Thomas-Nov2025

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.

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.

Sources

Your paper should include the following:

• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (fiction)
• 1 peer-reviewed article from the Rutgers Library (nonfiction)
  • Suggested databases: Academic Search Premier, JSTOR
• 2-3 other sources from the Rutgers Library (nonfiction)
  • (academic books, literary reviews, government publications, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, historical documents, documentaries, etc.)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.