War Paper

One Possible Approach to Structuring My Paper

This paper requires that you "synthesize" several different works (styles, viewpoints, attitudes, approaches). Basically, you're being asked to juggle several works and weave them into a coherent, well-organized paper (a standard product required at the university level).

The best approach for the paper is the one that works best for you. There is no one way to organize your paper: select an approach that allows you to discuss each of the major works in a clear, organized fashion.

You might find that your paper emphasizes two of the works over the others. That's fine as long as you at least get a few ideas from the "minor" works in your paper.

Now let's look at a possible approach.

Say, for example, that I'm going to look at the theme of "the journey from innocence to experience" as it plays out in the different works. I will review each of the main works and the poems and then decide which ones work best for this theme. I will then organize my paper to begin with the "lesser" works and end with the "stronger" works.

When I think about the theme of "innocence to experience," I am reminded of the Rupert Brooke poems, the Rosenberg poems, the film Gallipoli, and the novel Johnny Got His Gun. In fact, I think I will use this order of the literature in my paper.

So, I would start with one of the Brooke poems and show how it emphasizes this theme of innocence to experience.

Then, I would move to, say, a Rosenberg poem. Perhaps it's one that shows a contrasting view to the Brooke poem, but still highlights/emphasizes this particular theme.

Then, after working with these short poems, I move on to Gallipoli. Since this entire film revolves around the journey of the two young men's journey to innocence to experience, I'll probably devote quite a large portion of my paper to this film. (P.S. If you can't remember the names of key characters in this film, you can visit www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Database) and type in Gallipoli. The full credits (cast/actors) will come up.)

After I have worked with Gallipoli, I'll move on to my final work, Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun, and discuss how this work also emphasizes my selected theme. Of course, I might find connections to/differences between the film and this novel, so I might want to discuss some of these contrasts.

Finally, after I have worked with poems, film, and novel, I'll no doubt have a few final thoughts as I tie all the ends together. Therefore, my paper will have a conclusion that works as a "summing up" or "synthesis" of my selected literary works.

posted by Brady Kelso @ 9:11 AM