NAME: _________________________________________________ PER.: _____
Transcendentalism for Today:
A Mini-Research Essay
RESEARCH QUESTIONS: Over the last several weeks, you have become familiar with the philosophical ideals of Transcendentalism, as well as how they were responses to various social and political issues facing the country in the mid-19th century. Now, you are going to examine how those tenets may apply to one of several different research questions:
1. How could important tenets of 19th century Transcendental philosophy apply to an issue facing modern-day society? In other words: how would a traditional Transcendentalist apply major tenets to a problem facing our world today?
2. How did the life of a notable Transcendentalist (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, etc.) lead to and ultimately reflect their Transcendental beliefs? In other words: look up the life of a Transcendentalist and figure out how they got that way and whether or not they were successful in living out the tenets of their chosen belief system.
3. What other philosophies influenced the development of 19th century Transcendentalism, and where in the major tenets of Transcendentalism do we see the influence of those philosophies? In other words: what other ideas helped create Transcendentalism and, using the major tenets, how can you tell?
*Each research question should involve the examination of TWO of the major tenets of Transcendentalism.
STRUCTURE:
¶1: Introduction: Provide background on the topic you selected; create a bridge between that background to your specific argument; in your thesis (1-2 sentences), answer the research question.
¶2: Body: Using the article (or articles, if you got ambitious) you selected during pre-writing and research, analyze how one tenet of Transcendentalism may apply to your prompt.
¶3: Body: Again, using your research article, analyze how an additional tenet of Transcendentalism may apply to your prompt.
· NOTE: If you choose the biographical option, you may have an additional paragraph for relevant background information regarding their life in general.
¶4: Conclusion: Briefly summarize the body of your paper and reiterate the importance of your thesis. Then, explain the universal impact of your research. Remember to end with a conclusive note that applies your research to the world at large.
Works Cited Page: This is its own page and must be accurately formatted in MLA style. That means in alphabetical order and with appropriate hanging indents. You should include your article or articles, your Transcendentalism tenet handout, and either Emerson or Thoreau.
REMINDERS:
· GoogleDocs & Title Info: As usual, you will share your work with me via GoogleDocs. Please title your document “Period #- Last, First: Transcendentalism;” i.e. Period 3- Stevens, Kristie: Transcendentalism.
· MLA Format: One-inch margins, double-spaced content, and appropriate heading! Don’t forget about your Works Cited either. Check the OWL at Purdue if you get confused.
· Thesis: Make sure your thesis is specific and answers the research question. I should be able to tell what your paper is going to focus on.
· Body Paragraph Format: Don’t forget about your cheat sheet! TREAT! Topic sentence, related claim, evidence, analysis, transition. Steps R through A can be repeated in a single paragraph if you have more to say.
· Quote Integration: No “turd quotes;” don’t drop it in and let it stink up everything around it. Make it fit in with the flow of your writing.
· NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS: NO “I,” “me,” “we,” “you,” “my,” what have you! This is formal.
· This will be graded using the same 50 point rubric as your American Dream paper.
Here, please record five things you want to be mindful of or improve upon as we write this particular paper. Include the general idea and what specifically you struggle with when it comes to this idea. This could be anything from formatting, to composing a thesis, to integrating quotes, and even analyzing material in relation to a thesis. You and I will conference on these next week during work time.
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