Great Plains Studies: English 458/858P
Writing and Group Assignments:
Students must complete a Group Presentation as well as a one of the following final writing projects for credit for Great Plains Studies:
GROUP PRESENTATION
Students will be assigned to groups who will work together to take any aspect of the course materials and discussions, deepen through collaborative research, and present the information to the class on Friday in a 20-30 minute panel.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A formal Critical Analysis must be 6-8 pages (undergraduate) or 10-12 pages (graduate 2 hours credit) or 15-20 pages (graduate 3 hours credit)in length, contain scholarly references as support, and should conform to the format detailed in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Students may determine their own topics. A paper may focus on a specific subject or theme discussed in class, one topic of a specific work, or it may be a comparison of one or more books. The only requirements are that the paper contain a clear, thoughtful thesis, that it is unified and intelligently organized, and that it is well-written, both grammatically and stylistically.
CREATIVE RESPONSE
Students may also opt to write a 6-8 page (undergraduate), 10-12 page (graduate 2 hours credit), or 15-20 page (graduate 3 hours credit) creative response (Poetry, creative nonfiction, or fiction) on themes or subjects discussed in class. The work should be polished and unified as a collection or as a single work (short story or essay).
TEACHING UNIT
A teaching unit may also be organized which should include an Introduction or Overview, a list of Learning Objectives, Assignments and Activities, and a Bibliography of Resources and References. Power Point presentations, Web Sites, and/or Handouts are encouraged.