The two writing assignments are intended to work together, the second being a continuation of the first. Although your topic may be refined as you work on it, you may not change your topic substantially without prior approval from me. Both papers including bibliographies must follow MLA style. Guidance for MLA style can be found in Writing about Theatre by Rick Davis, A Writer’s Reference by Diana Hacker and on the Cook Library Website.
Chapters one through three of Writing about Theatre, by Rick Davis, provide very useful guidance about the research and writing process. Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference offers a well-organized range of advice about issues in academic writing and about specific points of grammar and usage. Students are also encouraged to meet privately with the instructor to discuss any part of these assignments.
Research proposal, 1-2 perfectly written, typed double-spaced pages.
The first writing assignment is a research proposal for the paper. Read the guidelines for developing topics on the next page, begin to do some research (try starting with the textbook), and formulate a specific focus and working thesis for your paper. In well-written essay form, tell me: 1) what your topic will be; 2) how and why you chose the topic (what is its significance?); 3) your working thesis: what opinion will you try to support, or at least what question(s) about the topic will you address? 4) your intended approach. How will you attempt to investigate the problem or answer the questions? (Methodology); 5) how you have conducted your research so far, and what you have discovered; 6) also include a preliminary bibliography which lists at least five sources, at least one of which is an article from a journal, periodical, or newspaper. This is imperative. You will lose points if you do not complete this step as described.
For each topic, use your textbook or another general history or encyclopedia to gain a fundamental idea of production techniques in the period. Oscar Brockett’s History of the Theatre and John Russell Brown’s The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre are excellent examples of single-volume histories. Other useful beginning references include the Oxford Companion to the Theatre and the Cambridge Guide to World Theatre. The Oxford and Cambridge presses have also recently published volumes dedicated to specific areas of theatre history. After you consult a general reference (or two, or three) start looking for more specific information on your topic in books and journals. You may also find historic research in related disciplines such as art and music helpful to your exploration.
Your paper should explore an area of particular interest to you. The following areas should offer you further ideas for general topics:
Above all, follow your interests and your intellectual curiosity. If you have an idea that is not quite covered by one of these general categories, please come talk to me about it and we will define something that meets the parameters of the course and appeals to you. Remember that the topic is just a starting point for finding the specific thesis about this topic that you will explore in your paper.
This assignment will be submitted electronically through the course Blackboard site in doc or rtf format. The document name must begin with your last name. For example, Jay Herzog’s proposal would be labeled Herzogproposal.doc or Herzogproposal.rtf. This proposal should be sent through the assignments section of the class Blackboard site. (For instructions, see http://www.towson.edu/blackboard/Documents/Student/Stu_Complete_Assignment.pdf.} To verify the assignment has been properly submitted, visit the grades section of the class Blackboard site. Each student is responsible for making sure the assignment has been submitted.