Call for Feedback: American Literature Research Paper Pairings
Please review this list of possible options I plan to suggest to my American literature students for their research papers in the spring that focus on developing a comparative argument and supporting their writing with literary criticism. In the past, students were sent off on their own to read and write about an American author. It was daunting and most students didn't know where to start to find two works. They'll still have options, but I want to help them along a little more and suggest pairings that will work and they'll enjoy. Please add comments if you have any suggestions or email me at michellelblakely@gmail.com.
American Literature Research Paper Ideas for Sophomores: Please Give Feedback!
College Preparatory Level:
1. Amy Tan, The Joy Luck Club
College Preparatory Level:
1. Amy Tan, The Joy Luck Club
Gene Luen Yang, American-Born Chinese
Honors Level:
1. Amy Tan, Mother Tongue, The Joy Luck Club
2. Julia Alvarez, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent
3. David Guterson, Snow Falling on Cedars
6. Michael Dorris, The Yellow Raft in Blue Water
Amy Tan, “Mother Tongue”
2. Julia Alvarez, Saving the World or Before We Were FreeLaurie Halse Anderson, Fever
3. David Guterson, Snow Falling on CedarsJeanne Wakatsuki Houston, James A. Houston, Farewell to Manzanar
4. Chaim Potak, The ChosenArt Spiegelman, Maus I
5. Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s NestFlowers for Algernon
6. Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the SunHarlem Renaissance Poetry Selection
7. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451Kurt Vonnegut, “Harrison Bergeron”
8. Richard Wright, Black Boy Richard Wright, “The Man Who Was Almost a Man”
9. Bobby Ann Mason, In CountryThom Jones, “The Pugilist at Rest”
10. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching GodMary E. Lyons, Letters from a Slave Girl
11. John Steinbeck, The Grapes of WrathKaren Hesse, Out of the Dust
Honors Level:
1. Amy Tan, Mother Tongue, The Joy Luck Club
2. Julia Alvarez, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent
3. David Guterson, Snow Falling on Cedars
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, James A. Houston, Farewell to Manzanar
5. Chaim Potak, The Chosen6. Michael Dorris, The Yellow Raft in Blue Water
Sherman Alexie, “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” or “How to Write the Great American Indian Novel”
7. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451Kurt Vonnegut, “Harrison Bergeron”
8. Richard Wright, Black Boy Richard Wright, “The Man Who Was Almost a Man”
9. Bobby Ann Mason, In CountryThom Jones, “The Pugilist at Rest”
10. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching GodMary E. Lyons, Letters from a Slave Girl
11. John Steinbeck, The Grapes of WrathKaren Hesse, Out of the Dust
12. Maxine Hong Kingston, The Woman Warrior Adeline Yen Mah, Chinese Cinderella
