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\centerline{MONT 107Q -- Thinking About Mathematics}
\centerline{Second Writing Assignment}
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For the second of the larger paper assignments this semester, you have
the choice to either  
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\item{$\bullet$} To look in detail at one of the stories in Ovid, and
trace its ``afterlife'' in popular culture.  This last part will require some
research and so you will need to follow usual procedures for a research paper,
document your sources carefully, etc.  
\item{$\bullet$} To write a {\it metamorphosis} of your own in prose or
poetry along the lines of one of Ovid's stories, together with an explanation
for what you were trying to do.   
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The expectations and requirements for each of these options are slightly 
different, so please read the following carefully and make note of what
you are asked to do before starting to work(!)

Please submit via Google Docs or as a MS Word .doc or .docx file to
{\tt jlittle@holycross.edu} by 5:00pm on Monday, February 6.

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{\it Topic 1 -- Pygmalion}

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One of the most famous of the stories in the {\it Metamorphoses} is
 told in a relatively brief section of book X (pages 335 - 338 in 
the Mandelbaum translation).  The tale of the sculptor Pygmalion 
and his creation of ``a female figure more exquisite than a woman
who was born could ever match'' has many twists and turns.  By
implication at least, it also has a happy ending (we might expect a 
disaster on the grounds that Pygmalion has usurped the prerogatives of the 
gods by making such a life-like statue to start with!)  
For this paper topic, you should start out by 
giving your analysis of Ovid's version of the story.  How and why 
are the metamorphosis in this story different from those in others we read?
In particular, you should consider the implications of the fact that Venus 
apparently looks with favor on the marriage of Pygmalion and his creation and
grants them a normal married life, children, etc.  

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{\it Paper topic 2}
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Some recent literary criticism has argued that ``Western'' films and novels
deal primarily with masculine issues and leave the concerns and experiences
of women almost entirely out of the picture.  Women appear 
only as plot devices or as sexual objects and the main focus is on the importance 
of masculinity, standards of male conduct, and the problem of creating an authentic
male identity.  (And if women do take a key part, the underlying ``point'' is how they are
taking on masculine roles -- think of the role of ``Emma Cullen'' in last year's {\it The
Magnificent Seven} played by Haley Bennett if you saw that film.)
To what extent do you think this is true about {\it All the Pretty Horses}?  
Do women have important roles? If so, who are the women, what are their roles, and how are 
they different from male roles?  
What sorts of relationships does John Grady Cole have with women? What are his attitudes about 
women?  
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{\it Paper topic 3}
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Identify some aspect of {\it All the Pretty Horses} that you find especially interesting
or noteworthy, frame a thesis in response to a question about that aspect, and present a 
argument supporting your proposed answer.  I would be happy to discuss possible ideas
before you begin to write.
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{\it Guidelines for this assignment}
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Follow these specifications:
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\item{1.} It is OK to discuss preliminary ideas for what you want to say with
your classmates or with me if you want.  I will also have time to read
preliminary drafts and get feedback to you again on this paper.  
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\item{2.} As usual, start by clearly stating the main idea you want
to get across in your paper -- its {\it thesis}.  It should be clear to the 
reader which of the two topics you are addressing.  
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\item{3.}  In the following paragraphs, by drawing on our class discussions, and
 your reading of {\it All the Pretty Horses}, present your evidence for your conclusions.
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\item{4.}  You may present evidence consisting of quotations of passages 
from the book, together with interpretations of those passages 
that come from your own thinking about them.  
Your evidence should be as specific, detailed, correct, and as varied
as possible (focus on small details and mention
the little things that support your point of view).  If you do use quotations,
identify them sufficiently carefully that I can easily track them down.
(For quotations from {\it All the Pretty Horses}, a page number in the Vintage
paperback edition is sufficient.) 
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\item{5.}  Your essay should be well-organized as a whole and ``flow'' 
from one point to the next.  Following an overall outline laid out in advance,
subdivide your paper into paragraphs that
each have one main point.  Do not repeat pieces of evidence unless
there is a very good reason for doing so.  Do not get ahead of yourself.
Say one thing at a time.  If you decide you want to add something, 
do not just tack it on somewhere.  Instead, figure out where it fits in the overall
scheme of your argument and put it where it belongs.
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\item{6.}  As always, your sentences should be clear, readable, and
not overly wordy.  Aim for a reasonably formal but lively style.  For this
assignment, use of the first person is more or less {\it expected} while you
are presenting your opinion about the effectiveness of the pairing of 
{\it Othello} with {\it Othello in the Seraglio}.  Generally,
colloquial ways of saying things that are acceptable in casual conversation
are not as appropriate in this kind of writing, but if you have a really
good reason for using a colloquial expression and it fits well, that's OK.  
Also, {\it please do not use a thesaurus to find impressive-sounding words} 
when simpler alternatives are available. 
An important lesson to learn for writing in college is that thesauri 
do not capture the {\it nuances in meanings} that underlie good writing.  
If you must use a thesaurus, also look up any words you select in a 
dictionary to make sure they mean exactly what you think they do!
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\item{7.} And as on previous assignments, errors in mechanics and usage 
should not annoy the reader.  (As a warning, I tend to be {\it easily annoyed by 
this sort of thing!}) Try as much as possible to avoid mistakes in 
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word choice.
\bye
