Final Presentation Assignments: Options 1 and 2

Intro to Lit Studies/Teaching Lit Final Project: Theories of Identity

OPTION 1 (Teaching): Make a visual presentation (using Powerpoint, Prezi, etc.) that uses art to interpret at least 4 of the main characters of Dracula, choosing from Dracula, Johnathan, Mina, Lucy, Seward, Van Helsing, Arthur, Quincy, and Renfield. You should find a work of art (a painting, photograph, historical image, advertisement, etc.) that you can use to visually represent some aspect of the character’s identity and role in the book. Each artwork should be accompanied by a specific passage from the book about that character; you should briefly close read the passage so we can understand how you interpreted the character through your art.

You should also include a Preface to the presentation with a quote from Culler that you feel somehow introduces or analyzes some aspect of your presentation, and briefly explain this connection as well. Give each artwork and passage/quotation its own slide, and then provide your close reading/commentary on another one. So you should have roughly 14 or so slides, though feel free to do more. For example, one slide should be a work of art, then the next slide should be part of the passage that goes along with the character, and then a third slide should be your reading of the passage. And so on. The presentation doesn’t need to be fancy (look how simple mine are), but it should clearly show how the artwork and the passage illustrate some aspect of the character in question.

Try to have FUN with this, since this could be a way to help your students grasp the themes and ideas associated with each character visually. A good amount of your time on this project should be finding just the right images, so be sure you know why you chose them, and be able to explain these connections through the text. I will grade this solely by (a) how well I feel the images help us see the character; (b) how thoughtfully you choose passages that complement the artwork; and (c) how well you can provide brief, focused close readings that explain your theory of the text.

DUE NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12^th

Intro to Lit Studies/Teaching Lit Final Project: Theories of Narration

OPTION 2 (Lit Studies): You have been hired to write a YA adaptation of Dracula using only ONE of the narrators in the book (Johnathan, Mina, or Seward). Explain which one you would choose and why: what does their perspective allow us to see, and not see, about the unfolding drama of the book? What are the advantages and disadvantages, and why might it make the book more exciting—and maybe, more unreliable—by removing so many of the voices and levels of narration? Use at least ONE passage from Culler to help you discuss this (especially ideas from Chapters 6 “Narration” and 8 “Identity”). Use this as your ‘introduction’, and it can be as long as you like, but try to go beyond a short paragraph.

Then, discuss at least 2-3 entries or letters that you would definitely include in your novel, even though you would re-write them. What is significant about these letters or entries in revealing the character or the story? What do we see or learn in each one? How does each one reveal the character’s strength and limitations? Fears and biases? Insight and ignorance?  Be sure to quote from and close read your passages. As in the Intro, use Culler to aid in your discussion. Also feel free to use any secondary sources about Dracula (articles on EBSCO, websites, other adaptations) to aid your discussion. I will share a few sources on our blog in case you’re interested.

NOTE: You can do this assignment as a traditional paper OR a presentation. If doing a paper, length is optional, but make sure it’s long enough to explain your choice and to provide some useful close readings of the passages in question. If doing a presentation, be sure to give the passages room to breathe. Make passages on one slide, and your reading of the passages on another. Feel free to use images to aid your discussion as well (though it’s not a requirement as in the Teaching assignment).

DUE NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12^th