In this paper, you will select a subject, issue, or theme to explore in Toni Morrison’s Sula. As you examine this topic, you will enter into and synthesize three different conversations–of US history depicted in the novel, current events that relate to the novel, and literary criticism of the novel. What can we understand about the past through reading this novel? How does the novel achieve this? Do the issues or topics explored in the novel exist today? What have other critics written about the novel, particularly about the subject(s) you are focusing on?

You will need to use a minimum of 6 secondary sources in your analysis of Sula. At least 1 of your sources must be scholarly articles of literary criticism published in peer reviewed journals. Other sources will be used to support claims about how the novel represents the past and relates to the present.

Possible topics to explore in your essay:

• Jim Crow
• African American Literature
• Black Feminism
• Feminism
• War/PTSD
• Gentrification
• Friendship

There are many ways to structure a literature research essay. Here’s an outline that shows one way to do it.

Introduction

• Hook
• General topic (i.e. racism)
• Focused subject (i.e. Jim Crow in the U.S.)
• Primary source for exploring this focused subject
  • Must include name of author, text, date of publication
  • 1-3 sentence description of the primary text (not a summary)
• Thesis Statement
  • A claim about how, specifically, the text depicts the focused subject and what the text is conveying about that subject.

Section 1: Literary analysis contextualized with historical sources

• Summarize and analyze (using quotes!) an early scene that is emblematic of the focused subject.
• Contextualize with historical sources
• More examples from the primary text that depict similar examples of FS

Section 2: Literary analysis contextualized with critical sources

• Introduce scholarly articles (name, title, etc.) about primary text or, better yet, about the focused subject in the primary text
• Summarize their arguments. Quote main point(s)
  • If they are looking at different passages/scenes from the primary text, be sure to provide context—summarize and quote them
• Do you agree or disagree with their claims? How do their claims support your own interpretation and enrich it? How do you reconcile your differences?
• Provide more and new examples from primary text that relate to the focuses of your secondary sources

Section 3: Connect primary source to the present

• Use recent articles/stories/shows/movies to demonstrate that the focused subject explored in the primary text is still relevant today.
• Compare/contrast literary depictions from recent examples
• Do the ways that the FS is represented in the novel reflect how it exists or is perceived about today? Explain how it is or isn’t.
• How does the primary text encourage us to think differently about the focused subject?

*Must use library databases that I give you to find scholarly articles* (databases will be given once writer is chosen)

*Sample essay provided to give an idea of what is needed*