A/P Philip Holden (email: ellhpj@nus.edu.sg)
In GEK 1040 you have the chance to write a project on a topic related to the module, but of your own choosing. While there are requirements in terms of length and research, you have considerable freedom to write what you like. Having such freedom, however, means that you need to make use of it: you need to plan your project and work on it over the course of several weeks. If you are unfamiliar with Literature, you’ll need feedback on the way. You will not be able to write a good project in a few days just before it is due, and since there is no exam in the module, you won’t be able to compensate for your mistakes by scoring on the exam.
For precise details of the project itself, please click here.
The best thing is to think of the project in terms of a process which will occupy you over several weeks. Budget time for it, and make a plan. You’ll need to go through the following process:
You can do this through brainstorming, free-writing, mind-mapping, etc. You may want to think of issues or ideas that have interested you in the module, or alternatively connect issues that have been raised in our discussions to issues, literary texts, and so on outside the module.
You’ll then submit a proposal to me. This should be fairly detailed, and comprise the following:
1. TitleHere is a sample proposal in Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] format
2. Purpose of project: What will your project aim to do? Most projects are not simply informative, but aim to persuade a reader and argue a certain point of view.
3. A brief discussion of the content of the project, outlining literary and secondary texts to be examined or discussed. You can use some texts that we have discussed in class, but you’ll also need to branch out into looking at texts you’ve chosen on your own.
4. Bibliography.
5. Time line for completion of project. You probably won’t stick to this, but do your best to plan ahead now
You’ll get feedback from from me (via email). Look at the feedback carefully, and follow up with me if there is something you do not understand or you would like to discuss further. I’ll give you advice about how to shape the project and probably recommend more reading for you at this stage. If I don’t give specific titles I can at least give you indications of a search strategy for more information.
The key thing here is to take the project in stages. Produce an outline first, then move to a draft. If possible, exchange your draft with a friend, and comment on each others’ work. If you choose to do a hypertext-based piece, have someone test it out thoroughly. Proofread thoroughly before submission. When you make use of any thoughts or ideas which are not your own, make sure you reference properly to avoid any possibility of plagiarism. Remember that your project, even if correctly referenced, should move beyond mere summary of what others have said.
Last updated: 24 September, 2003