Considerations for final paper

For your final paper, I'd like you to consider this question (which is really lots of other questions: Why do we study modern/contemporary literature? What does it have to say to us? What purposes do authors have in writing it and what do we get out of reading it? What makes something "contemporary" or "modern" literature? How is it different from other kinds of literature and does that difference represent an evolution or just a change? After we've moved on to another time period, what might this one be called, and what will be its hallmarks?

As always, you should make your arguments or points using specific evidence from the texts. (You can use outside texts but your points should be made *primarily* with texts from the course.)

Remember that for your last paper, if you'd like to make it more creative (like an HTML text, a movie, or some other genre) you can, so long as it retains comparable depth and rigor to a paper of 8 - 12 pages). If you have any questions please post them here.