Length: First essay: 2-3 pages, (but in each case more is okay, especially if you need more space to finish what you want to say). Please format your essays in US Letter (not A3) size at 12 points in the Times New Roman font, doublespaced.
Topic: Examine one or more of the literary texts we have read; in addition you may of course refer to any of the scholarly works we have read, or any other text, for that matter. Just about any comparative, analytical or critical approach is fine; it is up to you. One effective method is to choose one theme or issue and use it as a point of comparison between texts, or between different chapters or sections of a longer text. In any case, your paper needs to be built around an argument that is worth making. This argument should not be so obvious that there is no need to go about supporting it. (I.e., if your argument can be paraphrased by saying “these two texts are the same, except for where they are different,†or “Genji appears to be attracted to women said to resemble his mother,†you need a new argument.) I encourage students to come up with their own topics, but if you decide that you would rather be assigned a topic, please let me know. Even if I assign you a topic, it is up to you to come up with the central argument
Consult the citation guidelines, etc., given in the MLA Handbook. (If you wish, you may use another style manual such as The Chicago Manual of Style).