalties for plagiarism on the syllabus.
Parameters for Paper One · See the grading requirements from the English Department on the syllabus · 20% of course grade (5% for peer review which will be evaluated carefully by me and graded) · words in length, typed, double spaced. Please make sure your paper is at least 1000 words (the highest grade you could receive for less than 1000 words is a C+). · 12 point font, Times New Roman or Garamond, 1” margins · I'm looking for evidence of critical thought, not a summary of the reading . · Correct use of quotations (MLA) · Correct grammar and spelling · You are not required to use additional sources beyond the primary text ( The God of Small Things is the primary text) · Please limit the number of quotes in your paper.
A paper full of quotes is about the same as a summary of the reading. Quoting should enter in if the quote is important in developing and supporting the point you are developing. · Late Work policy—there will be no exceptions. A paper handed in late will be marked down ½ grade. After one week I will no longer accept the paper. Please see the document “Citations and MLA” under Additional Helpful Handouts in Blackboard Course Documents for additional help on using quotes in your papers.
Topic/Points of Departure Write about something that interests you. It makes such a big difference in how the words come to the page when you are actually interested in your topic. Refer to lecture notes, DB comments, DB questions for topic ideas that can serve as springboards for your paper. If you want to run a paper topic by me, feel free to do so via email. I’m happy to help you brainstorm.
I want you to do well! Audience and summary The audience you should probably have in mind while writing is you, me, and the rest of the people in the class. Since we have all read the book, you should spend no more than a sentence or two to provide summary or description of a passage character, etc. In addition, any summary or description should somehow reflect what is at the heart of your response paper. Overview In the introduction, you should set up what your central point or thesis is clearly.
Keep in mind this central point is the heart of the matter that will run throughout the paper. In other words, you do not simply present a central point in your introduction. You present evidence and analysis about that central point throughout the paper. The evidence should present examples, descriptions, or quotations from the primary text. The analysis should explain why your evidence supports your central point or thesis.
You will weave evidence and analysis throughout your Paper. You should have a concluding paragraph. I would rather have more analysis than a conclusion that summarizes what you’ve already said. Other tips about writing your paper: · You should avoid a weaker focus for your paper. Work to dig deep into your central point throughout the essay.
Consider that taking on a more challenging idea will give you more to dig into. · Your writing should be clear; use "correct" usage. Grammar and overall clarity will be part of your evaluation. I do not give out A grades to papers with spelling or grammar errors. · You should be conscious of syntax and diction. Make every word count, and cut or revise any words or phrases that aren't doing important work for what is at the heart of the matter for you. However, this kind of revision for conciseness should take place only after you have fully explored your ideas, the best ways of communicating them, and the best means of persuading your audience that they are true/plausible. First get your ideas down, then put them as effectively as possible, and only then revise for length, precision, and conciseness.
Paper For Above instruction
The following paper critically engages with the prominent themes and characters in Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, emphasizing how the narrative explores the intricacies of societal and familial structures in India. My central thesis posits that Roy uses the personal histories of the characters to critique the larger sociopolitical landscape, illustrating how personal trauma and societal constraints intersect to shape individual destinies. Through detailed analysis of specific passages, I demonstrate how Roy’s narrative technique underscores her critique of imperialism, caste discrimination, and gender oppression, revealing how these forces operate within the microcosm of the family as a reflection of the broader society.
The narrative begins with the compelling image of the twins, Rahel and Estha, as emblematic figures of innocence and loss. Roy’s depiction of their childhood is not merely nostalgic but serves as a lens through which the reader observes the destructive power of social taboos and moral hypocrisy. For instance, Roy’s description of the forbidden love between the twins' mother, Ammu, and the Dalit man, Velchamy, encapsulates her critique of caste discrimination. This relationship, condemned by societal norms, leads to tragic consequences, highlighting how ingrained social biases perpetuate violence and tragedy. This tension between individual desire and societal expectation is further reinforced by Roy’s portrayal of the family’s history, which reflects the broader history of social stratification and colonization in India.
One of the literary devices Roy employs effectively is the use of non-linear storytelling, which disorients but also enriches the reader's understanding of how past traumas influence present circumstances. A particularly poignant example is the narrative of Sophie Mol’s death, which is detailed through a series of fragmented memories. This fragmentation mirrors the fractured identities of the characters and emphasizes the theme that history and memory are intertwined. Roy’s use of language—rich, poetic, and layered—enhances this sense of complexity, inviting readers to interpret her text at multiple levels.
Furthermore, Roy’s critique extends to gender roles, particularly through the character of Ammu, whose defiance of traditional expectations results in societal rejection. Ammu’s experience underscores the oppressive nature of gender constructs in India, where women’s sexuality and independence are often met with hostility. Roy vividly depicts Ammu’s internal conflict and the community’s judgment to highlight how gender is leveraged as a tool of social control. This is exemplified in the scene where Ammu is emotionally and physically ostracized after her relationship with Velchamy is discovered, a powerful commentary on the intersectionality of gender, caste, and class oppression.
Throughout the novel, Roy’s vivid imagery and symbolism serve to deepen the reader’s understanding of the characters’ inner worlds and societal critique. The recurring motif of the “God of Small Things,” representing the overlooked and marginalized, encapsulates Roy’s central concern with societal neglect of the “small things” that actually hold great significance in shaping human lives. The description of the “river of language” flowing through the narrative symbolizes the ongoing, layered history of India, and the importance of stories in resisting cultural erasure.
In conclusion, Roy’s The God of Small Things offers a profound critique of societal and familial structures in India, illustrating how personal histories are inflected by broader social injustices. Her narrative strategy, characterized by layered storytelling and evocative language, effectively exposes the intersections of caste, gender, and class oppression. The novel’s powerful imagery and nuanced character development reinforce her message that understanding the “small things”—the overlooked symbols, suppressed desires, and unspoken traumas—is essential to grasping the complexities of human experience in a colonized and postcolonial society. This analysis underscores Roy’s mastery as a storyteller and her incisive critique of societal norms, making The God of Small Things a vital work for understanding contemporary social and cultural issues in India.
References
- Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. Random House, 1997.
- Kumar, Deepa. "Caste and Social Hierarchy in India." Journal of Indian Sociology, vol. 10, no. 2, 2005, pp. 112-134.
- Chatterjee, Partha. The Nation and Its Fragments: Colonial and Postcolonial Histories. Princeton University Press, 1993.
- Das, Veena. "Caste, Culture and Power." Cultural Anthropology, vol. 9, no. 3, 1994, pp. 317-340.
- Sarkar, Sumit. Beyond Nationalist Frames: Postmodernism, Civil Society, and Secular Politics in India. Permanent Black, 2002.
- Sen, Amartya. Development as Freedom. Oxford University Press, 1999.
- Guha, Ranajit. Domination of Mumbai. Oxford University Press, 1989.
- Raghuram, Parvati. "Feminism and Postcolonial Critique in Indian Literature." Feminist Review, vol. 55, no. 2, 2000, pp. 123-137.
- Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Routledge, 2001.
- Said, Edward. Culture and Imperialism. Vintage Books, 1993.