LITR 4332 American Minority Literature UHCL 2001 sample student research project proposals

LITR 4332: American Minority Literature

Sample Student Research Proposals 2001

Copied below are examples of research proposals, posted to serve either as potential models for students preparing a proposal or as inspiration for the range of possibilities.

Allison Amaya

Dr. White,

I plan to do option 1 using the two texts Bless Me, Ultima and Baby of the Family. I am having trouble trying to focus what I want to write about though. I looked over the papers on the web site, but the areas they chose to write on are not quite what I'm thinking about. I noticed how each book is a coming of age novel for each of the main characters. I also like the use of mysticism in each novel, and this is what I want to focus on in my paper. For example, Lena is said to have special powers because she was born with a caul over her face. Tony seems to have special powers of his own with his dreams and ability to help Ultima. I agree with one of the papers that each story has aspects of ambivalence and maybe I could use this too. As you can see, I'm a bit all over the place as to what to focus on.

Dr. White, could you please help me focus my idea? Do you think that the ambivalence in each novel describes the conflict a minority goes through in order to assimilate? How do the magical elements in each novel have significant meaning beyond ambivalence?

Allison Amaya

LITR 4332

Charley Bevill

Dr. White,

I have chosen Option 2, the journal for my research project because I have found that my interests keep expanding as I work on collecting information.

My research topic began with Black women writers. I limited it from there with only these writers stories whose main character was a woman. But I began to notice that this seemed to be a trend in their stories so I asked the question, is this the usual trend or do these women sometimes have a man as their main character?

I thought about limiting it to the Harlem Renaissance, but I began thinking about the slave narratives. My question here was, are these stories by Black women more closely related to the slave narrative style of storytelling, coming only from the main characters voice which is again female?

I'd also like to go into the background of the authors that I use to see if there is any correlation between one or more of their works and their own stories.

Does this sound like something that could work itself into the requirements for the journal? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Charley Bevill

Jennifer Carnes

Dr. White,

I have opted for Option 1 to comprise my research project. Although option 2 seems challenging and quite interesting; nevertheless, I have chosen the "path of least resistance". The primary text that I intend to use is Cisneros' House on Mango Street. I have read this novel a few years ago and remember how much I enjoyed the author's powerful style of prose. I enjoy reading about Latino culture, and I feel that this novel in particular best illustrates this.

I hope to center my focus around most all of the objectives outlined in the syllabus, but hope to pay particular attention to studying the influence of minority writers (Cisneros)and speakers on literature, literacy and language. I believe this is Obj 5. I may also be interested in 5b, but will without a doubt need your assistance in this endeavor. Of course I plan on using the characters in this story to develop the overall "minority" concepts discussed in class, but I really long to focus the brunt of the paper on the author and her enormous talent and influence.

To best sum it up Dr. White, my paper will address several minority concepts, but will always relate those in some way to the author. Does this idea sound feasible to you? Also what is meant by the second part of Obj 5b (plus the criteria determining such status)? I am not worried about secondary sources, for I know there is a vast amount of info on Cisneros and her novel!

Shellie Garza

Dr. White,

I had originally proposed to compare and contrast Black Girl Lost and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

I had not yet read American Indian Stories or The Lone Ranger and Tonto....

I found both of these books to be extremely interesting from one perspective to another. It has piqued my interest to learn more about the assimilation and/or resistance of Indians in the United States. So, I would like to change my proposal to compare and contrast these two books.

I choose Option 1, the analysis and research paper option. I think it would be interesting to compare the traditional Indians to the modern day Indians who "sit around and check the streetlights." I would like to compare and contrast the family unit. Does it stay intact or does it change? In American Indian Stories, we see the extended family. What about in The Lone Ranger? What are the dynamics of the family unit?

The Indians of today are the poorest on the economic rung. I would like to work that idea into my paper, posing the question, is their heritage enough to keep them rich? Who is better off? Those of us that have money and no rich tradition, or those of us with little money and a rich tradition? Do the modern day Indians still have a rich tradition or are they acculturated into something altogether different than the traditional Indian?

Thanks for your response.

shellie g

Sheri' Lowe

I would like to do a compare contrast paper on American Indian Stories by Zitkala-Sa and Black Elk Speaks, told through John G. Neihardt (Flaming Rainbow). Both books are written by Sioux writers, but with one being female teacher type and one being a holy man attracts me to find the similarities between the minorities as well as the differences. They both have voices to share. She is the voice for many American Indians as he is the voice for many young Indians in search of roots to the past.

When I finish reading Black Elk Speaks, and with your paper approval, could I come to you with an outline and get your feedback?

Thanks,

Sheri' Lowe

Sheri O'Rourke

For my research project, I would like to choose Option 1. Even before I took this class, thus becoming aware of the terminology of the "voice vs. choice" dilemma faced by persons of minority culture, I had always been acutely aware of a child's lack of voice or choice. This has always been a topic that is near to my heart. Even so, prior to taking this class, I was of the mindset that America was free, and that if an individual worked hard enough for what he wanted, the opportunity for personal success was a reachable goal. However, a child is the product of his upbringing for a good portion of his life. If that child is a minority child, he may not learn to assimilate if his parents frown on assimilation. He may have no voice if his parents don't give him one. Moreover, he places no value on literacy as a key to empowerment if he lives in an environment that places no value on literacy. Consequently, a child's environment can render him the most voiceless and choiceless of citizens, especially if he is a minority child.

The primary texts that I will use in my research are Black Girl Lost, Baby of the Family, and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. I also plan to use Bastard Out of Carolina. While many children must struggle to overcome their environments, minority children have an extra hurdle to jump, simply because their skin is a different color. If their parents choose to resist or do not promote education, there is little they can do but attempt to survive. Through my research, I hope to become sensitive to and learn of the additional struggles that minority children must face simply because they are minorities. Do you feel that this is a viable topic, and do you have any suggestions with regard to secondary sources?