You should already be reading August Wilson’s Fences. For your research essay, you will have several topics from which to choose; choose only one topic:
· In what ways do race and racism affect the characters in the play? (Choose 2-4 characters to argue)
· In what ways is Rose limited or defined by gender expectations of the time period?
· Argue about the purpose of the role that baseball imagery plays in Wilson’s Fences. Examine it on both a literal and figurative level.
· Explain the significance of the play’s title, Fences, for the 2-4 characters of your choice, and discuss the various levels of meaning in the title.
· Argue for or against Troy as a sympathetic character, providing proof for your assertion. NOTE: I am not asking here whether Troy has sympathy for others in the play but if the audience is meant to have sympathy for him.
Research:
· This paper will be similar to your first paper in that you will have an argument (a thesis) and will be citing lines from the work to prove your assertion. The difference with this paper is that you will be adding one additional layer: quotes from at least two academic critics. This will add authority to your argument.
· Your essay will have at least three sources: one primary source (the play) and two secondary sources (critical articles). Each of these sources will appear on your Works Cited page and in the text of your paper.
· There are plenty of resources available for your research. Google is NOT one of these sources, though! The sources must be academic in nature, so you must choose sources from the TTC library.
. The library has several videos that may be useful sources. These are found under the Databases/Articles tab, “Films on Demand.”
. Other critical resources can be found in the library’s “electronic holdings” on Netlibrary (online ebooks). Two books to consider are Understanding August Wilson, and May All Your Fences Have Gates.
. Finally, it would be best if you searched the library’s online databases for critical articles in Bloom’s Literature, JSTOR, and Literature Resource Center for criticism of Wilson’s play. These can be found on the library’s homepage on the “Databases by Subject” tab.
When you get a source from the TTC databases, it will provide a citation for you. This is a major advantage. By looking at examples in your textbook, please be aware of the correct formatting for a Works Cited page.
