ENG 100
English Composition
Gunn

Seventh Essay

Write an essay in which you develop an argument about some aspect of Russ Rymer’s Genie.  You might write about Genie herself (what should have been done differently?  who helped or hindered her growth? ), about the issues in linguistics and cognitive science raised by her case (does Genie offer support for the critical period hypothesis? what do we learn about the organization of the brain from the studies done on her?  how far does the book persuade you that grammar is innate?), or about the structure or meaning of Rymer’s book (what meaning does Rymer make out of this material?  what are the key images, themes, parallels, narrative devices? how does the “Afterword” comment on or fit into the book as a whole?).  Whatever area you decide to work on, be sure to support your general ideas about the book by referring to specific scenes, passages, and images from the book, and by discussing these in detail when you do refer to them.

To prepare for this assignment, you will have to develop a topic--an area of interest, a question, a limited field--and then a thesis on that topic--i. e., an assertion that states and defines your position.  A possible topic, for example, might be “Jean Butler Ruch’s role”; a thesis on this topic would be something like “If Jean Butler Ruch had been allowed to keep Genie in her home, Genie’s life might well have turned out differently.”

In the journal, I am going to ask you to write half-hour entries on two different topics.  For each topic, try to do some thinking and preparation beforehand: look back through the book, and see what you can find to extend or complicate your first thoughts.  Then do the entry and try to develop and support a thesis.  These two entries will be due on Tuesday; please bring them to class.

After our workshop on Tuesday, I’ll ask you to choose one of the two topics (or something else you’ve come up with) and prepare a draft for Thursday’s class.  If you know in advance that you won’t have time between Tuesday and Thursday to work on a draft, you’ll have to choose one topic before Tuesday’s class and get started on a draft earlier.

It will be crucial, on this assignment, for you to develop your ideas fully and thoroughly.  This will take preparation, time and effort, careful thought.  You have the whole book to work with.  Don’t settle for one example--the first thing you run across--in support of an idea; find everything on that topic, ranging through the entire text.  Then choose the strongest references, and give your paper as much depth and substance as you can.  Like many college essays, this one is an opportunity for you to develop an intimate knowledge of the text, and to demonstrate that intimate knowledge through writing.

Suggested length: 1000 words
Journal entries due: Tuesday, November 9, in class
Draft due: Thursday, November 11, in class
Final Version due: Tuesday, November 16, in class

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