The primary source of this paper will be Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, but you will also use 3 to 4 outside sources (from Rutgers Library) to make an argument about one of the topics listed below. You may also design a topic of your choice; however, I must approve this topic IN ADVANCE.
The paper must be 6 to 8 pages if using double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins (about 2,250 - 3,000 words), use correct MLA format, and include a works cited page.
POSSIBLE PROMPTS:
1. The children at Hailsham are "special" because they are born and raised specifically for organ donations. What argument does the novel make about cloning humans for organ donations, and in what ways is cloning a valid or invalid resource as we consider the ethics of its use in medical research and practice? (Use sources that have been written in the last 20 years only.)
2. One of the most peculiar aspects of the novel is that the children never seem to fight their chosen future or try to escape their fate. How does this novel address the difficulty surrounding attempts to escape the boundaries of social class or caste system, and to what extent do real-life caste systems support the novel's perspective?
3. Many of the Hailsham kids look for their "possibles." How does current research on the value or flexibility of family unit support, complicate, or refute the impact of the relationships in the novel?
4. Despite, or perhaps because of, the clones' infertility, sex plays a significant role in the novel. Does the clones' ability to have sex without consequences contribute to the students' social status as lesser beings? Using research on perceptions of promiscuity or infertility, analyze the way sexual behavior influences social standing.
5. Is the author making a statement about organ donations through this book? If so, what is it? Can it be backed by science? If not, what could the takeaway be coming from this novel? Does it have any scientific support? (Use sources that have been written in the last 20 years only.)
6. A topic of your choosing that analyzes NLMG and relates to social issues. (Let me review it first.)