Topic and Goal

The topic I chose is physical disabilities and equality: roles the disabled have contributed in literature over time. This topic speaks to me due to the ideas of disabled figures playing parts, something that has become my life. I work with those with special needs including disabled and my best friend is disabled so this topic is important to me. The driving question is, "What are the roles displayed by the disabled in literature over time." The next step is researching the topic and accumulating information to form an essay. The broad category has been chosen and is set; now it is time to look deeper into the subcategories.

Starting Point Topics and Generating Ideas

The topics discussed last week are the samples. These topics are interesting concepts able to be deeply deciphered into an essay. A topic has to be intriguing to a certain fellow in order for it to be considered. Each person thinks differently, so one topic will be more interesting than another depending on the fellow. From a personal standpoint these topics are all interesting, but each one discusses a various category. One needs to choose what category he/she wants to invest his/her time into researching. Each topic represents a problem or idea and gives examples of works to look into to find where it is. If a sample is not one that raises interest there is a possibility of creating new topics. In order to generate new ideas for a topic one has to think of a problem or idea that has a history in literature. Also it has to be clearly found in works of literature and explained into a well developed essay. The possibility of ideas for essay topics is vast, so make sure an intriguing topic to the individual is chosen. If a new topic is created it must be cleared with the teacher in order to dig deep into literature. An essay topic is only the beginning of writing an essay; the choice is critical in committing one to discuss a certain topic.

Topic Ideas and Examples

The first stage of this project is to find a topic. Multiple options were given as examples to research. Initially there was confusion on what to pick, but after being briefed on the project, it became easier to choose. The topic has to be interesting and give off a valid reason to be researched. Students are all different so varied options are more valid and interesting than others to each individual. In order for a topic to be considered for this project it has to be a challenge, underlying question, or investigating impetus stemming from literature that passes into the real world. Examples are gender equality in "A Doll's House," post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/war insanity in "The Things They Carried," amoral behavior in "The Stranger," and the horrors of slavery in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Each of the examples listed are real life problems that authors wrote about in their works hoping through their works they could get their message out. For some authors society did listen and heed their sorrows, unfortunately not for all. The next step is choosing one of the many problems stressed in a work of literature that crosses into reality.