ENG 102
Research Essay: Art Spiegelman’s Maus
Task: prepare a 6-7 page (double spaced) argument-based,
thesis-driven research essay created in response to one of the
below prompts on Art Spiegelman’s Maus. Your essay should also
contain 3-4 secondary sources suitable for a scholarly essay. 2 of
these must be peer reviewed academic journal article (the type of
material found on JSTOR).
Option 1:
Analyze the extent to which the past influences and impacts
the present in Maus.
(In your answer you may wish to consider some of the
following: How are the past and present blurred graphically in the
story?; Which of Vladek’s personality traits can be linked to his
experiences in the Holocaust, and which cannot? ; How does the past
reverberate through future generations?; How do Vladek’s
experiences effect his parenting style and his relationship with
his son?; “Prisoner on the Hell Planet” and the ways in which the
past is referred to in the present; How does Art – both as a child
and an adult – interact with his parents’ war experiences? If the
past impacts the present so much in the Spiegelman family, why did
Artie have to learn about his father’s story? Vladek’s memories of
Anja; Vladek’s current marriage; Art’s memories of his mother;
Art’s place and role in the Spiegelman family; Anja’s death)
Option 2:
To what extent does guilt shape the relationship between
Vladek and Art?
(In your answer you may wish to consider some of the
following: Art’s feelings of guilt over not being a “good” son
(father and son do not get along; Art does not want to help with
chores); Art’s feelings of guilt regarding the death of his mother;
Art’s feelings of guilt regarding the publication of Maus; the
issue of survivor’s guilt and how this may affect both Vladek and
Art; the way in which other characters deal with and discuss guilt;
Art’s conversation with his therapist; “Prisoner on the Hell
Planet”)
Length:
• 6-7 pages (not including Works Cited page). This means that
the essay should be 6 pages, minimum. Therefore, the Works Cited
would be page 7, for a 6 page essay, and page 8, if you write a 7
page essay. The Works Cited cannot be page 6 of the essay.
Research Reminder:
• You are required to interact with at least 3 secondary
sources suitable for a scholarly essay.
• 2 of these must be peer reviewed academic journal articles.
These should be obtained via the college library’s databases
(JSTOR)
• Do not cite Wikipedia (and comparable online sources) or
Sparknotes/Cliffnotes (or comparable guides).
Writing Reminder:
• This is a formal college-level essay, and the standard of
writing should reflect that. Do not write in second person (you;
your). Stick to third person as much as possible. Draft and
re-draft your work. Make sure that all your sentences make sense!
You progressed successfully through English 101, and that is why
you are here in English 102. Please do not forget your entire
portfolio of English 101 essay writing/research skills.
Make sure the final version of your essay has:
• Strong introduction and conclusion.
• Thesis statement
• A considerable amount of in depth analysis of your primary
sources suitable for a transfer-level college blended
literature/composition class (this analysis should fit logically
into your wider argument. Another way to look at this is as
follows: your overall thesis should grow from your in depth
analysis)
• Adequate number of body paragraphs developing and
supporting your position
• The required amount and type of secondary materials.
• Properly integrated source materials (quotations from
primary sources; quotations, summaries, and/or paraphrases from
secondary materials)
• MLA in-text references for all quotations, summaries and
paraphrases.
• A Works Cited page (MLA format) listing each individual
source in correct MLA format.
Guidelines:
• Papers should be typed in a clear 12-point font such as
Times New Roman.
• Double space the document and include 1 inch margins.
• Include your name, the date, the course and the assignment
title on the first page.
• Include your name on every page thereafter.
• Number all pages consecutively and staple them
together.
Hand In:
The final version of the essay
Grading: This essay is worth 30% of the overall course
grade.
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