Take Home Essay 4 Prompt:
This research paper is meant to be a deeper exploration of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Your paper should not simply summarize the book and your sources. You are tasked with choosing a topic/theme and formulating a well-supported argument based on the novel and outside research.
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Topics:
All essay topics need my approval. As a starting point, you may choose from the following or propose a topic of your own:
● Life, Death, and Aging – Exploring themes of loss, grief, end-of-life, and retirement.
● Humans and Animals – The many ways we connect with animals, from symbolism and storytelling to companionship, captivity, and/or conservation.
● Storytelling and Perspective – The use of multiple narrators and perspectives in literature.
● Home and Belonging – The meaning of home and personal connection to place.
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Sources:
Your paper should include the following:
● Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
● 1 peer-reviewed article from a Rutgers Library database
○ Suggested databases: Academic Search Premier, JSTOR
● 2-3 other sources from the Rutgers Library
○ (academic books, literary reviews, government publications, newspapers, textbooks, historical documents, etc.)
This is 4-5 sources in total. Essays that fail to incorporate the minimum number of sources will automatically earn a failing grade.
Evaluate your sources for their credibility and appropriateness for this paper. Do not use Wikipedia, blogs, essay-sharing websites, podcasts, Sparknotes/CliffsNotes, social media, Google’s AI Overview responses, or any other non-academic sources for this assignment.
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Paper requirements
Your paper should be 6-8 pages in length, have a clear thesis statement, and topic sentences, and incorporate evidence (direct quotations and paraphrasing. BOTH of these require correct in-text citations), and analysis. Follow MLA formatting guidelines, including a Works Cited page.
Please also include (and sign) the Academic Integrity pledge: On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized assistance on this assignment. X Your Name Here
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Deadlines:
Proposal (due at your conference with me)
Annotated Bibliography (due 4/16 on Canvas)
Rough Draft (due 4/23 on Canvas)
Final Draft (due 5/5 on Canvas)