Thursday 4 October: Black Elk Speaks

Web-Highlight (Research Projects): Sonya Prince

Provisional research proposal (due 11 October, ungraded): 

Email 3 or 4 paragraphs plus or minus any outlines or bibliographies. Indicate which option—paper or journal—you're choosing. End your proposal by asking me a question or questions about your topic or your plan of action.

Introduction: The research proposal is a starting point to help students begin thinking about  their research project. The proposal for the essay choice should include a description of the topic you want to use and a list of possible texts or articles. The proposal for the journal option should include a list of  themes you may want to research and should also briefly describe the content you want to cover.

Links to prior semester proposals’

     http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/5731/models/projects/projects06/props06.htm

     http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/5731/models/projects/props04/default.htm

     http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/5731/models/projects/proposals03/default.htm

     http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/5731/models/projects/proposals01/default.htm

 

Example 1

Crystal Reppert (Journal)

Originally I had wanted to do my research paper on curanderas (natural healers) and their role in current Mexican literature. This idea came to me after reading Bless Me, Ultima and from two Mexican novellas I have currently been watching that both have curanderas and brujas (witches) prominently displayed as main characters in modern day programs. Particularly in Ultima there is a strong connection between a native tradition (maintaining the old ways) and encouragement for education. I searched and searched for more literature like this written by Latin authors and only found one other book. I thought my research goal was a failure, but then inspiration hit me. It occurred to me how entirely racist I am. In all of the literature I reviewed, the characters were involved in what white Americans would consider as non-traditional jobs for Latinos - scientists, detectives, caterers for fancy hotels (not traditional cooks in a home or taqueria). To look or expect this type of literature never occurred to me. After Kim’s web highlighter about Kim Pawlak’s journal project concerning minority literature for children, I started thinking about such a project for myself.

I have reviewed Kim P.’s site. She reviewed books that deal with very real problems for children and young adults in non-mainstream families. However, I believe that literature for high school students should go farther. I think that if students read about people from cultures like themselves who are working in jobs that require education and are non-blue collar or domestic, positive job goals can be envisioned beyond high school.

This is the project/journal I would like to do: review books usable in high school classrooms that depict minorities in well paid, successful careers. The objectives I plan to expand on are:

1b. Voiceless and choiceless - how have characters in the books chosen to make their voices heard and establish their right to make choices?

2b. “Class” as a repressed subject of American discourse - are race and gender repression evident in the literature and how do the characters over come or deal with such obstacles?

3. Compare and contrast the dominant “American Dream” narrative - to fulfill the places within mainstream America, how much of their cultural identity had to be given up?

3c. Mexican American narrative: The Ambivalent Minority” - my research will go beyond Mexican-American as many Latino/a writers are from South/Central America and Cuba.

4. Minority dilemma of assimilation or resistance - economic benefits vs. personal and cultural sacrifices.

5. Influence of minority writers and speakers.5a. Power of poetry and fiction, 5b. Minority writers in the “canon:, 5c. Literacy/empowerment,5d. development and variations of standard English, and 5e. Common devices of human language.

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 Example 2

James Hood (Essay)

For my research project, I am considering an essay topic of “loss and survival” as it applies to the narrative of minorities in America’s history, and I believe that several of our texts lend themselves easily to that subject. Our Native American readings are an obvious source for this topic, as are The Classic Slave Narratives, and I think that the Mexican-American texts will reflect on loss and survival to some extent as well, particularly in light of the fact that a large portion of this country was, at one time, part of Mexico.

I am hoping to describe the different types of losses that these minority groups suffered, as well as examining to what degree they can be considered to have “survived” those losses. I am especially interested in comparing and contrasting the Native American narrative to that of the Mexican-Americans, because I think that the latter group has taken a more proactive approach to “survival,” although the criteria for what constitutes “survival” might be subject to debate.

I have been trying to locate secondary sources for this topic, however, and have not had much luck (aside from history books, of course). An MLA search returned only a scattering of texts on the subject, so I was wondering if you might suggest other apparatus for locating additional material on this topic. I would appreciate, as always, any comments you might have on my topic choice, and I look forward as well to hearing any thoughts that you would like to share on broadening or narrowing the scope of my proposal.

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Conclusion:

I chose the above proposals because they are good examples of proposals that offer me insight into  the different structures and topics I could use for my research project.  I like Crystal’s proposal because she referred to Kim P’s site by adding her opinions to what she wrote. I also liked the way she geared her project toward making it a solution to a problem she observed in her workplace.  I like James’ proposal because he gave a preview of the topics he wanted to write about concerning the minority culture. He also asked Dr. White for some help in locating secondary sources. I think that was smart because Dr. White probably has a large amount of resources.