1. Is there an aspect or theme you've discussed in class that piques your interest?
2. Since you have to write about one of the texts you have read in class, you can browse the literary criticism of these texts and see what themes are discussed that might interest you. Then you can find a book with similar themes. (See "Finding Literary Criticism" page on the left menu.)
3. Browse books and articles about crime fiction and see what topics are discussed.
Use the sources below to find a novel you might like to read. We can get the novel for you from another library: fill out this form here!
Do you have a Mercer County Library card? If not, get one (here's how: you need your student ID and a class schedule) to borrow a book directly or remotely access the extensive collection of ebook and audiobooks!
Going home this weekend and have a library card for your hometown public library? You can also check their catalog to see if they have the book you need! Or check to see if the book is online via Overdrive or Hoopla!
Crime Fiction Choice (5%) For your final essay, you will choose a crime fiction novel to read on your own. Please note: you must choose a novel (a fictional prose narrative of book length), not a memoir, a historical account, a work of scholarship, a short story, etc.
In your final essay, you will develop an argument about the novel you choose and one of the other texts we’ve read this semester. We will go to Moore Library on November 21 to give you time to investigate options. By 5 pm on November 26, you will post a 300-word (minimum) statement to the Canvas discussion board about the crime fiction novel you have chosen to read for your final project. Your statement should explain how you found the novel you chose, why you chose it, what it’s about and why it seems interesting to you, and how you think it might connect to the other texts we’ve read in class. It’s fine if you end up connecting the crime fiction novel you chose to the course reading in a different way in your final essay; you don’t have to stick to the idea you explain in your statement, but I want you to start brainstorming ideas early on.
Crime Fiction Brainstorming Sessions (5%) During the week of December 3 and 5, we will meet in small groups to brainstorm your arguments for your final essays. We’ll meet in groups of 5 for about 25 minutes, so each person will have only 5 minutes. Once you’ve signed up on Canvas for a 25-minute time slot, you’ll read the choice statements posted on Canvas for the 4 other members in your group, so everyone will be familiar with the novels the other group members have chosen. When you come to your scheduled meeting on December 3 or 5, you should be ready to explain how you expect to connect your novel to the course reading; that is, you should be able to share your working thesis statement with the group. These presentations will be informal; you just need to be able to clearly and succinctly explain your working thesis to the group. The group will then ask questions for clarification and brainstorm ways to develop your argument.
For full credit, you must present a working thesis to the group, respond to the group’s questions and suggestions, and ask at least one thoughtful question (or make at least one thoughtful suggestion) of each of your group members. Thoughtful here means that your question or suggestion demonstrates that you have read the crime fiction choice statements on Canvas and spent some time preparing for the brainstorming session.
Essay 2 (20% total): In your second essay, you will develop an argument about some aspect of the crime fiction novel you chose to read on your own and (at least) one of the texts we read in the course. To support your interpretation, you will need to analyze evidence from the texts. Literary analysis focuses on how texts communicate meaning (form), rather than on their content. Avoid summarizing the plot. Your essay must be a minimum of 1250 words NOT INCLUDING your header (name), title, and works cited. If your essay does not meet the minimum length requirement, I will return it ungraded.
Your final essay is worth 20% and it is due on Canvas by 5pm on Thursday, December 12.
