T C 357: Comedy, Ancient and Modern
Paper assignment 1
Due Friday, February 4th
In a paper of 3-5 pages, address the following.
You are Plautus. In the area of the Elysian Fields reserved for playwrights, you have met either Shakespeare, or the team that wrote Boys from Syracuse (Rodgers, Hart, and Abbott). Tell him or them what you think of one aspect of how he or they dealt with the plot you presented in Double Bind. You may be critical, complementary, or neutral on how his/their play is similar to or different from your own.
Keep in mind the following:
1. Your paper should be 3-5 pages, typed, double-spaced. I need a
neat paper copy, not an electronic version.
2. Choose only one aspect of the plays, preferably the aspect you
have chosen to specialize in this semester.
3. You do not need to use any secondary works for this essay. Feel
free, however, to use whatever secondary works you consider
appropriate, but be sure that all such works are thoroughly cited,
and that your essay reflects your own thinking.
4. Proofread carefully. Papers with egregious mistakes in grammar or
spelling will receive very low grades.
5. Be sure to hand in your paper on time. Remember that papers will
lose one letter grade for each week they are late.
6. Be very conscious of structure: provide a clear introduction and
conclusion, each with a summary of your major arguments. Arrange your
arguments logically and succinctly, with appropriate transitions
between paragraphs.
7. Please come to see me at any time if I can provide advice or
assistance. I will also be glad to look over a draft of your paper
before the due date.
8. Remember the guidelines of your general
paper guidelines.
Grading
Your grade will be calculated as follows:
Accuracy in citing Plautus and Shakespeare or Rodgers/Hart/Abbott: 10
points
Cogency of arguments: 20 points
Substance of arguments: 20 points
Structure: 20 points
Clarity: 20 points
Style, grammar, and spelling: 10 points