Unit One- Fairy Tale Narrative
Purpose: One of the major goals of this class is to show how fairy tales apply to the human experience. This starts by showing how fairy tales have impacted your perception of identity and/or the world. The purpose of this paper is to further analyze this impact in the form of a narrative paper.
Topic: For Unit One, we explored a major theme of fairy tales: identity. The scholarly articles we read informed us on how fairy tales can be understood in terms of identity construction. To complete this unit, you will write an essay that reflects on your own experience with reading fairy tales.
Content: For this creative essay, you will select at least three specific examples from your own life that show how fairy tales have either directly or indirectly influenced your understanding of identity. You may choose 1-3 fairy tales to discuss. Specifically, you will consider how the fairy tales represented the character's identity. You will then analyze this representation by explaining how the particular fairy tale influenced your perception of identity. If you do not feel as if you can relate to this personal experience, you can still reflect on how the fairy tale could have influenced your perception of identity, indirectly.
For example, my favorite fairy tale was an adaption of Cinderella by Gail Carson Levine called was Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Through the character Ella, I learned to accept individuality and pursue my dreams despite difficulties or circumstances. As a college student, this might seem like a childish conclusion. However, as a ten/eleven year old on the verge of junior high, this was an important lesson to hold on to.
In my narrative, I might link the readings to personal, real life experiences. OR, I could describe how Ella's character and search for identity indirectly taught me something about the importance of embracing individuality. Either choice is acceptable.
Structure: This paper should follow a narrative structure. You're telling a story about how fairy tales influenced you personally or your understanding of identity. Although organizing the paper chronologically is probably the most fitting way to structure the paper, I will accept organization by events or fairy tales. As the writer, you can decide which way best fits your narrative. Like a story, your essay should have a beginning, a middle, and end. It will also include an introduction and a conclusion. Here are a few examples of a thesis statement for this paper:
*We will discuss thesis statement options for this paper in depth in class.
Format: This essay will follow the MLA guidelines, which can be found in your Everyday Writer. This paper should be at least three-full pages long. The paper should be written in Times New Roman 12pt font, double spaced. The margins should be set at 1 inch and there should be no extra paragraph spacing. Please include the MLA header and a title:
Name
Teacher's Name
Subject
Date Due
Insert Creative Title Here
You will use this format for every formal paper that we write in this class.
Topic: For Unit One, we explored a major theme of fairy tales: identity. The scholarly articles we read informed us on how fairy tales can be understood in terms of identity construction. To complete this unit, you will write an essay that reflects on your own experience with reading fairy tales.
Content: For this creative essay, you will select at least three specific examples from your own life that show how fairy tales have either directly or indirectly influenced your understanding of identity. You may choose 1-3 fairy tales to discuss. Specifically, you will consider how the fairy tales represented the character's identity. You will then analyze this representation by explaining how the particular fairy tale influenced your perception of identity. If you do not feel as if you can relate to this personal experience, you can still reflect on how the fairy tale could have influenced your perception of identity, indirectly.
For example, my favorite fairy tale was an adaption of Cinderella by Gail Carson Levine called was Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Through the character Ella, I learned to accept individuality and pursue my dreams despite difficulties or circumstances. As a college student, this might seem like a childish conclusion. However, as a ten/eleven year old on the verge of junior high, this was an important lesson to hold on to.
In my narrative, I might link the readings to personal, real life experiences. OR, I could describe how Ella's character and search for identity indirectly taught me something about the importance of embracing individuality. Either choice is acceptable.
Structure: This paper should follow a narrative structure. You're telling a story about how fairy tales influenced you personally or your understanding of identity. Although organizing the paper chronologically is probably the most fitting way to structure the paper, I will accept organization by events or fairy tales. As the writer, you can decide which way best fits your narrative. Like a story, your essay should have a beginning, a middle, and end. It will also include an introduction and a conclusion. Here are a few examples of a thesis statement for this paper:
- Through Ella Enchanted, I learned to embrace my individuality by accepting my uniqueness and pursing my dreams.
- Although I did not realize it at the time, Ella's character represented a strong female role who took charge of her circumstances. Through this novel, I perceived identity to be tied to friendship, honesty, and perseverance.
- From a young girl to a young adult, fairy tales characters like Snow White, Mulan, and Sleeping Beauty helped me to understand the construction of identity.
- The tale Jack and the Bean Stalk showed me that young boys should be bold, fight hard, and protect their families.
*We will discuss thesis statement options for this paper in depth in class.
Format: This essay will follow the MLA guidelines, which can be found in your Everyday Writer. This paper should be at least three-full pages long. The paper should be written in Times New Roman 12pt font, double spaced. The margins should be set at 1 inch and there should be no extra paragraph spacing. Please include the MLA header and a title:
Name
Teacher's Name
Subject
Date Due
Insert Creative Title Here
You will use this format for every formal paper that we write in this class.
Fairy Tale Narrative- Rubric
Introduction: 10
Incorporation of Identity: 10
Clearly Stating Main Ideas: 15
Using Specific Examples: 10
Explaining Points/Analysis: 15
Conclusion: 10
MLA Format: 5
Grammar: 10
Clarity: 10
Style: 5
Total: _________/100
Introduction: 10
- Does the author capture the audiences attention?
- Does the introduction prepare the reader for the rest of the essay?
- Does the author include a clear, concise thesis statement?
Incorporation of Identity: 10
- Does the author stay focused on the topic of identity?
Clearly Stating Main Ideas: 15
- Does the author's topic sentences reflect what the paragraph is about?
- Are the topic sentences clear and identifiable?
Using Specific Examples: 10
- Does the author support the main ideas of their paragraphs by using specific examples from fairy tales and their life?
Explaining Points/Analysis: 15
- Does the author explain why or how the examples they use support their claims/topic sentences?
- Does the author relate their experiences back to the thesis statement?
Conclusion: 10
- Does the author restate their thesis statement?
- Does the author re-emphasize the paper's purpose to the reader?
- Does the author highlight significant points?
- Does the author provide a "take away message"
MLA Format: 5
- Does the author include the MLA header
- Does the author include a catchy or creative title that reflect the paper?
- Does the author use 1 inch margins?
- Does the author 0 extra paragraph spacing?
- Does the author use Times New Roman 12 pt font?
Grammar: 10
- Does the author edit for MUGS?
Clarity: 10
- Are the author's points clear, logical, and understandable?
- Does the author pay attention to detail? (word choice, sentence structure)
- Does the author organize their paper in a comprehensive format?
Style: 5
- Does the author use a story-telling/narrative style in their paper?
- Does the author use an appropriate tone for the assignment?
- Does the author's paper reflect their own voice?
Total: _________/100
Unit Two- Summary and Response on Gender
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to respond to a scholarly source that explores gender and fairy tales.
Topic: As long as it addresses some aspect of gender in fairy tales, you may choose an approved scholarly article.
Content: This paper will first introduce the text, summarize the text, and provide your response to the text. Your paper should follow CABIN (Clear, Accurate, Brief, Independent, and Neutral). when you summarize the article. Your response should clearly define your reaction to the text. Consider the following questions:
We will go into detail on how to write an effective response in class. There will also be resources for you to use in the "Resource" tab.
Structure: This paper will include an introduction that identifies the text that you will be responding to and your thesis statement. You will the write a 1-2 paragraph summary of the article followed by a response. The paper will end with a conclusion. For your response paragraphs, you will follow the body paragraph structure: claims, evidence, analysis, and connections.
Format: This essay will follow the MLA guidelines, which can be found in your Everyday Writer. This paper should be three-four pages long. The paper should be written in Times New Roman 12pt font, double spaced. The margins should be set at 1 inch and there should be no extra paragraph spacing. Please include the MLA header and a title.
Topic: As long as it addresses some aspect of gender in fairy tales, you may choose an approved scholarly article.
Content: This paper will first introduce the text, summarize the text, and provide your response to the text. Your paper should follow CABIN (Clear, Accurate, Brief, Independent, and Neutral). when you summarize the article. Your response should clearly define your reaction to the text. Consider the following questions:
- Why did you agree or disagree with the argument made in the article?
- How could this article apply to fairy tales or something we've learned in class?
- What elements were particularly interesting and why?
- Did you identify any gaps or assumptions in the author's argument? Explain.
We will go into detail on how to write an effective response in class. There will also be resources for you to use in the "Resource" tab.
Structure: This paper will include an introduction that identifies the text that you will be responding to and your thesis statement. You will the write a 1-2 paragraph summary of the article followed by a response. The paper will end with a conclusion. For your response paragraphs, you will follow the body paragraph structure: claims, evidence, analysis, and connections.
Format: This essay will follow the MLA guidelines, which can be found in your Everyday Writer. This paper should be three-four pages long. The paper should be written in Times New Roman 12pt font, double spaced. The margins should be set at 1 inch and there should be no extra paragraph spacing. Please include the MLA header and a title.
Summary and Response Rubric
Introduction: 10
Summary Paragraph: 15
Claims: 10
Using Specific Examples: 10
Explaining Points/Analysis: 10
Connections: 10
Conclusion: 10
MLA Format: 5
Grammar: 10
Clarity: 10
Introduction: 10
- Does the author capture the audiences' attention?
- Does the introduction prepare the reader for the essay's?
- Does the author include a clear, concise thesis statement?
Summary Paragraph: 15
- Does the author provide a clear summary?
- Does the author provide an accurate summary?
- Does the author provide a brief summary?
- Does the author provide a summary that is independent from the article they read?
- Does the author maintain a neutral perspective?
Claims: 10
- Does the author' use a claim that supports their thesis statement?
- Does the author make an argumentative claim?
- Does the author's claim include a specific response to the article?
- Are the topic sentences clear and identifiable?
Using Specific Examples: 10
- Does the author support the main ideas of their paragraphs by using specific examples from the source text?
Explaining Points/Analysis: 10
- Does the author explain why or how the examples they used are significant
- Does the analysis support their claims/topic sentences?
Connections: 10
- Does the author show how each paragraph back connects to their thesis statement?
Conclusion: 10
- Does the author restate their thesis statement?
- Does the author re-emphasize the paper's purpose to the reader?
- Does the author highlight significant points?
- Does the author provide a "take away message"
MLA Format: 5
- Does the author include the MLA header
- Does the author include a catchy or creative title that reflect the paper?
- Does the author use 1 inch margins?
- Does the author 0 extra paragraph spacing?
- Does the author use Times New Roman 12 pt font?
Grammar: 10
- Does the author edit for MUGS?
Clarity: 10
- Are the author's points clear, logical, and understandable?
- Does the author pay attention to detail? (word choice, sentence structure)
- Does the author organize their paper in a comprehensive format?
- Does the author use an appropriate tone for the assignment?
Unit Three- Fairy Tale Culture Analysis
Purpose: The goal of this paper is to develop your own argument that analyzes the role of culture and society in fairy tales. You should develop a rhetorically effective argument that uses specific evidence from scholarly articles to support your analysis.
Topics: Similar to the last paper, you are allowed to choose your specific topic as long as it analyzes some aspect of culture/society and fairy tales. I will need to approve your topic. Since open-ended topics can sometimes be difficult to navigate through, here are some questions to help you brainstorm.
This is just a general list of questions to get you thinking. You are not limited to these questions. We will discuss, in class, how to develop a focused topic and argument.
Content: This paper is different from the last two, because it asks you to form your own argument. Rather than respond to a scholarly article, you are actually going to use that article to support your opinion. To succeed in your analysis, you should construct a very specific thesis. Avoid being too general. For example: Fairy tales show us a lot about culture.
If you were to write a paper using this thesis, it would turn into a book or even a series of books. The topic is simply too big for a 4 page analysis. This paper is not to show why fairy tales are important or why people should read fairy tales. In stead, it should show what fairy tales can specifically show about a culture or society. For example:
The Disney fairy tale, Cinderella, reveals society's negative views of divorce and blended families as shown through the Step Mother and Step Sisters.
Although there may or may not be specific articles on this topic, I can use historical and psychological sources to support this argument. Your goal is to not restate an argument that's already been made. Instead, you should aim to create a new argument or expand on an argument that's already been made. This can be a difficult skill to successfully apply in your papers. For this reason, we will spend time in class on how to develop your own argument and how to support it with scholarly sources. I will also provide additional information in the Resources tab.
Structure: This essay will include an introduction, argumentative body paragraphs (claims, evidence, analysis, and connections) and a conclusion. This paper is different from the last paper in that it does not include a summary paragraph. The focus is on your argument. You're simply using the sources to explain and defend your opinion.
Format: This essay will follow the MLA guidelines, which can be found in your Everyday Writer. This paper should be four to five pages long. The paper should be written in Times New Roman 12pt font, double spaced. The margins should be set at 1 inch and there should be no extra paragraph spacing. Please include the MLA header and a title.
Topics: Similar to the last paper, you are allowed to choose your specific topic as long as it analyzes some aspect of culture/society and fairy tales. I will need to approve your topic. Since open-ended topics can sometimes be difficult to navigate through, here are some questions to help you brainstorm.
- How do fairy tales change between cultures?
- What do we gain from studying fairy tales from different cultures?
- How can fairy tales sponsor critical awareness?
- How are power structures either supported or broken in traditional fairy tales?
- How can fairy tales be used to re-define cultural stereotypes
This is just a general list of questions to get you thinking. You are not limited to these questions. We will discuss, in class, how to develop a focused topic and argument.
Content: This paper is different from the last two, because it asks you to form your own argument. Rather than respond to a scholarly article, you are actually going to use that article to support your opinion. To succeed in your analysis, you should construct a very specific thesis. Avoid being too general. For example: Fairy tales show us a lot about culture.
If you were to write a paper using this thesis, it would turn into a book or even a series of books. The topic is simply too big for a 4 page analysis. This paper is not to show why fairy tales are important or why people should read fairy tales. In stead, it should show what fairy tales can specifically show about a culture or society. For example:
The Disney fairy tale, Cinderella, reveals society's negative views of divorce and blended families as shown through the Step Mother and Step Sisters.
Although there may or may not be specific articles on this topic, I can use historical and psychological sources to support this argument. Your goal is to not restate an argument that's already been made. Instead, you should aim to create a new argument or expand on an argument that's already been made. This can be a difficult skill to successfully apply in your papers. For this reason, we will spend time in class on how to develop your own argument and how to support it with scholarly sources. I will also provide additional information in the Resources tab.
Structure: This essay will include an introduction, argumentative body paragraphs (claims, evidence, analysis, and connections) and a conclusion. This paper is different from the last paper in that it does not include a summary paragraph. The focus is on your argument. You're simply using the sources to explain and defend your opinion.
Format: This essay will follow the MLA guidelines, which can be found in your Everyday Writer. This paper should be four to five pages long. The paper should be written in Times New Roman 12pt font, double spaced. The margins should be set at 1 inch and there should be no extra paragraph spacing. Please include the MLA header and a title.
Fairy Tale Analysis Rubric
Introduction: 10
Claims: 10
Using Specific Examples: 15
Explaining Points/Analysis: 15
Connections: 10
Conclusion: 10
MLA Format: 5
Grammar: 10
Clarity: 15
Introduction: 10
- Does the author capture the audiences' attention?
- Does the introduction prepare the reader for the essay's?
- Does the author include a clear, concise thesis statement?
- Does the author make their own argument?
Claims: 10
- Does the author' use a claim that supports their thesis statement?
- Does the author make an argumentative claim?
- It the author's claim specific?
- Are the topic sentences clear and identifiable?
Using Specific Examples: 15
- Does the author support their argument by using specific examples from scholarly sources.
- Does the author effectively use paraphrasing and direct quotes?
Explaining Points/Analysis: 15
- Does the author explain why or how the examples they used are significant
- Does the analysis support their claims/topic sentences?
Connections: 10
- Does the author show how each paragraph back connects to their thesis statement?
Conclusion: 10
- Does the author restate their thesis statement?
- Does the author re-emphasize the paper's purpose to the reader?
- Does the author highlight significant points?
- Does the author provide a "take away message"
MLA Format: 5
- Does the author include the MLA header
- Does the author include a catchy or creative title that reflect the paper?
- Does the author use 1 inch margins?
- Does the author 0 extra paragraph spacing?
- Does the author use Times New Roman 12 pt font?
Grammar: 10
- Does the author edit for MUGS?
Clarity: 15
- Are the author's points clear, logical, and understandable?
- Does the author pay attention to detail? (word choice, sentence structure)
- Does the author organize their paper in a comprehensive format?
- Does the author use an appropriate tone for the assignment?
Unit Four- Modern Fairy Tale Re-Write + Research Rationale
Purpose: This semester, we have explored the truth in fairy tales by focusing on gender, society, and identity. For this assignment, your job is to apply what you've learned by constructing a modern fairy tale. For the second portion of this paper, you will use scholarly texts to develop a rationale for what you wrote.
The Story: The story can either be a re-writing of a traditional fairy tale. Or, it can be a new fairy tale all together. It should explore at least one of the following: identity, gender, society, and/or culture. This is your opportunity to be creative. The story should be at least 3 pages, double spaced and follow MLA guidelines.
The Rationale: The rationale should defend your written fairy tale as a modern interpretation. You should use scholarly articles that we've read in class to support your argument. You should also include at least three resources that you've found on your own. You should use at least 5 sources total.
Your thesis should be a clear, concise argument that defend your story as a modern fairy tale. It should heavily rely on scholarly articles and evidence. You will then analyse that evidence to support your thesis statement. Your body paragraphs should follow the general structure: claims, evidence, analysis, and connections.
Your rationale should be at least 5-6 pages and follow MLA guidelines.
The Story: The story can either be a re-writing of a traditional fairy tale. Or, it can be a new fairy tale all together. It should explore at least one of the following: identity, gender, society, and/or culture. This is your opportunity to be creative. The story should be at least 3 pages, double spaced and follow MLA guidelines.
The Rationale: The rationale should defend your written fairy tale as a modern interpretation. You should use scholarly articles that we've read in class to support your argument. You should also include at least three resources that you've found on your own. You should use at least 5 sources total.
Your thesis should be a clear, concise argument that defend your story as a modern fairy tale. It should heavily rely on scholarly articles and evidence. You will then analyse that evidence to support your thesis statement. Your body paragraphs should follow the general structure: claims, evidence, analysis, and connections.
Your rationale should be at least 5-6 pages and follow MLA guidelines.
Modern Fairy Tale Re-Write + Research Rationale Rubric
Fairy Tale Re-Write
Research Rationale
Given the creative nature of this assignment, the students will participate in creating the rubric for this paper. They will come up with categories and corresponding questions that will be included in the rubric. I will provide the following categories as a foundation.
Fairy Tale Re-Write
Research Rationale
Given the creative nature of this assignment, the students will participate in creating the rubric for this paper. They will come up with categories and corresponding questions that will be included in the rubric. I will provide the following categories as a foundation.
- Body Paragraph Structure
- Clarity
- Thesis Statement
- Introduction and Conclusion
- Style
- Sentence Structure
- Organization